“Community outing,” it’s the kind of phrase that appears in reports, emails, and meetings, particularly when it comes to disabilities. However, it doesn’t show up in everyday conversation. If a nondisabled person goes to a movie, the mall, or out to eat, they don’t call it a community outing.
Most people don’t call everyday activities community outings. Yet professionals often do. Not because they have to, but because professional language creates space. It adds distance. It feels safe. Sometimes, it’s just what people are used to.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I was asked to do some testing with the speech-language pathologist. The test had to do with my social skills. One question I was asked was “Where are your favorite places to go in the community”? I told her that I enjoyed going to the movies, museums, and sporting events.
I couldn’t help but wonder how that question would have been asked to my nondisabled peers. I’d imagine they’d be asked “Where do you like to hang out with your friends”? At 16, I wanted people to understand that I really wasn’t that different than other students. By using formal language, the speech language pathologist made me feel awkward.
That kind of language can be confusing. Think about someone with an intellectual disability or someone who processes language differently. Using complex, formal words doesn’t make things clearer. It makes them harder to understand.
It’s like saying, “Oh, you’re struggling to understand? Let me make that worse for you.” This isn’t just about one awkward sentence. It’s about how language can become a barrier. We say we want to connect, support, and empower, but our words often do the opposite. They create walls instead of bridges.
Plain language isn’t just about simplifying things. It’s about opening things up. It’s about respect. It’s about making sure everyone has access to the conversation. When we speak in ways that are clear and relatable, we’re not simplifying. We’re saying, “You belong here.”
Even the federal government has recognized how important this is. In 2010, Congress passed the Plain Writing Act, which requires agencies to use clear, straightforward language in documents meant for the public. That includes forms, instructions, and anything that helps people access services or understand their rights. The law also requires agencies to train staff in plain writing and make it easy for the public to give feedback.
It’s a reminder that clarity isn’t just helpful. It’s a matter of equity. When people can understand what’s being asked of them, they can participate fully, make informed choices, and advocate for themselves.
If we want to be understood, we have to speak in ways that invite understanding. That means choosing words that feel human, not clinical. It means talking with people, not at them. It also means remembering that language isn’t just about information. It’s about connection.
Sources:
Eaton, Kendall. “Plain Language for Everyone: Making Information More Inclusive.” The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality, 14 May 2025, thinkequitable.com/plain-language-accessibility/.
Kerr, Kathleen T. A Study of the Plain Writing Act of 2010: Federal Agency, Writer, and User Appropriations of US Plain Language Policy. Virginia Tech, 2014.
Open Future Learning. Disability “Outings” Suck. YouTube, uploaded by Open Future Learning, 1 Sept. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX-GB4I36LU.
Pulrang, Andrew. “Plain Language Writing – an Essential Part of Accessibility.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 22 Oct. 2020, http://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewpulrang/2020/10/22/plain-language-writing—an-essential-part-of-accessibility/.