In this fourth article of our series, we turn our attention to creating accessible learning modules for dyslexic employees.
Dyslexia, a common learning difference that affects reading, writing, and spelling skills, presents unique challenges in the learning environment. However, with thoughtful design and the right resources, digital learning can be made accessible for dyslexic learners, ensuring they can also benefit from workplace training and development opportunities.
Personal Reflections on Dyslexia
My own journey with dyslexia has been a mixed bag of challenges and triumphs. Not being diagnosed early on, I was lucky in a sense because it meant I wasn’t immediately written off. Instead, I was pushed to get comfortable with reading—a struggle that continued until I stumbled upon J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” It was the first book I loved enough to push through the difficulty, learning to love reading in the process. Unfortunately, I saw others who were not so lucky.
A few years later, schools began to use dyslexia not as a reason to support students but as an excuse to lower expectations. It’s disheartening to recall teachers who gave up on students with dyslexia, citing it as a reason for their inability to excel in traditional learning settings.
While awareness and support for dyslexia have improved, we are still far from a world where the educational and professional landscapes are fully accessible and fair for everyone.
A Super Power?
The narrative that dyslexia is a superpower is empowering for some, highlighting the unique strengths and perspectives dyslexic individuals can bring to the table. However, this has not been my personal experience, and it’s important to acknowledge that not every dyslexic person feels this way. The diversity of experiences among those with dyslexia is vast, and no one-size-fits-all narrative exists.
On a personal level, dyslexia is a barrier I have to overcome with effort and technology, not something I choose to celebrate. But I would never suggest that someone else shouldn’t celebrate it and how dyslexia has shaped their life.
Practical Advice for Designing Accessible Learning Modules
Creating digital learning experiences that are accessible for dyslexic employees involves understanding the challenges and implementing practical solutions. Here are some tips:
1. Use Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts
Fonts such as Open Dyslexic, Comic Sans, or Arial are often easier for dyslexic readers to process. These fonts have unique features like weighted bottoms to help indicate direction, which can prevent the letters from appearing to flip or merge.
2. Provide Multimodal Content
Offering information in multiple formats can greatly benefit dyslexic learners. For example, complementing text with audio recordings, videos, and infographics ensures that learners have various ways to access and engage with the material.
3. Ensure Text Clarity
Use clear, concise language and break text into short paragraphs. Bullet points and numbered lists can help organise information, making it more digestible. A good rule of thumb is to aim for simplicity and clarity in all written communications.
4. Incorporate Interactive Learning Activities
Engaging dyslexic learners with interactive activities such as quizzes or short writing exercises can help reinforce learning without over-reliance on lengthy reading assignments. These activities also add variety and keep the learning experience dynamic.
5. Allow Flexible Timing
Dyslexic learners may need more time to read and process information. Designing modules that allow learners to proceed at their own pace without penalising slower reading speeds can significantly affect their learning experience.
6. Provide Accessible Resources
Ensure all learning materials are compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies. Offering downloadable resources in accessible formats allows learners to choose the tools and methods that best support their learning.
This means testing all your content and not simply trusting your authoring software of choice. You can download NVDA completely free of charge. This is my screen reader of choice, and I’m often surprised at just how much content I try to use it on, only to find that the author clearly didn’t bother to make it usable. This is especially common with PDFs.
Conclusion
Building accessible learning modules for dyslexic employees is not just about compliance or ticking boxes. By implementing practical design choices, we can make digital learning a more effective and impactful experience, enabling and supporting employee performance.
