Fonts- WCAG

Choosing Fonts Everyone Can Read

Fonts do more than show style. They directly affect how easily someone can read, process, and understand information. People with dyslexia, low vision, or cognitive disabilities may struggle with ornate or compressed fonts. Anyone can have trouble reading small, thin text on a screen. The wrong font can turn simple content into a barrier.

What Makes a Font Accessible

Accessible fonts share these traits:

Simple letter shapes
Clear spacing between characters
Consistent stroke width

Sans serif fonts are typically the most readable on screens.

Font Suggestions

Lexend (a good choice to support dyslexic students)
Arial
Verdana
Tahoma
Calibri
Helvetica
Open Sans
Roboto
Lato
Trebuchet MS

Avoid script, decorative, condensed, or novelty fonts, especially for body text.

Why This Supports Everyone

Accessible fonts help:

Students who struggle with decoding or visual tracking
Students recognize proper letter formations
Staff reading on small screens or late in the day
Families accessing content on different devices

Good typography reduces effort without changing meaning.

Size and Spacing Matter

Even a good font becomes hard to read if it is too small or tightly spaced.

Documents: minimum 12 pt. (14 pt. preferred)
Presentations: 18 pt. or larger

Use adequate line spacing and margins

Put It Into Practice

Open a document or slide you’ve used recently. Check the font style and size. If it feels tight or hard to read at a glance, switch to a clean sans serif font and increase the size slightly. Notice how much easier it becomes to scan.

Please Note: Fonts shown below with a strike-through should generally be avoided. They may be used when they serve a specific instructional purpose, such as helping students recognize and read words in different font styles, but should not be used as the default for regular instruction. Please prioritize clear, readable fonts whenever possible.

Infographic titled "Clear Type: A Guide to Accessible Typography" detailing best practices for font selection, sizing, and spacing to improve readability.

The Complex Description for the Fonts INfographic

The infographic is divided into two main sections: Accessible Font Selection and Sizing and Practical Impact.

Accessible Font Selection:
- Traits of Readability: Prioritize simple letter shapes, clear spacing, and consistent stroke widths. A comparison shows a clean sans-serif "ag" as preferred over a decorative serif "ag" (crossed out).
- Top Sans Serif Recommendations: Lexend (for dyslexia support), Arial, Verdana, and Open Sans.
- Styles to Avoid: Script, Decorative, Condensed, and Novelty fonts are all shown with red "X" marks.
Sizing and Practical Impact:
- Minimum Size Standards: Recommends 12–14pt for documents and at least 18pt for presentations.
- Optimize Spacing: Advises using adequate line spacing and margins to prevent text from appearing tight.
- Universal Benefits: States that accessible fonts aid visual tracking and support reading on small screens or mobile devices.

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