Category | Sans-serif |
---|---|
Designer(s) | Abelardo González[1] |
Date released | 2011[1] |
License | SIL Open Font License v1.1[2] |
Sample | |
Shown here | OpenDyslexic 3 Regular |
Website | opendyslexic |
OpenDyslexic is a free typeface/font designed to mitigate some of the common reading errors caused by dyslexia. The typeface was created by Abelardo González, who released it through an open-source license.[3][4] The design is based on DejaVu Sans, also an open-source font.[citation needed]
Like many dyslexia-intervention typefaces, most notably Dyslexie, OpenDyslexic adds to dyslexia research and is a reading aid. It is not a cure for dyslexia.[5] The typeface includes regular, bold, italic, bold-italic, and monospaced font styles. The benefit has been questioned in scientific studies.[6]
In 2012, González explained his motivation to the BBC: "I had seen similar fonts, but at the time they were completely unaffordable and so impractical as far as costs go."[1]
The typeface is currently an optional choice on many websites and formats, including Wikipedia,[7] Instapaper,[1] Kobo eReader,[8] Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, a few children's books,[9][10] and at least one imprint of classic literature.[11]
There is also a Google Chrome extension available,[12][13][4] which was developed by Abelardo González and Robert James Gabriel.[4][14] It is also part of the "dyslexia-friendly mode" in Oswald Foundation's web accessibility products.[15]
Two small studies have investigated the effect of specialized fonts used with students with dyslexia. Rello and Baeza-Yates (2013) measured eye-tracking recordings of Spanish readers (aged 11–50) with dyslexia and found that OpenDyslexic did not significantly improve reading time nor shorten eye fixation.[16] In her master's thesis, Leeuw (2010) compared Arial and Dyslexie with 21 Dutch students with dyslexia and found OpenDyslexic did not lead to faster reading, but may help with some dyslexic-related errors.[17] The British Dyslexia Association recommend “plain, evenly spaced sans serif font such as Arial and Comic Sans. Alternatives include Verdana, Tahoma, Century Gothic, Trebuchet”.[18]
There are other typefaces and fonts that have been linked to benefits for people with dyslexia including: BBC Reith, Comic Sans, Dyslexie, FS Me, Sassoon and Sylexiad.[19][20][21]