Tumour Foundation of BC Case Study
Expanding Access to NF1 Educational Resources Through Multilingual Translation
Helping families affected by Neurofibromatosis Type 1 access critical educational resources in their preferred language.
About the Tumour Foundation of BC
Art One Translations translated and typeset a parent education guide on Neurofibromatosis Type 1 into Simplified Chinese and Punjabi, helping the Tumour Foundation of BC expand access to critical educational information for multilingual families.
The Tumour Foundation of BC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by Neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic condition that can impact neurological development, learning, and overall quality of life.
Through education, advocacy, awareness initiatives, and community support programs, the Foundation helps families better understand the challenges associated with neurofibromatosis and navigate available resources.
One of the organization’s most valuable educational tools was A Parent’s Guide to Learning Disabilities Associated with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), a comprehensive resource developed to help parents and educators support children affected by NF1-related learning challenges.
After distributing more than 15,000 English-language copies, the Foundation sought to make the guide available to additional communities through multilingual translation.
Challenge
Families navigating a rare medical condition often face significant barriers when trying to access reliable information and support.
For parents of children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1, understanding the educational implications of the condition can be particularly challenging. NF1 may affect learning, attention, executive functioning, academic performance, and social development. Families often need to work closely with teachers, educational specialists, and healthcare professionals to help children succeed in school.
The Foundation’s guide was developed specifically to address these challenges
The resource included information on:
- Learning disabilities associated with NF1
- Educational planning
- School accommodations
- Parent advocacy
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Classroom strategies
- Communication between parents and educators
- Supporting academic success
While the English version had been widely distributed, language barriers prevented some families from fully benefiting from the information.
After receiving grant funding, the Foundation decided to translate the guide into:
- Simplified Chinese
- Punjabi
The objective was to make the resource more accessible to multilingual families who may be more comfortable accessing information in their first language.
The project required careful handling of both healthcare and educational terminology while maintaining a tone that was supportive, clear, and approachable for parents and caregivers.
Why Multilingual Patient and Family Education Matters
Healthcare accessibility extends beyond clinical care.
Families are often responsible for making important decisions regarding education, support services, accommodations, and long-term planning. Access to understandable information can significantly affect a family’s ability to advocate for a child and navigate available resources.
For many organizations, translating educational resources is one of the most effective ways to reduce barriers to access and support equitable outcomes.
The Tumour Foundation recognized that language should not be a barrier to understanding a child’s educational needs. By making the guide available in additional languages, the organization could better support diverse communities and expand the reach of an already successful educational resource.
Solution
Art One Translations partnered with the Tumour Foundation of BC to provide complete multilingual translation and publishing services.
The project included:
- Translation
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Healthcare terminology review
- Desktop publishing
- InDesign localization
- Print-ready production
Healthcare and Educational Expertise
Over the course of the engagement, Art One Translations supported the translation of numerous content types, including:
The content addressed:
- Neurofibromatosis terminology
- Learning disabilities
- Educational interventions
- Academic accommodations
- Child development
- ADHD-related concepts
- Parent support strategies
Healthcare-specialized translators and reviewers were assigned to ensure that terminology remained accurate while preserving the readability and supportive tone of the guide.
The goal was to create translations that would be equally valuable to:
- Parents
- Caregivers
- Educators
- Support professionals
Multilingual Desktop Publishing
The project was completed using the Foundation’s original Adobe InDesign files.
In addition to translation, Art One provided full multilingual desktop publishing services.
This included:
- Layout adaptation
- Text expansion management
- Graphic localization
- Quality assurance review
- Print-ready file preparation
Working directly within the InDesign files helped preserve the design integrity of the original guide while ensuring that both translated versions were publication-ready.
Deliverables
Final deliverables included:
Simplified Chinese Version
- Fully translated guide
- Localized InDesign files
- Print-ready PDF
Punjabi Version
- Fully translated guide
- Localized InDesign files
- Print-ready PDF
Both versions were delivered in formats suitable for future updates, printing, and digital distribution.
Results & Impact
Expanding Access to Educational Information
The translated guides helped make valuable educational information available to families who may have faced language barriers when accessing the English version.
Supporting Parents and Caregivers
Parents gained access to information about NF1-related learning disabilities, educational planning, school accommodations, and strategies for supporting academic success.
Extending the Reach of an Established Resource
The project expanded the reach of a guide that had already been distributed to more than 15,000 families, educators, and community members.
Supporting Inclusive Community Outreach
By making the guide available in Simplified Chinese and Punjabi, the Foundation was able to better serve diverse communities and support more inclusive access to information.
Combining Translation and Publishing Expertise
The project demonstrated the value of integrating specialized translation with multilingual desktop publishing, enabling the Foundation to receive publication-ready resources without the need for additional production vendors.
Client Feedback
“I am so excited that these guides are done! It was a dream long ago to have the guide available to the NF community in multiple languages. Thank you for all your work in bringing our dream to life!”
— Desirée Sher, Executive Director, Tumour Foundation of BC
Related services: Healthcare Translation · Patient Education Translation · Community Outreach Translation · Multilingual Desktop Publishing · Chinese Translation Services · Punjabi Translation Services · InDesign Localization
Relevant sectors:
Patient Education · Healthcare Accessibility · Community Health Organizations · Disability Organizations · Rare Disease Advocacy · Nonprofits
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