Making Type Accessible

Program Overview

Session Outline

1. Visual Conditions and Reading

   How cataracts, color blindness, macular degeneration, and dyslexia affect text perception

2. Contrast and Color

   Going beyond WCAG ratios, understanding APL values, and testing with real visual simulators

3. Flexible Type Systems

   Building scales that work at 100 percent, 200 percent, and 400 percent zoom levels

4. Typeface Selection for Clarity

   Characteristics that improve readability: x-height, aperture, letterform differentiation

5. Semantic Structure

   Making typography meaningful for screen readers and keyboard navigation

Full Description

WCAG guidelines say use 16px minimum font size and maintain 4.5:1 contrast. Most designers stop there and assume their typography is accessible.

But accessibility is more nuanced. Some users need high contrast, others find it harder to read. Dyslexic readers benefit from specific spacing patterns. People with low vision use zoom, which breaks layouts that rely on viewport units. And screen reader users never see your beautiful typography at all—they experience semantic structure.

This webinar goes beyond compliance checkboxes. You'll learn how different visual conditions affect reading: how cataracts reduce contrast perception, why blue text becomes invisible with certain color blindness types, and how macular degeneration changes the way people scan text.

Real testing techniques

We'll use actual browser tools and simulators to see your designs through different visual conditions

You'll also learn practical techniques: creating flexible type scales that survive 200 percent zoom, choosing typefaces with clear letterform differentiation, and setting up spacing that improves readability for everyone, not just users with disabilities.