<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Hi Group,</span><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">Don Deshler and I briefly considered my dissertation research investigating the effects of dyslexic-specific fonts. Around that time (2010-2011) I was not able to find much empirical research in this small field. It was thought that the difference in weighing letters--such as giving the lowercase b a thicker, flared base would help distinguish it from letters like a lowercase h or d, and spacing the letters and words differently--would aid those with dyslexia read more effectively. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">Well our research idea never came to fruition but earlier this summer a study was published on the effects of the font Dyslexie. In a sample size of 39 students grades 2-6, students were asked to read four different passages in four different treatments comparing the Dyslexie and Arieal fonts. Results suggest that the unequal weighting of letters mattered less than the letter and word spacing. I did not come away from this article feeling as if the font was especially <i>good or bad</i>, but in this singular study, appeared to somewhat help those with dyslexia. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">Anecdotally, when I was completing my doctoral work and teaching middle school, I first stumbled across a different font, Open Dyslexic. </span><a href="http://opendyslexic.org/" style="font-size:12.8px">Here is the link</a><span style="font-size:12.8px">. I spoke with the author of this font and really enjoyed using it. I used it in visual presentations with my middle school students and find that it is simply very pleasing and easy to read when on a computer or in a presentation. I am familiar with both Dyxlexie and Open Dyslexic but cannot speak to the design or research differences. Here is a visual example the Open Dyslexic website provides of some font differences:</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><img src="https://opendyslexic.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/font-compare.png?w=1146" width="562" height="251"><br><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">I have attached the article from summer 2016. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">Sincerely,</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">Dan Pollitt</span></div><div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline">-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:arial"><font color="#000000">Daniel T. Pollitt, PhD</font></div><div style="font-family:arial"><font color="#000000">University of Kansas<br></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial"><div><font color="#000000">Department of Special Education</font></div><div><font color="#000000"><a value="+16083327155">608.332.7155</a><br><br>"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."<br><br>--Ernie Banks</font></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Oct 4, 2016 at 12:25 PM, Susan Woodruff via Simtrainer-l <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:simtrainer-l@lists.ku.edu" target="_blank">simtrainer-l@lists.ku.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div style="word-wrap:break-word">In case you can’t see the font in your email, I took a picture of the post, so you can see how I posted it originally. Patty responded and said she couldn’t see any difference in the fonts. Hope this helps anyone who didn’t see the difference.<div><br></div><div><img id="gmail-m_67470879354068862460197BF3D-2020-4C90-AA03-32BC29FBCAB5" height="480" width="623" src="cid:84BA5045-EB69-49A9-9A8E-CBCB5E882510"></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div class="gmail-h5"><div>On Oct 4, 2016, at 1:19 PM, SIMTRAINER-L <<a href="mailto:simtrainer-l@lists.ku.edu" target="_blank">simtrainer-l@lists.ku.edu</a>> wrote:</div><br class="gmail-m_6747087935406886246Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div><div><div class="gmail-h5">
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<div>Interesting. Various approaches work for various individuals. Since the font is free, it could be worth trying as long as the person with dyslexia understands that it may not work for them and other approaches can be tried. Here is an interesting article
from Guinevere Eden of Georgetown University Medical Center. <a href="https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/is-there-a-certain-font-that-works-best-for-kids-with-dyslexia" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr>understood.org/en/learning-<wbr>attention-issues/child-<wbr>learning-disabilities/<wbr>dyslexia/is-there-a-certain-<wbr>font-that-works-best-for-kids-<wbr>with-dyslexia</a></div>
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<div>BTW, I don’t think the font was different in my email, and I had it set for HTML.</div>
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<div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Patty</div>
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<span style="font-weight:bold">From: </span>Simtrainer-l <<a href="mailto:simtrainer-l-bounces@lists.ku.edu" target="_blank">simtrainer-l-bounces@lists.<wbr>ku.edu</a>> on behalf of SIM Listserv <<a href="mailto:simtrainer-l@lists.ku.edu" target="_blank">simtrainer-l@lists.ku.edu</a>><br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">Reply-To: </span>Susan Woodruff <<a href="mailto:swoodruf@me.com" target="_blank">swoodruf@me.com</a>><br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">Date: </span>Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 11:00 AM<br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">To: </span>SIM Listserv <<a href="mailto:simtrainer-l@lists.ku.edu" target="_blank">simtrainer-l@lists.ku.edu</a>><br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">Subject: </span>[Simtrainer-l] Lexie or Dyslexie fonts<br>
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Hello SIM PDers …
<div>I am doing some informal coaching with an educational therapist. I had a call yesterday with him, and he shared a very interesting experience. He does strategic tutoring with generally fairly high performing students with disabilities, or high
performing parents who have students with disabilities. LOL Anyway, he was working with a young man (10th grade) this fall, who excels in math and science but was “diagnosed” dyslexic. He shared that this student is very motivated to learn to read better.
My colleague with whom I am coaching had heard about a font for students with dyslexia called dyslexie. He bought it, and tried it with the young man. The 10th grade student looked at his tutor, and said “Oh, my gosh, I understand this sentence!” It was
alike a lightbulb turned on in his head by just reading something with this particular font.</div>
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<div>As wel talked, I thought that probably he should explore this some more. Comprehension could arise for a variety of reasons, but I wondered if anyone else had used or heard about the applications of a particular font.</div>
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<div>As I have explored on the internet, I’ve found that a font called lexie can be downloaded for free. The font has wider spaces and looks more like printing. </div>
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<div><font face="Lexie Readable">In fact, I downloaded it and added it to my font file. This is lexie font that I downloaded for free. </font></div>
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<div><font face="Dyslexie">You can also download dyslexie for free or buy a package that you can install and use with e-readers, websites, etc. You can see it is similar, but quite a bit larger. The small q looks like this: q, and the capital
q looks like this: Q. This is the font that my colleague is using. You can check it out here:</font></div>
<div><a href="https://www.dyslexiefont.com/" target="_blank">https://www.dyslexiefont.com/</a></div>
<div><font face="Dyslexie"> </font></div>
<div>Anyway, I was wondering what your thoughts are on this or if anyone has experiences or insights they would like to share.</div>
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<div>Jean Schumaker - Very curious how this might impact writing and if it is actually legitimate. Anyone know how dyslexia is actually diagnosed?? In several states there are separate categories for dyslexics. In my work in Texas, there is a separate
certifications and guidelines that are different from special ed. Just looking to learn and expand my knowledge in this area.</div>
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<div>I know this is long, and I thank everyone who hung with me. :-) or in dyslexie: <font face="Dyslexie">:-)</font></div>
<div>Thanks everyone…</div>
<div>Sue</div>
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