ADP daily living component activity 8 – reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

This chapter provides information on activity 8 of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

This chapter should be read and applied in line with the overview of decision making and the daily living component Introduction. 

What daily living component 8 considers

Daily living component activity 8 considers an individual’s ability to read and understand written or printed information in their native language.

You should consider which descriptor applies to an individual for them to be able to complete the activity in line with the reliability criteria. 

An individual should be able to see the information.

Accessing information via Braille should not be considered as reading for this activity.

Difficulties people have with this activity

It is most likely that individuals will have difficulty with this activity for one or more of the following reasons. This list is not exhaustive. It may be because they:

• are blind or have a visual impairment
• have a cognitive or learning disability Illiteracy is not taken into consideration for this activity, unless it is a consequence of a disability or health condition

Written information

Written information is information written in standard size text. If an individual requires large print to be able to read, then a scoring descriptor should be considered.

You should consider whether an individual is able to complete activity 8 both indoors and outdoors.

Make distinction between written information and complex written information

You should make a distinction between basic written information and complex written information. These should be treated differently when selecting a descriptor and are defined as below:

• basic written information includes signs, symbols and dates written in standard size text in the individual’s native language
• while basic written information will be conveyed in a simple sentence, it should still be information of practical use

Complex written information is usually more than one sentence but could also be one complex sentence of standard size text in the individual’s native language.

For example, “Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it. Subject to terms and conditions”

What daily living component activity 8 does not consider

Daily living component activity 8 does not consider the following:

• an ability to read lengthy written information, such as a book which is more than complex information, as per the definition of complex information
• an ability to remember and retain information that has been read
• mental health symptoms such as lack of motivation, unless the mental health condition has led to an impact on an individual’s cognitive ability 
• physical symptoms such as fatigue or pain, which only relate to holding the text being read
• the distance from the text for reading. If an individual has to hold the text closer to their face, but is then able to read, this would be an acceptable standard
• braille is not considered reading for this activity
• if an individual has the ability to learn to read and no health condition that would stop them from learning, but has not learned, this would not be considered

Use of glasses or contact lenses prescribed by an ophthalmologist are not considered to be an aid when reading.

If this is the only support needed in relation to carrying out this activity, someone using them would score under Activity 8 descriptor A.

Daily living component activity 8 descriptors

The daily living component activity 8 descriptors describe 5 levels of functional ability to complete the activity:

1. can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using glasses or contact lenses
2. needs to use an aid or appliance, other than glasses or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information
3. needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information
4. needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information
5. cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all (ADP regs, Schedule 1 Part 2 - Daily Living Activities, Activity (8))

An individual may use an aid or aids to assist them in completing this activity, and this may mean that they satisfy daily living component activity 8 descriptor B, which is covered later. 8i

Meaning of prompting

You’ll also consider if the individual needs prompting from another person to complete the activity.

’Prompting’ means reminding, encouraging or explaining by another person. This does not have to be in the physical presence of the individual.