The tips were taken from guidance given by the British Dyslexia Association and Niace/the Basic Skills Agency. For further details on supporting people with dyslexia, visit www.bdadyslexia.org.uk or Dyslexia Action. You can download a free leaflet on producing clear written materials at www.niace.org.uk/development-research/readability.

1. Writing style

• Write in short simple sentences, rather than long sentences of explanations. Advice on calculating a SMOG readability level
• Be conscious of where sentences begin. Starting a new sentence at the end of a line makes it harder to follow.
• Try to call the reader 'you'. Imagine they are sitting directly opposite you and you are talking to them directly.
• Give instructions clearly.
• Pictures aid comprehension.
• Use short words where possible.
• Write up tricky words in advance.
• Writing on every other line may be helpful.
• Make use of computers they make the individula feel more in control.

• Use a sans serif font such as Arial or Comic Sans.
• Use a minimum point size of 12.
• Use coloured paper instead of white. Cream or off-white provides a good alternative.
• Matt paper, which reduces glare, is preferable to glossy.
• Limit lines to 60-70 characters. Lines that are too long can put strain on the eyes.
• Use line spacing between paragraphs to break up text.
• Colours can help divide text up.
• use wide margins and headings.