Shelter Care Projects

Simplifying paperwork for those in need

Vision

Dealing with the courts can be intimidating, stressful, and confusing for the general public. What if we could make it a little bit easier?

This was the guiding question for Portland State University students collaborating with the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD). The goal? To make their documents more easily accessible and understandable for the people who need them.

This would be accomplished by:

• Carefully examining and evaluating current documents and forms
• Revising phrasing, format, and sentence structure to make them clearer for laypeople
• Creating visually appealing, useful infographics to guide the public in navigating shelter care processes in Oregon

Doers

Students of PSU’s Applied Linguistics Department worked under the guidance of Janet Cowal and Oregon Judicial Department officials.

Process

These projects used knowledge of Federal Plain Language guidelines, language simplification tools like HemingwayApp, and graphic design principles informed by Universal Design for learning.

finish line, and Beyond

Below are the finished student projects addressing three different sets of documents related to shelter care in Oregon.

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1.) Citizen Review Board Hearing Statements

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2.) Shelter Care Hearing Materials

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3.) Consent Form Explanation Sheet

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Inspiration Behind it all

This work is informed by the Activist Applied Linguistics lens and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion to benefit all Oregonians.