[Athen] Text readability: can you tell the difference between "rn" and "m"?

Karlen Communications info at karlencommunications.com
Wed Jan 24 11:44:59 PST 2018


As someone with a visual disability I depend on the ligatures of a serif
font to read text. Sans-serif fonts take me longer to read because I can't
distinguish some letter combinations when they are close together. I do know
that sans-serif does work better for some of us with visual, learning or
cognitive disabilities.



This is why I created the how to tutorial on creating Style Sets in Word. If
you are an alternate text production centre and need large print, you can
create a large print Style Set.or a Style Set for a specific student. As
long as the Word document does not use direct formatting and the Style Set
accommodates for the scaling of Headings based on the "new" font size, text
scales nicely.



I just noticed that the tutorial isn't on my website. I've attached it but
will also add it to the Office for Windows web page. It is for an older
version of Word, but the steps still work.Style Sets are now found on the
Design Ribbon in Word 2016.



You might also want to look at the Immersive Reading Tools/Learning Tools in
Word 2016. They include tools for changing the column width, spacing, the
background colour of the document, breaking words into syllables and a Read
aloud tool. You can find the Learning Tools Ribbon by using Tell Me (Alt +
Q) and typing Learning Tools. The Learning Tools Ribbon will stay open as
long as the document is open.



https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Learning-Tools-in-Word-a857949f-c91
e-4c97-977c-a4efcaf9b3c1



https://www.onenote.com/learningtools



The tools are available in OneNote as well and, if you have a SharePoint
based Office 365 subscription, in the Web apps.I think. I went to try the
web apps Learning Tools but couldn't seem to access them. I was in a hurry
(of course) so will try again. :)



Cheers, Karen



From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On
Behalf Of Susan Kelmer
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2018 1:37 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Athen] Text readability: can you tell the difference between
"rn" and "m"?



Personally, I default to a serif font. There are mixed opinions about
whether sans or serif is better, but for general readability, serif works
better (and there's a logical reason for that - it leads the eyes). Serif
fonts RARELY show this issue with rn or other combined characters. But most
sans fonts have some issues in this area.



This is also why it's important for us to be providing documents that people
can change to their liking, whenever possible. A word file - you can always
change the font if you don't like it. PDF, not so much.



Just my 2 cents.



Susan Kelmer

Alternate Format Production Program Manager

Disability Services

University of Colorado Boulder

303-735-4836





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