When we talk about digital accessibility we often focus on things like screen readers, colour contrast, and keyboard navigation. But accessibility isn’t only only about vision or mobility. There are many cognitive differences that affect how people experience the web that we as designers must consider. Dyslexia is one of the most common cognitive disabilities yet often overlooked.

It’s estimated that around 10% of the global population is dyslexic, including up to 400,000 people in Ireland. Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects how the brain processes written language. It’s not a matter of intelligence or effort but a different way of thinking and learning. In the context of digital experiences, it can present a wide range of challenges that, when unaddressed, can exclude users from accessing even the most basic services online.

At Inclusive Design Lab, we believe that true accessibility must consider cognitive diversity, and that includes understanding how dyslexia affects digital interaction and how inclusive design can remove those barriers.

Challenges for Dyslexic users

Reading on a screen can be slow, tiring, and disorienting for dyslexic users. Long paragraphs, dense blocks of text or non-standard fonts can make it difficult to scan and absorb content. Instructions buried in jargon or form fields with unclear labels can turn a simple sign-up into a frustrating ordeal. Even animations, background colours, or contrast choices can add cognitive load that makes the entire experience feel overwhelming. More than just just an inconvenience, this can lead to complete abandonment of your website or app. For businesses, that’s not just a poor user experience, it’s a lost customer.

Design Considerations That Make a Difference,

Designing for dyslexia doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your product. In fact, many of the best practices for dyslexia accessibility align with universal usability principles that benefit all users.

Typography is perhaps one of the most important considerations. Fonts should be clean and simple and sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica tend to be more readable for dyslexic users. Generous line spacing and left-aligned text can make scanning more comfortable, and avoiding italics or stylised type helps reduce confusion.

Language clarity is just as important. Breaking up long paragraphs into shorter, digestible sections can significantly ease cognitive strain. Adding headings, summary sentences, and using plain, jargon-free language helps users grasp key information quickly and with confidence.

In addition, giving users control over how they consume content can make a big difference. Options to adjust font size, toggle between light and dark modes, or change line spacing make the experience more accessible. When users can tailor an interface to suit their reading needs, they’re far more likely to fully engage with it.

Minimising distractions is another important consideration. Busy backgrounds, unnecessary animations, or auto-playing content can interrupt concentration and make text harder to focus on. Designing clean, calm interfaces, especially for content-heavy websites and apps, can help everyone but particularly those with dyslexia.

Finally, colour contrast should be carefully considered. Dyslexic users may struggle with low-contrast text or black-on-white schemes. Offering subtle background tones with clear, dark text can improve readability without causing fatigue.

The Broader Benefits of Inclusive Design

The above recommendations are primarily aimed at improving accessibility for people with dyslexia but the benefits are universal. Clearer content, better structure, and flexible visual settings improve usability for all users, especially those with temporary or situational challenges such as someone reading on a cracked screen, in poor light, or after a long day at work.

Accessible design also aligns with legal requirements such as the European Accessibility Act which comes into force in 2025. For many organisations, particularly in the public and regulated sectors, inclusive design isn’t just good practice but a compliance necessity. Perhaps more than that, it’s a sign of a brand that values all of its users and takes its responsibility to serve them seriously. In a crowded digital marketplace, inclusion is no longer a nice to have. It’s a strategic advantage.

How Inclusive Design Lab Can Help

At Inclusive Design Lab, we partner with teams to embed accessibility into your product workflows. When considering dyslexia and other neurodivergent conditions, we start with in-depth audits of your site or app, identifying barriers to comprehension, readability, and user control. We don’t just run it through automated tools, we look at how real users experience your content and provide tailored, practical recommendations.

We also work with your designers, developers, and content creators to embed best practices from the start. From writing guidance and layout reviews to design system support and pattern libraries, we help your team create experiences that are inclusive by default—not by retrofit.

And if your team is just starting its journey into accessibility, we offer hands-on workshops and training to build awareness around cognitive accessibility, neurodiversity, and human-centred design. Because once your team understands why accessibility matters, inclusive choices become second nature.

Designing with dyslexia in mind isn’t just about fonts or layouts, it’s about respect, understanding, and a commitment to inclusion. When we build products that are easier to read, easier to navigate, and easier to trust, we’re not just helping people with dyslexia but making the internet better for everyone.

If your organisation wants to create digital experiences that work for the full spectrum of human diversity, we’d love to help you make it happen.