Testing web-based solutions for improving reading tasks in dyslexic and neuro-typical users

Abstract

This study investigates the readability of web sites for users with dyslexia as well as neuro-typical readers. The aim of the paper is twofold: on the one hand, it is aimed at assessing whether and how we can improve the level of web pages accessibility for users with dyslexia, and to determine which new requisites could be added to the current ones proposed from the WCAG guidelines for web accessibility. In order to achieve this goal, we designed a test targeted to students diagnosed with dyslexia (N = 26). Results showed that further modifications to the page style beyond those considered by WCAG (e.g., font type, size and column width) were appreciated by users with dyslexia and may be considered as additional personalization options for this kind of users. On the other hand, we would like to discover if the exploitation of a specific font designed for users with dyslexia would be also welcomed by neuro-typical users in reading tasks. The results of a second on line experiment highlight that neuro-typical users (N = 199) and users with dyslexia (N = 30) prefer this font for reading tasks, compared to a regular sans-serif font.