Writing for the disadvantaged reader: An introduction

Electrical engineers usually write for two classes of readers: other engineers and the general public. Within both of these groups there are disadvantaged readers. Often, fellow engineers are natives of countries where they learned a language other than English as their first language, and who in some cases have not mastered English. A recent issue of The Institute discussed the large number of non-U.S. nationals who are obtaining electrical engineering degrees in the U.S., and how many of them have chosen to remain in the U.S. after obtaining their degrees — especially graduate degrees. Within the general public, there are also people with reading disadvantages. They include prelingually deaf persons and those with learning disabilities sprinkled in the general population and any engineer who writes for general consumer audiences (e.g. consumer electronics or public statements on power plant safety) should be aware of the problems of disadvantaged readers and attempt to accommodate their needs.