Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional dyslexic typeface

Just in case, you are interested in a font for dyslexic, I found this on the web : http://dyslexicfonts.com/
This font is free as opposed to other corresponding ones (up to my knowledge)
The scientific background for this font is not developped on this site but it makes me think about a similar font developped by a university or so in the netherlands ...
As it is free, I will just give it a try and see ...

Why is it sans-serif? is my first question... My limited, but not nil knowledge of this field does not support the specifics of this font. (I know I could barely read it, but I'm not dyslexic)

I'd love to see something from people who know more, since accessible communication is very important to the work I do (though that also does not relate to dyslexia specifically.)

-Mich

As someone with visual tracking issues and having tried my hand and done research on typeface design, I like the principles in the design. The line effect with the weighted bottoms really keeps me in place. The font itself has some design issues such as the lower case G and lower D are very heavy compared to other letters which reduces general legibility.

Overall, the price is a big improvement upon the non open source one I linked a few months ago. I, too, would be curious to hear from folks with diagnosed dyslexia.

Just back from vacation and saw this thread. I showed the font to DD8 and she reports "it's easy to tell the "b's" and "d's". She still stumbled trying to read the words but said the letters are indeed easier. She can't explain why though.

All the specialists I have spoken to insist that dyslexia is an auditory problem not a visual problem... Interestingly it's my 2nd DD (DYS iq and not diagnosed dyslexic) who has the problems in both reading and writing with reversals, tracking, etc. she learned to read slower an later than her iq might suggest but way ahead if age peers. And radically in advance of her dyslexic sister (3-4 years in advance). For her we found serifs were an absolute must and excellent quality typography. Which is to say a good quality font properly word and line spaced was fairly ok and things like comic sans unreadable.... Of course readers rarely feature good fonts or typography, and were torturous.

I think the distinction is that dyslexia is more of an auditory processing problem. Auditory processing being associated with sequencing, order, and rythm. So a visual system not balanced with auditory controls sees things a bit or quite a bit more holistically. In that way, the ability to recognize the ball with a line off of it from any possible angle as a ball with a line can be useful for an engineer or such, but not so helpful when you need to tell that p q b d is not a pack of the same species of critters.

Wow sorry for the iPhone typos in my last post! Pretty funny in a dyslexia thread. I do get what you are saying zen scanner. I still feel like what you are describing ("oh it's a ball with a stick!" rather than seeing b d p q) still fits miss non dyslexic better than her sister. And that this font would have been terrible for her.