How to Make Your Content Dyslexia-Friendly
Creating content that is accessible to all learners is an essential aspect of inclusive education. For students with dyslexia, however, it can be particularly challenging to engage with content that isn’t designed with their needs in mind.
That’s why my friend Annette Tofaeono at Ako Aotearoa has created this dyslexia-friendly style guide for educators. Packed with practical tips and best practices, this guide will help you create content that is accessible, engaging, and effective for all learners, including those with dyslexia.
Whether you’re creating presentations, worksheets, online content or other resources, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to support dyslexic learners and enhance their educational experience.
You can download it for free below.
Creating Dyslexia-Friendly Resources: A Style Guide for Teachers and Educators
Dyslexia-friendly fonts
You need to read the guide if you want the specifics. It’s not rocket-science, but one of the things that interests me is the usage of certain kinds of typography. Here’s a bit more about using different kinds of fonts that are easier for folks with dyslexia.
Dyslexia-friendly fonts are fonts that are specifically designed to be more readable for people with dyslexia. These fonts have features that make letters more distinctive and easier to recognize, such as:
- Larger spacing between letters: Dyslexia-friendly fonts typically have larger spacing between letters to make them more distinct from each other.
- Rounded letters: Rounded letters, such as those found in Comic Sans or Dyslexie, can be easier to distinguish from one another than straight-edged letters.
- Consistent letter shape: Dyslexia-friendly fonts often have a consistent shape for each letter, making them easier to recognize and read.
- Heavy bottom: Some dyslexia-friendly fonts have a heavier bottom, which helps to anchor the letters and prevent them from appearing to flip or spin.
Other examples of dyslexia-friendly fonts include Dyslexie, OpenDyslexic, and Comic Sans. These fonts have been specifically designed to make reading easier for dyslexic learners by reducing the likelihood of letters and words being jumbled or distorted.
When creating dyslexia-friendly resources, it’s important to choose a font that is easy to read and accessible for all learners, including those with dyslexia. By using dyslexia-friendly fonts, educators can make their content more accessible and easier to read for all learners.
