Each member of our team is passionate about the role we play in making a positive impact in the community. Learn more about the people behind the passion and what makes them proud to be part of the work we do.
Introducing Myriam
I’ve spent the past 15 years working in translations, international affairs and multilingual communications, fields that allowed me to appreciate the diversity of language and the nuances of culture. Growing up in Lebanon, a country known for its linguistic diversity where we are taught 3 languages – Arabic, French and English – at school, I developed a passion for language at an early age. This foundation inspired me to learn Spanish and Portuguese later in life, expanding my linguistic repertoire even further.
My journey into accessible communications began when I recognised that language alone, though vital, is not always enough to ensure effective communication for everyone. Working with communities that face linguistic or cognitive barriers opened my eyes to the importance of making information clear, concise and truly accessible.
I enjoyed the shift from multilingual translation to other accessible communication formats, which are essential for people with disability or low literacy levels. It’s a space where my passion for languages and inclusivity perfectly align.
From your multilingual communication experience, why do you think it’s important to publish information in Easy Read as well?
Easy Read is a communication format that uses simplified text and images to convey information in a way that is easier for people with cognitive disability or low literacy to understand. It’s not just about making sentences shorter or simpler; it’s about thinking carefully about how to structure information, the type of vocabulary to use and incorporating visual aids to make meaning clearer.
Easy Read is important because it empowers individuals who may struggle with traditional forms of communication to engage fully with the world around them. Whether it’s understanding healthcare information, navigating government services or just being able to read everyday news, Easy Read helps break down communication barriers. What aligns with my values here at the Information Access Group is that Easy Read is not just a product, it’s a mission to create a more inclusive world where everyone has equal access to information.
What motivated you to shift your focus from translation and multilingual communication to accessible communication?
I have experience being ‘on the tools’ as a translator but also working on the project management side, managing projects for large federal and state clients. I’ve always been passionate about the idea that language opens doors to new worlds. However, over time, I realised that even with multiple languages, there’s a significant portion of the population that standard communication remains inaccessible to. This realisation struck me deeply when I encountered individuals who, despite being in an information-rich environment, were still excluded from understanding key messages because of cognitive or literacy challenges.
My shift to accessible communication was driven by the belief that everyone, regardless of their cognitive ability or literacy level, has the right to understand and engage with information. Making this shift wasn’t just a career decision – it was about aligning my work with my values of inclusion and equality. When working on accessible content, I felt like I could bring my experience to this field. As we know, not only cognitive abilities but also different cultural backgrounds can affect people’s interpretation of images, symbols or even simplified language. My exposure to different languages and cultures has taught me to always question assumptions and ensure that accessibility doesn’t become a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather something that is adaptable and sensitive to varied needs.
How does multilingual translation and Easy Read look alike or differ from your experience?
Multilingual translation and Easy Read share a common goal: making information accessible to a broader audience. However, they differ significantly in their approach and purpose.
In multilingual translation, the aim is to convey the original message as faithfully as possible across different languages while respecting cultural and linguistic nuances. The focus is on accuracy, maintaining the tone, style and intent of the source material, while ensuring it makes sense within the cultural context of the target audience. A translator needs to understand not just the language but the cultural framework in which that language operates.
Easy Read, on the other hand, is less about translating between languages and more about translating complex information into a form that is accessible to people with cognitive disability or those with low literacy levels. Here, the challenge is to simplify the language without losing the essence of the message. It’s a more reductive process – where multilingual translation might add layers of cultural meaning, Easy Read strips away complexity to reach clarity.
From my experience, both require a deep understanding of the audience. In multilingual translation, you’re constantly thinking about how a phrase will land within a different cultural context. In Easy Read, you’re thinking about how to distil complex ideas into their most essential, understandable form. Both demand empathy and creativity but in different ways: translation requires cultural fluency, while Easy Read requires linguistic simplicity.
In a way, they both involve interpretation. Translation interprets the meaning between cultures, while Easy Read interprets the meaning for comprehension levels. The beauty of both processes lies in the challenge of making information truly accessible, whether you’re navigating between languages or simplifying content for a specific audience.
Since starting your journey with the Information Access Group a year ago, what were some challenges you faced when creating accessible communication products, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges is balancing simplicity with accuracy. It’s crucial that the information remains clear and easy to understand, but at the same time, it must retain its original meaning. This is especially tricky when dealing with complex subjects like law or medicine. To overcome this, we collaborate closely with our clients to ensure that the core messages are retained, and we also offer to test our materials with the target audience to make sure they truly understand the information.
Another challenge is ensuring that accessible materials are not just functional but also engaging. We put a lot of effort into designing content that is visually appealing and uses appropriate imagery, as these can make a significant difference in comprehension. It’s about more than just simplifying text; it’s about creating a holistic communication experience that resonates with the audience.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in learning a new language?
Learning a new language is one of the most enriching experiences you can have, but it requires patience, curiosity and consistency. My first piece of advice would be to immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. Surround yourself with the sounds and rhythms of the language, whether through music, podcasts, TV shows or even conversations with native speakers. This exposure helps you become familiar with how the language flows naturally.
It’s also important to remember that learning a language is not a linear process. There will be moments when you feel like you’re making incredible progress and others where you might hit a plateau. Don’t get discouraged during the slow phases – it’s all part of the journey.
Practice regularly, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Small, consistent efforts are more effective than long, intensive sessions that leave you burnt out. Whether it’s reading a short article, watching a video or practicing a few phrases, daily engagement with the language goes a long way.
Finally, find ways to make it enjoyable. For example, if you’re passionate about cooking, try reading recipes in the language you’re learning or watch cooking shows from that culture. If you enjoy literature, start with simple books or even children’s stories and work your way up. The more you connect language learning to your interests, the more motivated you’ll be.
