Table of Contents

Bibliography, further reading, resources and organizations that have looked at the issues examined in this booklet and can provide advice about them.

Knowing Your Audience

Alberta Council on Aging. Senior FriendlyT Toolkit. Edmonton: 1998.

Includes a video and workbook/binder with checklists for everything from senior friendly restaurants to senior friendly exercise programs. The Council also has Senior FriendlyT stickers that can be handed out to local businesses, service providers and government offices in recognition of their efforts to communicate effectively with seniors. Also in preparation, a Senior Friendly Training Initiative for Business in collaboration with the Alberta Tourism and Education Council and other partners.

Alberta Culture. Cultural Heritage Division. Understanding Seniors and Culture. Edmonton: 1989.

American Association of Retired Persons. Older Patients and You: Communicating with America's Fastest-growing Patient Group. Washington, D.C: n.d.

Canada Coordinating Committee for the International Year of Older Persons. Corporate Kit for the International Year of Older Persons 1999. Ottawa: 1998.

Environics Research Group. Mature Market Monitor.

A syndicated survey (available to subscribers only) that probes attitudes and behaviour in a range of areas, including seniors' issues and government programs; media and new information technologies; retirement planning; home issues; health status, chronic conditions, medication and health care; travel and travel health insurance; personal finances; insurance services; and general attitudes. Internet: erg.environics.net

Geoffroy, Catherine. Communication and Information Technologies and Older Adults. Laval: The Centre for Information Technology Innovation, 1994.

Health Canada. Division of Aging and Seniors. Reaching Out: A Guide to Communicating with Aboriginal Seniors. Ottawa, 1998.

Useful suggestions following a consultation and a study on the best communication tools with Aboriginal seniors.

Health Canada. Division of Aging and Seniors. Principles of the National Framework on Aging: A Policy Guide. Ottawa, 1998.

Prepared at the request of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors as a tool to test policies and programs across Canada against seniors' needs in an aging society, following a consultation with seniors across Canada.

Lindsay, Colin. A Portrait of Seniors in Canada. 3^rd ed. Cat. no. 89-519-XPE. Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 1999.

Lindsay, Colin. Statistical Snapshots of Canada's Seniors.

Produced for the Division of Aging and Seniors, Health Canada. A series on the various characteristics of Canadian seniors, posted weekly on the Internet at: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/

Pelly, Sandi. Seniors' Independence Through Information. Toronto: Community Information Centre of Metropolitan Toronto, 1992.

Perrin, Burt. How Does Literacy Affect the Health of Canadians: A Profile Paper. Presented to the Policy Development and Coordination Division. Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Ottawa: Health Canada, 1998.

Roberts, Paul and Fawcett, Gail. At Risk: A Socio-economic Analysis of Health and Literacy Among Seniors. Cat. no. 89-552-MPE, no. 5. Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 1998.

Statistics Canada. Reading the Future: A Portrait of Literacy in Canada. Cat. no. 89-551-XPE. Ottawa: 1996.

 

Wylde, Margaret A. "How to effectively research and market technology to older people," in Gloria M. Gutman, ed., Technology Innovation for an Aging Society: Blending Research, Public and Private Sectors. Vancouver: Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University, 1998. pp. 41-50.

Language and Design

Baldwin, Ruth. Clear Writing and Literacy. Toronto: Ontario Literacy Coalition, 1990.

Breen, M.J. Writing for your Audience: Is there a Magic Formula? In Beta Release, 17(1), 1993.

Canadian Bar Association and Canadian Bankers' Association. The Decline and Fall of Gobbledygook: Report on Plain Language Documentation. Ottawa: 1990.

Canadian Bar Association. Reading the Legal World: Literacy and Justice in Canada. Ottawa: 1992.

Canadian Public Health Association. National Literacy and Health Program. Creating Plain Language Forms for Seniors: A Guide for the Public, Private and Not-for-profit Sectors. Ottawa: 1998.

