Three new HSE easy read booklets are now available to support people with intellectual disabilities and people with low literacy who want to quit smoking. Developed by the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme in partnership with the HSE National Disability Team, the booklets use clear language, supportive images and a step‑by‑step approach to make information about quitting easier to understand.
The idea for the booklets came from disability day services, where staff highlighted that many people using their services found existing QUIT materials hard to use. In response, Speech and Language Therapist Teresa Gadd of ACE Communications worked with people with disabilities to design and test the content, making sure that the words, layout and images work well for the people they are intended for. An external designer then added graphics and photo symbols, and the final versions were agreed following review by service users.
The three A4 booklets are based on the national QUIT booklet and follow the same look and feel, but break the information into smaller, easier sections.
- Book 1 – Why I should quit smoking: explains the health and money benefits of quitting, the positive changes to breathing, energy and mood, and how stopping can help protect family and friends from smoke.
- Book 2 – Steps to quit smoking: helps people get ready to quit, set a quit date, keep a smoking diary, manage cravings using the 4 Ds (Delay, Distract, Drink water, Deep breaths), and cope with withdrawal symptoms.
- Book 3 – Getting help to quit smoking: focuses on practical supports, including HSE stop smoking advisors, free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), prescription medicines, support groups such as We Can Quit, the QUIT plan, text support and the HSE QUIT app.
Staff in disability and other community services can use the booklets one‑to‑one or in groups to start conversations about smoking and to support people through their quit journey. The booklets can be downloaded or ordered from www.healthpromotion.ie search for “easy read quit smoking” to access all three.