Designing for Dyslexia

dyslexic handwriting example

Design Considerations.

  • Text size - never smaller than 12 pt. font;

  • Text scaling - use % or em to allow for scaling;

  • Font style - avoid serif fonts. Arial and Helvetica are good choices;

  • Capitalization - avoid as it can give the impression of shouting;

  • Background - avoid high contrasting white background as it may make text harder to read;

  • Spacing - spacing between paragraphs helps to break up text;

  • Justification - avoid as it can create distracting negative space between words;

  • Italics - avoid as they can be hard to read;

  • Paragraphs - keep them short;

  • Use lists to bullet point items - this keeps information organized;

  • Writing style - consider your audience's reading level;

  • Navigation - keep this consistent throughout your site;

  • Moving text - avoid as this is distracting;

  • Columns - keep column width under 80 characters long;

  • Pictures - use them when possible to help aid comprehension;

  • Document structure - keep as simple and organized as possible;

  • Abbreviations - always spell out first instance of an abbreviation;