Shelby Duprey

Making the UNM Website

More Accessible to Those
with Dyslexia
An Analytical Report

Table of Contents

Cover sheet
1
Table of Contents
2
Abstract
3
Introduction
4
Methodology
5
Results
7
Discussion of Results
9
Final Recommendation
10
Works Cited
11

Abstract

In this analytical report I will introduce different factors which can affect
reading comprehension in individuals with dyslexia. These different factors are then
used for comparison with the design elements used on the University of New Mexico
website to determine how accessible the website is to individuals with dyslexia.
Design elements that affect reading ability with dyslexia can include style of font,
color of text and color of background. Each of these criteria are considered and
several different pages of the UNM website are analyzed. Different solutions are
proposed and the benefits of each solution are considered.

Introduction

An important element in universal design is making things accessible to those

with cognitive impairments, such as dyslexia. Dyslexia can affect language
development and cause difficulties in reading comprehension, impairing the users
ability to read and understand information in many daily activities, including using
the internet. According to Nancy Mather, a noted researcher in the field of learning
disabilities, dyslexia is "a problem with rapid word identification and/or spelling
caused by poor phonological and/or orthographic awareness. Its treatment requires
specialized methods and accommodations. (Mather 138). This can become
problematic when trying access vital information online and especially in an
educational setting, such as The University of New Mexicos website.
It estimated that 15% of students have dyslexia, and an increasing number of
students with dyslexia are entering higher education (Tops 186). With research
showing that more students with dyslexia are going to college, it is important for
The University of New Mexico to meet the needs of the increasing number of
dyslexic students. There are several different ways websites can be designed to
help with reading comprehension to accommodate those with dyslexia. Research
shows that the font used can have a significant effect on how easily something can
be read. The shape of the font, size and whether it has serifs all can affect how the
letters are identified. Additionally, the color of the text and the color of the
background can be a factor, as well as the level of contrast between those colors.
Use of these elements, and the principles of universal design, The University of New
Mexico can greatly improve how easily and quickly written text can be read by
those with dyslexia.

Methodology

Step One

The first step in the process will be to establish current data on the subject. By
using the University of New Mexico Library as an online resource for peer reviewed
research. This will establish the framework for guidelines that will be used in the
next step.
Step Two
The methods in which we will be using will consist of first considering what
elements make a website accessible to those with dyslexia. These criteria include
things such as which type of font used, which colors of text and background, and
how these impact a persons ability to read. Also specifically what can be done to
the website more accessible to ones with dyslexia.
Step Three
In the third step we will consider what the current research has shown in the
criteria of font style, font color, and background color, then compare this data with
several different pages from the University of New Mexicos website and determine
how well each of these pages meet this criteria. Then we will consider what
methods could be useful for improving the accessibility of the website.

Results

Research has shown color and contrast of font are important factors in how
difficult a webpage is to read for those with dyslexia. In a study it was found that
color contrast was a contributing factor in a text being read by people with dyslexia.
It was determined that low contrast fonts, such as blue on white, were easier to
read than high contrast fonts. In the study, 23 individuals with dyslexia were shown
different color combinations of text and back ground, then afterward they were
asked which combination of colors were easiest to read. The results were that 38%
chose a black font on a yellow background, 20% chose a blue font on a white
background, while only 13.64% chose the traditional black font and a white

background (Bradford 2012).

Prefferred Text and Background Colors

45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%

Black & White

Black & Yellow

Blue & White

Research also shows that the style of font can be a factor. One study tested 12
different fonts on 48 individuals with dyslexia, and timed how long it took them to
read different passages. The study concluded: Font types have an impact on
readability for people with dyslexia. For the tested fonts, sans serif, monospaced,
and roman font styles significantly improved the reading performance over serif,

proportional, and italic fonts. On the basis of our results, we recommend a set of
more accessible fonts for people with and without dyslexia (Marinus 233).
The first section of The University of New Mexicos website visitors come to is
the homepage (fig. 1). Some areas of the homepage use a sans serif font which is
good type of font to make it accessible to those with dyslexia. However other areas
use a rather squared off looking font that makes all the letters look similar. This can
viewed on the homepage where it says Defining UNM, and also on the

scholarships page, where it says There are so many opportunities waiting for you.

Figure 1: UNM Homepage

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Figure 2: UNM Scholarship Page

The homepage makes good use of color contrast for those with dyslexia. For
example, the University of New Mexico logo is in a light gray font with a white
background. This is a low contrast combination of colors, the type of contrast
preferred by those surveyed. The scholarship page (fig. 2) is mostly high contrast
black on white, which was chosen as the least preferred color combination in the
study. Some of the fonts is square shaped and the letters are shaped similar to each
other. This makes the text especially difficult read, due to the letters being difficult
to distinguish from each other.

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Discussion of results

Overall some areas of The University of New Mexico website, such as the
homepage, do well to make the information easily read by those with dyslexia, while
others, such the scholarships page could use some improving. There are texts that
could be problematic, such as on the scholarship page and Loboweb, both of which
could be greatly improved by changing font. Employing a type of sans serif font
throughout all of the pages would greatly improve accessibility to those with
dyslexia. Using a font designed for those with dyslexia would also be a way to make
the UNM website easier to read and understand. Dyslexie is a font designed
specifically for the cognitive impairments associated with dyslexia. The font uses
several elements to improve the ability of letters to be quickly identified, enabling
the text to read faster and with less confusion.
The use of colors and backgrounds is also good in some areas, such as the
homepage, whereas other areas, such as the scholarship page and Loboweb, could
be improved. The high contrast plain black and white font on the scholarship page
and Loboweb could be changed to a text and background with a low color contrast,
such as grey and white, or red and grey. Loboweb is where some of the most
important parts of the website are located, such as registration and the bursar,
however this page has some of the most difficult fonts and color contrasts to read.

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Final Recommendation
By changing fonts and use of color contrast The University of New Mexicos
website could be greatly improved for those with dyslexia. The use of the Dyslexie
font would be the best way to make the website much more user friendly to those
with dyslexia. By adopting this font, UNM would set an example of being one of the
first schools to begin incorporating it. Changing to lower contrast colors will help the
overall readability and employ the concept of universal design into its website.
The large of amounts of information presented on The University of New
Mexicos website can be overwhelming, especially to those with reading
impairments, such as dyslexia. This is important because this is where students
register for classes, make payments and receive financial aid, and these critical
parts of the websites should be clear and easy to understand. The research shows
that by making these changes The University of New Mexico can demonstrate its
commitment to being accessible to all students.
If you require any additional information please feel free to contact me at
sduprey@unm.edu. Thank you for your time

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Works Cited
Tops W., et al. "Identifying Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education." Annals of
Dyslexia 62.3 (2012):
186-203. Print.
Mather, Nancy., and Barbara J. Wendling. Essentials of Dyslexia Assessment and
Intervention.Hoboken,
N.J.: J. Wiley, 2012. Web. Essentials of psychological assessment series;
Essentials of
psychological assessment series.
Marinus E., et al. "A Special Font for People with Dyslexia: Does It Work and, If so,
Why?" Dyslexia
(Chichester, England) 22.3 (2016): 233-44. Print.
Bradford, J. (2012) Designing web pages for dyslexic readers. Available:
http://www.dyslexiaparent.com/mag35.html. Last accessed 20 September 2012.

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