I have come across a new font: Atkinson Hyperlegible… have you heard of it? It is new to me, but apparently not new 🙂 You can find it at https://www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/
It was developed by the Braille Institute to help low-vision readers. It improves legibility and readability through clear and distinctive letters and numbers. I thought why not use it for those with difficulties with reading in general? Those with conditions such as dyslexia, those with identified visual stress, or those who may not have any diagnosis but find reading stressful.
Why might it be effective for those with dyslexia?
Simplified letterforms: The font’s letter shapes are designed to be more consistent and less ambiguous, reducing the likelihood of misinterpretation.
Increased spacing: There is extra space between letters and words, making it easier to distinguish individual characters.
Enhanced comprehension: By making the text easier to read, it may help with comprehension as less effort is spent decoding.
Examples of other Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts
Dyslexia-friendly fonts are designed to enhance readability for individuals with dyslexia. These fonts incorporate specific features that can make the text easier to process and understand. As well as the above, some dyslexia-friendly fonts have heavier lines or distinctive features that can help prevent letters from being flipped or reversed.
Here are some popular examples of dyslexia-friendly fonts:
Open Dyslexic: Designed specifically for individuals with dyslexia, Open Dyslexic features distinctive letter shapes and increased spacing between characters.
Dyslexie: A font with a unique design that aims to reduce confusion and improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.
Arial Black: While not specifically designed for dyslexia, Arial Black’s bold and clear letterforms can be helpful for some individuals.
Comic Sans MS: Another font that, due to its simple and rounded letter shapes, can be beneficial for those with dyslexia.
Tahoma: A sans-serif font with clear and readable letterforms.
When choosing fonts, we need to prioritise readability and accessibility for our students. It’s important to note that while dyslexia-friendly fonts can be helpful, it is not be a cure-all for dyslexia. Individual experiences may vary, and it’s often beneficial to combine font choices with other accommodations or strategies to address the specific needs of individuals with dyslexia.