Persuasive arguments about the benefits of plain language forms and the costs to seniors, companies and institutions of not providing them. Includes a glossary of plain words and many principles and tips on plain language and design.

Canadian Public Health Association. National Literacy and Health Program. Easy Does It! Plain Language and Clear Verbal Communication: Training Manual. Ottawa: 1998.

Valuable for many in the health professions and others - doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, opticians. Practical strategies, tips on office design, and samples of plain language information and consent forms. List of provincial literacy coalitions and literacy-related health programs and activities.

Canadian Public Health Association. National Literacy and Health Program. Working with Low-literacy Seniors: Practical Strategies for Health Providers. Ottawa: 1998.

A useful guide with many applications to service providers working in other sectors. Lots of information as well as extensive resource lists and a bibliography.

Canadian Transportation Agency. Communication Barriers - A Look at Barriers to Communication Facing Persons with Disabilities Who Travel by Air. Ottawa: 1997.

Frontier College. The Clear Writer's Hit Squad (videotape). Toronto, 1991.

Health Canada. Division of Aging and Seniors. Medication Matters - How You Can Help Seniors Use Medication Safely. Ottawa: 1997.

A kit for health professionals with plain language tips for talking with seniors and sample hand-outs.

Human Resources Development Canada. Office for Disability Issues. A Way With Words: Guidelines and Appropriate Terminology for the Portrayal of Persons with Disabilities. Ottawa: 1998.

Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada. Plain Language, Clear and Simple. Ottawa: 1991.

Ontario Women's Directorate. Words That Count Women Out/In. 2^nd ed. Toronto: 1993.

Presents rationale and suggestions for using language that is inclusive.

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Signage. Ottawa: 1992.

Wheildon, Colin. Type and Layout: How Typography and Design Can Get Your Message Across or Get In the Way. Berkeley, CA: Strathmoor Press, 1995.

A thoroughly researched guide to effective design for enhancing messages.

Alternative Formats

Many national organizations with branches across the country provide information on alternative formats. Check your local library or the phone book for these headings or organizations in your area:

• Canadian National Institute for the Blind;
• Transcription Services;
• Canadian Association of the Deaf;
• Canadian Hearing Society;
• Deaf Services;
• Disabled - Services;
• Reading Services;
• Braille printers;
• Captioning;
• Access;
• Handicap.

Organizations

Alberta Council on Aging
401, 10707 - 100th Avenue
Edmonton   Alberta    T5J 3M1

Tel: (780) 423-7781
E-mail: acaging@interbaun.com
Internet: www.acaging.ca

Canadian Association of the Deaf
Suite 203-251 Bank Street
Ottawa   Ontario    K2P 1X3

Tel: (613) 565-2882

Canadian National Institute for the Blind
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto    Ontario    M4G 3E8

Tel: (416) 480-7580
Internet: www.cnib.ca

Canadian Public Health Association
National Literacy and Health Program
400-1565 Carling Avenue
Ottawa    Ontario    K1Z 8R1

Tel: (613) 725-3769
E-mail: comm@cpha.ca
Internet: www.cpha.ca

Canadian Transportation Agency
Ottawa    Ontario    K1A 0N9

Internet: www.cta-otc.gc.ca

Human Resources Development Canada
National Literacy Secretariat
Room 10E10, 15 Eddy Street
Ottawa,    Ontario    K1A 1K5

Tel: (819) 953-5280
E-mail: nls-sna@nald.ca
Internet: www.nald.ca/nls.htm

Public Health Agency of Canada
Division of Aging and Seniors
Jeanne Mance Building, Address Locator 1908A1
Ottawa,    Ontario    K1A 1B4

Tel: (613) 952-7606
E-mail: seniors@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Internet: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines

Statistics Canada
Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa,    Ontario    K1A 0T6

internet: www.statcan.ca/start.html
For statistical data and profiles.