Reading Support With OpenDyslexic Font
Some children enjoy reading more when the text feels easier to follow.
That is why readA3 allows parents to choose OpenDyslexic as a font option when generating personalised A3 reading materials for their child.
OpenDyslexic is a typeface designed with dyslexic readers in mind and is free to use for education, books, websites, apps and other projects. It is not a medical treatment, and it does not replace specialist literacy support. It is simply one accessibility choice that may make reading feel more comfortable for some children. Source: OpenDyslexic
Why font choice matters
Reading confidence is affected by more than the topic of a text. The visual presentation also matters.
Twinkl’s guidance on dyslexia-friendly fonts explains that research has not shown OpenDyslexic to improve reading rate or accuracy for every dyslexic learner when compared with common fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman. However, the article also notes that dyslexia-friendly fonts can still be useful because they often follow wider accessibility principles: readable shapes, clearer spacing and less visually crowded text. Source: Twinkl
For readA3, this is the right way to think about OpenDyslexic: not as a guaranteed fix, but as a helpful option.
How readA3 uses OpenDyslexic
When parents select OpenDyslexic, the generated A3 PDF can be prepared with a more reading-friendly layout:
- clearer letter forms;
- generous spacing;
- structured headings;
- short sections;
- left-aligned text;
- reduced visual crowding;
- printable A3 format for offline reading.
This matters because Twinkl highlights several practical design choices that can support dyslexic learners, including accessible font selection, suitable font size, wider spacing between letters and words, larger line spacing, avoiding italics and underlining, and avoiding long passages in capital letters. Source: Twinkl
A personalised newspaper can reduce friction
For many children, the hardest part of reading is not only decoding the words. It is choosing to begin.
readA3 combines two kinds of support:
Interest support
Children receive content linked to their own interests, such as science, sport, animals, games, history, space, nature or real-world stories.
Reading access support
Parents can choose a reading-friendly font and layout, including OpenDyslexic, when their child may benefit from extra visual clarity.
Together, this helps reading feel less like an assignment and more like discovery.
Every child is different
There is no single best font for every reader. Twinkl recommends paying attention to what each learner finds easiest to read and comparing options where possible. Source: Twinkl
That is why readA3 treats OpenDyslexic as a parent-selectable option. Some children may prefer it. Others may prefer a standard sans-serif font. The goal is to give families more control over the reading experience.
Our approach
readA3 does not claim that a font alone creates a reader.
Our aim is more practical:
Help parents offer children reading materials that are personalised, printable, age-appropriate and easier to engage with.
For children who need reading support, OpenDyslexic can be one small but meaningful part of that experience.