With Dyslexia Awareness Week running from October 7th to 13th, this is the perfect time to think about how we can make the documents we create easier for everyone to understand.
Around 10% of the UK population – approximately 6.3 million people – have dyslexia. As case managers, OTs, physios, or rehabilitation providers, the reports you write are crucial to your clients’ care, so making them more dyslexia-friendly is incredibly important. The good news? It’s easier than you might think! Making your medico-legal reports dyslexia-friendly doesn’t require a huge overhaul – small adjustments like simplifying your structure, choosing the right fonts and colours, and keeping sentences concise can make a big difference. These changes not only benefit clients and colleagues with dyslexia but also make your reports easier to read for everyone.
Drawing on my experience as a proof-reader and a specialist English teacher, I’ve learned some simple but effective ways to make medico-legal reports more accessible for people with dyslexia. At memo, we also offer guidance on how to assess the accessibility of your documents, ensuring everyone can understand the information they receive.
1. Use Simple Templates and Clear Headings
Start with a consistent template for your reports. Not only does this help streamline your writing process, but it also makes it easier for dyslexic readers to follow along. By using clear headings you break the information into smaller sections. This structure reduces confusion and helps readers find key details quickly.
Subheadings also allow readers to choose the order in which they engage with the text. Individuals might prefer jumping straight to the most important sections before reading everything in detail. Breaking your report into easily identifiable parts gives them that flexibility and ensures the content is accessible.
Plain or sans fonts are much easier to read than fancier or cursive fonts. Stick to a font size of at least 12pt to keep the text legible and clear. My favourites are Aptos, Arial and Calibri.
Try to avoid using red or green text, as these colours can be more challenging for people with visual stress or colour sensitivities.
3. Keep Sentences Short and Simple
Long, complicated sentences can be tricky for dyslexic readers to process. Keep your sentences short, clear, and to the point. If you notice a sentence is getting lengthy, break it into two or more smaller ones. It’s also helpful to minimise the use of jargon or overly technical language.
To further improve readability, use bullet points or numbered lists when outlining key information. This provides a clear, organised structure and makes it easier for readers to pick out the most important details without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Space Out the Text and Use Left Alignment
How your text is spaced can greatly impact its readability. Using wider line spacing (1.5 or 2.0) ensures that lines of text are well spaced out, making it easier for dyslexic readers to follow along without losing their place. Dense paragraphs can be intimidating, so leaving plenty of white space makes the report look more approachable.
Additionally, always left-align your text. Fully justified text creates uneven spaces between words, making it harder for the reader’s eye to follow (I also hate how it looks). Left alignment ensures a consistent margin that is much easier to track.
5. Proofread with Dyslexic Readers in Mind
Even after making these adjustments, proofreading is key. I find that reading the text out loud is one of the best ways to catch difficult sentences or unclear sections. If something sounds awkward or confusing when spoken, it’s likely to be just as tricky to read.
There are also helpful tools like Microsoft Word’s "Read Aloud" feature, which reads the text to you. Listening to the content allows you to spot any areas where the writing might be too long or complex, helping you fine-tune the report for accessibility.
At Memo, we understand the importance of accessible documents, and we’re here to help. If you’d like more guidance on assessing the accessibility of your medico-legal reports, feel free to reach out for support. We offer practical advice on making your reports clearer and easier to understand for everyone.
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