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:
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- Simple letter shapes
- Clear spacing between characters
- Consistent stroke width
Sans serif fonts are typically the most readable on screens.
Font Suggestions
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- Arial
- Verdana
- Tahoma
- Calibri
- Helvetica
- Open Sans
- Roboto
- Lato
- Trebuchet MS
Avoid script, decorative, condensed, or novelty fonts, especially for body text.
Size and Spacing Matter
Even a good font becomes hard to read if it is too small or tightly spaced.
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- 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.
Why This Supports Everyone
Accessible fonts help:
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- 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.
WCAG Connection
Supports WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.4.4 (Resize Text) and 1.4.8 (Visual Presentation)
Helpful Resources
Explore More in This Series
Discover additional posts from this series by clicking on the posts below.
Accessibility in Action | Why Digital Accessibility Matters
Accessibility in Action | Using Color Contrast to Improve Clarity
Accessibility in Action | Sharing Links That Are Clear
Accessibility in Action | Using Headings to Organize Content
