Groups that use plain language
The reader groups of plain language include people who for different reasons have difficulties with reading:
Among these reasons are:
- foetal and childhood developmental disorders (e.g. genetic)
- illness and aging
- social environment (e.g. belonging in a linguistic minority)
- a combination of the above.
When more than one of these reasons occur at the same time (e.g. developmentally disabled aged person), immigrant schoolchild with dysphasia), the need for plain language is even more pronounced.
Persons who can benefit from the use of plain language can be found in the following groups of population (typically they are only a part of the group in question):
1. Persons belonging to different groups of the disabled (for example persons with developmental disabilities, autistic persons, aphasiacs, dysphasic persons, persons with multiple disabilities).
2. Persons who have serious difficulty in reading and writing (dyslexia).
3. Aged persons (especially those suffering from dementia, very old persons).
4. Persons whose mother tongue is not Finnish.
In addition to these groups, plain language can be useful for persons receiving rehabilitative treatment for mental problems, marginalized persons, those who are not accustomed to read, and school children.