Making Content More Accessible: Tips for Dyslexia-Friendly Design
By Alice Joe • June 21, 2024
As content creators, we strive to make our work engaging and easy to understand for all readers. But for the millions of people with dyslexia, traditional writing and design practices can create unnecessary barriers. By adopting a few simple strategies for dyslexia-friendly content creation and visual design, we can ensure that our messages reach everyone more equitably.
Understanding Dyslexia
Before we dive into the how-to, it's essential to understand the what. Dyslexia is a common learning disability that affects an estimated 5-10% of the population. It's characterized by difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling, despite average to above-average intelligence.
Contrary to popular myth, dyslexia isn't about reading letters backwards or lacking focus. Instead, it's a neurological condition that impacts the brain's ability to process written language. People with dyslexia might struggle with phonemic awareness (sounding out words), decoding, fluency, and comprehension.
Dyslexia-Friendly Writing Practices
While we can't change the way individuals process language, we can adapt our writing to be more accessible. Here are some strategies to get you started:
Clarity Over Complexity: Favour simple, concise language. Break down complex ideas into smaller, more digestible chunks. Bullet points and numbered lists are your friends!
Consistent Formatting: Establish a consistent structure for headings, subheadings, and body text. This helps readers navigate your content more easily.
Active Voice: It's generally clearer than passive voice. ("The dog bites the man." vs. "The man was bitten by the dog.")
Define Jargon: If you must use technical terms, explain them. Sudden acronyms or complicated words can throw anyone off.
Proofread: Carefully proofreading for spelling and grammar errors is crucial. Tools like Grammarly can be a big help.
Visual Design for Dyslexia
Visual elements can either hinder or enhance readability. Here's how to make your design more dyslexia-friendly:
Clear Fonts: Avoid ornate, cursive, or italic fonts. Instead, opt for clean, sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or OpenDyslexic (a font designed specifically for dyslexia).
Size Matters: Ensure your font size is large enough (at least 12 points). Avoid requiring readers to zoom in.
Line and Paragraph Spacing: Generous line spacing (at least 1.5x) and clear paragraph breaks help prevent text from feeling overwhelming.
Highlighting: Use bolding or underlining to draw attention, rather than italics which can be hard to read.
Colour Contrast: Stick to high contrast between text and background.
Images: Always include alt text for images, in case readers have them turned off or use screen readers.
Customization: Consider allowing users to customise font, size, and contrast to suit their individual needs.
Putting it into Practice
Incorporating these practices into your workflow might take some initial effort, but the benefits are well worth it. By making your content more accessible, you open your work up to a wider audience and create a more inclusive experience for all readers.
And remember, the best way to learn is to listen. Engage with dyslexic readers, ask for feedback, and be open to continuous improvement.
Additional Resources:
• The British Dyslexia Association has a wealth of information on dyslexia-friendly design.
• The Dyslexia Foundation provides tips for writing and teaching.
Let's work together to create a more inclusive digital landscape, one piece of content at a time.