Who it helps
Website accessibility for people with dyslexia
One-click profile
Dyslexia
A readable font, more spacing and a reading guide. Visitors turn it on with one click from the panel.
- Readable font
- Letter spacing
- Line height
- Reading guide
The barriers
What makes websites hard to use?
Common problems for dyslexia visitors, and the reason the tools below exist.
Dense blocks of text
Long paragraphs with little white space make it hard to keep your place and easy to skip or repeat a line.
Tight spacing and hard-to-read styling
Letters and lines set close together, long passages in italics or capitals, and decorative fonts can make words harder to recognize.
Justified text and long lines
Text lined up to both margins leaves uneven gaps between words, which can form "rivers" of white space down the page. Very long lines make it hard to find the start of the next one.
Complex wording and strict spelling
Long sentences, jargon and unexplained abbreviations slow reading down. Search boxes and forms that need perfect spelling turn small typos into dead ends.
The tools
Which tools help?
Each one is a tile in the panel. Visitors switch it on, and it stays on as they browse.
- Readable fontSwitches the page's text to a plain sans-serif font such as Verdana, in place of thin, condensed or decorative fonts that can be harder to read.On
- Letter spacingAdds space between letters and words at three levels, so each word is easier to pick out. The Medium level uses the same spacing that WCAG's Text Spacing rule tests for.LightMediumWide
- Line heightAdds space between lines (1.5×, 1.8× or 2×), so the eye is less likely to slip to the wrong line.1.5×1.8×2×
- Reading guideShows a horizontal bar that follows the pointer, which helps readers keep their place on the current line.On
- Read aloudReads text out loud when the visitor clicks it, using the voices built into their browser. Listening can make long text less tiring.On
- Text alignThe Left level lines up all text on the left, so justified text gets even gaps between words and every line starts in the same place.LeftCenterRight
For site owners
What should you fix in your own code?
The tools help visitors adapt your pages, but they can't fix how your site is built. These changes make the biggest difference.
- Left-align body text instead of justifying it, and keep lines to about 80 characters or fewer (WCAG 1.4.8).
- Give body text a line height of at least 1.5, and make sure your layout still works when visitors add more space between lines, letters and words (WCAG 1.4.12). Our website accessibility checklist covers this and other layout checks.
- Use a plain font at a comfortable size. Save italics and capitals for short bits, and keep underlines for links.
- Write in plain language: short sentences, common words, and headings and lists that break up the page.
- Make search and forms forgiving of spelling mistakes, for example with suggestions and close matches.
- Don't put important words inside images, so visitors can restyle them or have them read aloud.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
About dyslexia, the tools and how they work.
Still have a question?
We read every message and reply as soon as we can.
support@example.comContact usIs dyslexia linked to intelligence?
No. The NHS says dyslexia does not affect intelligence. It is a difference in how the brain processes language, and it mainly affects reading and spelling.
How common is dyslexia?
The British Dyslexia Association says around 10% of the population is believed to be dyslexic. Many people are never formally assessed, so dyslexic visitors may not mention it.
What is the best font for dyslexia?
There is no single font that works for every dyslexic reader. A plain, evenly spaced font at a comfortable size, with generous line spacing, is a good default. Letting readers change the font and spacing themselves helps most.
What does the Dyslexia profile turn on?
It turns on Readable font, Letter spacing at Medium, Line height at 1.8× and the Reading guide in one click. Visitors can adjust each tool, and their settings are saved in their own browser.
Other visitor needs
Give every visitor the tools they need
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