Using dyslexia friendly fonts can significantly improve the reading experience for many readers.
I have been amazed by the number of students who always use a dyslexia friendly font when reading for pleasure because it improves the reading experience but don't use them when reading for school.
Given schools rely heavily on students reading to learn and revise, anything that improves a student’s ability to read is beneficial right across the curriculum.
They are a quick to install, most free resource
that can significantly help dyslexics
Confession
The use of dyslexia friendly fonts for dyslexics is NOT backed up by science. Dyslexia is a language processing disorder, fonts (and different coloured backgrounds) help with visual not language issues.
Nonetheless, time after time, students I work with find these fonts help them significantly. Not being a scientist, and having no financial gain from their use, I feel compelled to share, so more students can use them.
Do they help all dyslexics?
These fonts don’t improve reading for all dyslexics. The only way to know if a font or a different coloured background, will help an individual is, try it!
Try a few different fonts to see which is best, as it is totally down to individual preference.
What do they look like?
Many different fonts exist, the graphics above and below are written in Open Dyslexic.
How do they work?
These fonts tend to have weighted bottoms that improve the visual problems some readers experience. This is an oversimplification.
This video explains quickly how dyslexia friendly fonts work
How much do they cost?
In this article, I have given preference to fonts that are available free of charge or for a donation.
More fonts are available at a price.
How can you download & use fonts?
Most devices are not delivered with dyslexia friendly fonts, they need to be downloaded or installed.
This video explains how important dyslexia friendly fonts are, and how they might be used when using Microsoft Word, Kindle Fire, and Google Chrome.
I’ve created video on how to:
Download
Open Dyslexic
Google Chrome extension for Open Dyslexic
Dyslexie
Use
Open Dyslexic in Microsoft Word
Google Chrome extension when surfing the internet.
These can all be found on this playlist.
Click on the image above to access the Dyslexia Friendly Font Playlist