UniquelyND: Communication that more people can understand and act on
UniquelyND
Communication that more people can understand and act on
Have you or someone you know ever read a message five times trying to figure out what it really means?
When we think about accessible communication, plain language and accessible pdfs and websites often pop into our heads.
However, we don’t often think about how everyday emails, policies, announcements, and instructions are actually read and understood — and how that can shape a person’s ability to participate and succeed at work.
When communications are not accessible, people can misunderstand what they’re being asked to do. They may not respond in the expected manner.
Or they might feel Response Anxiety, for instance they may hesitate to ask questions or lose confidence before they’ve even had the chance to contribute.
UniquelyND
Photo credit: Sherise van Dyk on Unsplash
Accessible content in communications is a personal issue for Erica Hayes, the Cofounder and Chief Designer at UniquelyND.
For years, Erica received messages that everyone else seemed to understand but that she had to read multiple times. She also rewrote her replies over and over, because she was afraid that she had misunderstood something that everyone else seemed to get.
Sometimes, she asked someone what the message meant. Or she stayed silent because she didn’t want people to think she couldn’t keep up.
“For a long time, I thought the problem was me. Then I was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. That experience changed how I saw communication.”
Erica Hayes, Cofounder, UniquelyND
Watch the video to learn about Erica’s story and her journey to build an accessible communication tool with her dad.
Ask LINA
- decode the tone of messages – it spots indirect language, like sarcasm, irony, or workplace politics
- flag hidden pressure – it identifies subtle manipulation, expectations, or urgency
- clarify intent – it distinguishes authenticity from passive aggressive phrasing
You can learn more about Ask LINA and download the free Chrome extension on the UniquelyND website.
Communication accessibility:
LINA Lens
Example of ambiguous communication that increases cognitive load because it can be interpreted differently:
- immediately
- sometime this afternoon
- tomorrow
- next week because I’m really busy – but will that be too late??
While Ask LINA can help an individual understand a message they have received, Erica and Ian realized that this addresses the communication after it has already been created.
What if organizations could identify potential barriers before a communication was ever sent?
Their goal: help employers from the beginning to create communication that is easier for more people to understand and act on.
Their solution: LINA Lens, an AI-powered communication analysis tool designed to identify potential barriers to understanding and successful action before content is published.
How does LINA Lens work?
LINA Lens uses a research informed model to analyze how the characteristics of a message can affect the cognitive work required to understand it and act on it.
The underlying approach draws on findings from 93 peer reviewed studies related to cognitive load, reading comprehension, plain language, and communication accessibility.
LINA Lens examines 25 communication characteristics across five interconnected dimensions:
Visibility
Can people find, navigate, and access the information they need?
Orientation
Is there enough context to understand its purpose and what is expected?
Inclusion
Does the language reduce barriers for different cognitive and communication styles?
Clarity
Is the message specific, concrete, and difficult to misinterpret?
Execution
Is it clear about what someone needs to do and how to do it?
Rather than telling an organization what to say, LINA Lens helps identify aspects of a communication that may make it harder for someone to understand the message or act on it successfully.
Organizations can then use those insights to improve the communication and analyze it again, tracking which changes make the biggest difference.
Next step: test LINA in real workplaces
LINA Lens is still being developed and validated. Erica and Ian are now looking for organizations willing to test it using real workplace communications and to help determine whether LINA leads to better communication outcomes.
These tests include looking beyond whether a communication appears clearer to ask a more important question:
Does improving the communication actually help more people understand it and successfully act on it?
Would you like to help test and improve communication accessibility?
UniquelyND is inviting employers, supported employment organizations, researchers, and community partners to participate in pilots, contribute expertise, and help shape how LINA Lens develops.
You can learn more about LINA Lens and connect with Erica and Ian on the UniquelyND website.