Monday, 18 November 2019

Fonts and Browser Extensions That Help Those with Dyslexia Read the Web

Group of Office Workers
G-Stock Studio/Shutterstock

Dyslexia is a learning condition characterized by difficulties with reading and, to a lesser extent, writing. As the web is full of written content, the right fonts and extensions can make consuming digital content much easier for those with dyslexia.

Fonts

An image of different fonts.
Image courtesy of OpenDyslexic.org

Anything that’s written in a digital format must use a font. Whether it’s a Word document, a web page, a spreadsheet, subtitles on a video, or any words written down, they all use a font.

People with dyslexia often “see” letters swapping places, turning back to front, melting together, or just generally changing in ways that make it difficult or impossible to read. The right font can help stop these problems, or at least alleviate them enough that reading is possible.

There are two big names in the world of dyslexia fonts: OpenDyslexic and Dyslexie Font. Both are popular, both are free, and you can install one or both and use them whenever you want.

If you’ve never installed a font before, we’ve written a guide that covers Windows, Mac, and Linux, and also a guide for iPads and iPhones. After you’ve installed your font, you can change the default font in your web browser, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and many other apps you use regularly.

If you want to know more about dyslexia-friendly fonts, including other options, the science behind the readability of different fonts, and more, Read & Spell has a comprehensive article for you.

Browser Extensions for Chrome and Firefox

So much of modern life is mediated through the internet that making your browser more dyslexia-friendly is a must.

Helperbird

The most popular browser extension (based on downloads) is Helperbird, available for both Chrome and Firefox.

Helperbird Logo

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