There is an interesting project being carried out by Hablamos Juntos 
that is looking at the use of universal symbols to help people 
navigate in healthcare settings 
(www.hablamosjuntos.org/signage/default.index.asp) .  They have 
developed a set of symbols as well as some guidance on implementing them.

- Mary Alice

Mary Alice Gillispie, MD
Healthy Roads Media, Director
www.healthyroadsmedia.org
Tel 406-556-5877

At 12:15 PM 12/13/2006, you wrote:

>Hi Everyone,

>

>I want to pass on an article from the latest issue of Focus on Basics

>which may interest you, and then ask a question about it.

>

>Navigating Helathcare

>by Jennie Anderson and Rima Rudd

>http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=1156

>

>This looks at the findings of teams of adult literacy teachers and

>students, along with graduate students and others who tried to look for

>certain places in hospitals and recorded the students responses to the

>signs and maps leading them. Researchers also looked at the reading

>level of signs and instructions along the way. Read about this unique

>approach to studying the navigation of a system with significant

>literacy-related barriers, and about the implications for adult

>educators and medical professionals as they work to make healthcare more

>accessible to all.

>

>Question: Walk through your hospital or clinic and look at it from the

>eyes of someone who's never been there and has low literacy or English

>skills. What do you notice? How could it be improved? And for ABE

>teachers: how might you help prepare your students to navigate this

>system more easily?

>

>Please let me know what you think about this!

>

>All the best,

>Julie

>

>Julie McKinney

>Discussion List Moderator

>World Education/NCSALL

>jmckinney at worlded.org

>

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