Easy reading clubs that promote inclusion and access to culture

Ben Schmidt on 17 September 2025

Clubs de lectura fàcil per fomentar l’accessibilitat de la cultura

Easy reading clubs to promote accessibility to culture

The Ampans reading clubs are weekly meetings where groups of people with different reading abilities read aloud and share impressions about easy-to-read books. This method, which follows a set of guidelines and recommendations related to text writing and design, aims to make information accessible to people with reading comprehension difficulties. In this sense, some sentences are simplified, and comparisons or metaphors that could create confusion are avoided.

The project is part of the “Network of Easy Reading and Cognitive Accessibility Clubs” program. Beyond the clubs, training activities related to accessibility in libraries and other culture-related initiatives have been carried out. A working group has also been created, made up of a multidisciplinary team that works to promote cognitive accessibility in the community.

Characteristics of innovation

Aging, Bank of innovations, Disability, Fully inclusive cities, Immigration, Link with the community, New model of intervention, New service, Personalization of the service, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Location

Comarca del Bages (Catalonia)

Partners / Founders

Genesis

The Ampans easy reading clubs began in 2014 in the Bages region to respond to the request of a group of users from the occupational center La Llum (AMPANS Foundation): to read in a library. The creation of this space generated complementary activities, as well as a virtual blog. Since then, the project has continued to grow, and ten reading clubs have been launched within the Network of Municipal Libraries of the Bages region, managed by the Barcelona Provincial Council.

Level of implementation

The first easy reading club received the 2016 Good Practices Award from the Easy Reading Association. According to AMPANS, compared to the beginning of the clubs, there has been a significant increase in the number of people who have regained the reading habit (from 8 to 102). In addition, an increase in interest and motivation outside the service has been observed, along with improvements in reading and oral comprehension and expression, and greater user autonomy.