Dyslexia

Dyslexia affects reading speed, accuracy, and comprehension. Estimates suggest 15-20% of the population has some degree of dyslexia. Content structured in clear, accessible ways makes reading easier for these users and typically improves readability for everyone.

Typography

• Use a clean, familiar sans-serif font for body text
• Minimum 16px for body text
• Line height of at least 1.5
• Avoid fully justified text - the uneven gaps between words disrupt reading rhythm
• Keep line lengths between 50-75 characters (roughly 60-80ch in CSS)
• Avoid italics for long passages - italics reduce legibility for dyslexic readers

Spacing and layout

• Use generous whitespace between sections
• Break content into short paragraphs
• Use headers to chunk content into named sections
• Use bullet points for lists rather than comma-separated inline lists

Content writing

• Use simple, direct language
• Avoid double negatives: "you must not fail to" is harder than "you must"
• Use active voice
• Put the most important information first

What not to do

• Do not rely on dense blocks of unbroken text
• Avoid centering long paragraphs - left-aligned text is easier to track
• Do not use background patterns or textures behind text

WCAG criteria