Colors and Special Needs

The use of color and other text options can help students with special needs to have  more successful and positive reading and writing experiences.  Many of these suggestions should be guided by student preference.  You are encouraged to try different color combinations, fonts, and text sizes with students.  Students may be able to find some choices that help them to read in a way that is more efficient and less tiring.

This post is typed in Arial font because it is one of the fonts that is easier to read.  Compare it to Times New Roman.  It's not bad, but the Arial seems easier to read.  Do you agree?

These suggestions are from the Don Johnston website.

Don Johnston Research Article on Using Colors

General Strategies for Choosing Color and Other Text Options

Here are some guidelines for choosing screen colors. 

These strategies could be discussed with an individual student or with a class.

1. Can you easily see black print when the page is white?   YES    NO

2. Is it comfortable to read on a white screen or white page?   YES    NO

Change Screen Color

If you answer No to either question, you need to change the color of the screen and/or print.  First, try different colored backgrounds.  Look at the box and ask yourself the following questions each time you change the color of the background until you find the color that is the best.  Try all the different colors with black print.  Do not forget to also try black background with white letters.

• Is this color comfortable to look at?  How do my head and eyes feel?
• Is the print easy to see?  Does it stand out from the background?
• Is the print clear and stable?

Change Text Color

Next pick the text color.  Some people see better and more comfortably with text that is low contrast or a similar color family to the background, others prefer high contrast resulting from a totally different color text, others prefer white text, and some prefer black text.  Try colors, black and white print until you find the combination that:

• Is  comfortable to look at
• The print is clear, sharp, and stable
• Text is easy to see because it stands out from the background

Change Text Size

Some people find it easier to see when the text is larger.  Change the size of the font until the text is easy to see.

Change Font Style

Most people find that reading simple, unstylized block text is easier than cursive or handwriting-style text.  Do you know what text style is best for you?  This font is Arial.

Other Helpful Hints

• Bold Print.  See if making the print bold makes it easier to see.
• Extra Spacing.  Do you feel like the lines of print are crowded together?  Increase the size of the spacing between lines of print and even add extra space after each paragraph
• Paragraph Alignment. Standard left alignment is easiest to read.  Avoid using justified paragraphs or forced justified alignment (when both left and right edges are aligned because it changes the spacing between the words, which may make it harder to read.
• Room Lighting.  Do you like a lot of light, dim lighting, indirect lighting, incandescent lighting?  You may want to change the room lighting to make it more comfortable for you when using the computer.  You may want more lighting, less lighting, or a different type of lighting to make it comfortable and the screen easier to see.  If you cannot change the lighting but are bothered by bright lighting you may find that wearing a visor or cap helps.
• Adjust the Brightness Level of the Screen.  Did you need the screen to be brighter or dimmer?
• Printing Material from the Computer.  Use paper color that is the same color as your favorite screen color.  Some people find that it is easier to read the material when it is printed rather than on the screen.
• Copying.  Place material to be copied on a book stand or page-up (remember those?)

The following information comes from the Irlen Institute.  It is discussed on the Don Johnston website.

I have done some coloring to try and help illustrate the points that are being made about color.  You may want to do your own experimenting.  These ideas are not just for students with visual impairments. 

PROBLEM:  A lack of sustained attention (ADD).

Suggestion:  Most vivid complementary colors to aid stimulation.
Recommended:  Magenta and Green.  Red and Yellow.

PROBLEM:  A lack of sustained attention (ADD).

Suggestion:  Select secondary colors that contain yellow, for more intensity.

Recommended:  Goldenrod or yellow-green background.

PROBLEM: Confuse similar words.

Suggestion:  Try various colors.

Recommended: Rose (light red) or red background.

PROBLEM:  Uneven arousal state (tend to "drift").

Stimulate with bright colors to focus attention.

Recommended: Bright yellow background.

Behavioral and Developmental Problems

PROBLEM:  Autism/PPD

Suggestion:  Try various colors

Recommended: Light blue or green background.

PROBLEM:  Behavioral problems

Suggestion:  Try various colors.

Recommended: Dark colored backgrounds.

PROBLEM:  Developmental delays

Suggestion:  Most vivid complementary colors to aide stimulation.

Recommended: Magenta and Green.  Red and Yellow.

Learning Disabled

PROBLEM:  Dyslexia, (perceive letter omissions, reversals, jumping letters.

Suggestion: Dark colors

Recommended:  Black text on dark blue background.

PROBLEM:  Learning Disability
Suggestion:  Select preferred colors.
Often selected: Blues and Greens

PROBLEM:  Learning Disability with Attention Deficit

Suggestion:  Colored light stimulation

Recommended: Green and Red

Color Perception

PROBLEM:  Some retina-based visual impairments.
Suggestion:  Sharp contrast with vibrant colors.Choice depends on individual color perception and type of retinal damage.
Recommended:  Yellow text on red background with bright blue cursor. Or, yellow text on blue background with red cursor. 

Light Sensitivity/Low Vision

PROBLEM:  Inadequate background accommodation.  (White background overpowers text and letters lose distinctive shapes.)

Suggestion:  Inverted text (light text on dark background) or monochromatic color scheme

Recommended:  Pale yellow text on dark blue background.  Light blue text on dark blue background.  Light grey text on dark grey background..

PROBLEM:  Low Vision.

Suggestion:  High contrast, with restful background color.  Bright cursor for locating ease.

Recommended:  Black text on light blue background with red cursor.  Navy text on peach or soft yellow background with cobalt cursor.

PROBLEM:  Low vision, bothered by glare or brightness 

Suggestion:  Inverted text (light text on dark background), with bright cursor for locating ease. 

Recommended:  Soft yellow text on black or navy background with bright blue cursor.  Peach text on dark blue-green background with bright yellow cursor.

PROBLEM:  Low vision, bothered by glare or brightness, but prefer dark text on light background

Suggestion:  Tone down background brightness with pale colors.

Recommended:  Black or navy text on peach, light blue, or soft yellow background, with red cursor.

PROBLEM: Sensory defensive (sensitive to brightness, glare, high contrast, or fluorescent lighting). 

Suggestion:   Low contrast, soft colors, monochromatic scheme.

Recommended:  Medium blue text on navy or dark blue background with blue-green cursor.

Blue-green text on dark blue-grey background with grey cursor. Light or medium grey text on dark grey background with dark blue-grey cursor.

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