Cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology is helping people in Swindon who have learning difficulties live more independently.

Volunteers at Experts by Experience of a Learning Disability, have been helping officers at Swindon Borough Council come up with an AI solution that converts complex documents into the accessible Easy Read format.

And when it’s ready, the council will make its solution available free, worldwide, to help as many people as possible.

The council’s Emerging Technology team paid the volunteers for their time so the team could understand some of the obstacles they face in their lives.

 The group advised on the importance of features such as large font size, increased spacing between words and the option to have images to help with comprehension.

Sarah Pena, head of emerging Technology and Business Improvement, explained: “The Experts by Experience group were absolutely fantastic and opened our eyes to their world.

“Imagine facing barriers with making everyday decisions about your life? You want to move into a flat but cannot understand the tenancy agreement or you missed a dentist’s appointment because it wasn’t clear to you when you should be there.

“And how would you feel if someone opened letters addressed to you because they think you won’t understand them? These are common challenges that millions of people face across the world, so we wanted to find a solution that can overcome that problem and make people’s lives easier.”

The main purpose of an Easy Read document is to let people with learning disabilities know what they need to, so they can make key decisions about important areas of their life.

“I like it when people use simple words and no jargon,” said Tom, one of the volunteers who contributed to the project. “Easy Read and pictures are important to help me understand.”

Fellow group member Tammy added: “When I see the Easy Read, it makes me feel happy because I find reading difficult.”

Councillor Emma Bushell, deputy leader and cabinet member for organisational oversight at he council said: “We believe that technology can be a force for good and accessibility is at the heart of that vision.

“With the development of Simply Readable, we’re taking a leap towards creating a more inclusive world, where everyone has equal access to information and opportunities. It also fits in perfectly with our mission to reduce inequality across the borough.

“I’d like to especially thank our experts Tom, Dan, Charlotte, Tammy, Elroy and David who were a fantastic help to the team in developing this innovative tool.”