Using Colours to Meet Special Needs

Improving Attention

PROBLEM A lack of sustained attention (ADD).

SUGGESTION Most vivid complimentary colours to stimulation.

Recommended: Magenta and green. Red and yellow.

PROBLEM A lack of sustained attention (ADD).

SUGGESTION Select secondary colours that contain yellow, for more intensity.

Recommended: Goldenrod or yellow-green background.

PROBLEM Confuse similar words.

SUGGESTION Try various colours.

Recommended: Rose (light red) or red background.

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

SUGGESTION Stimulate with bright colours to focus attention.

Recommended: Bright yellow background.

Behavioral and Developmental Problems

PROBLEM Autism / PPD

SUGGESTION Try various colours.

Recommended: Light blue or green background.

PROBLEM Behavioral problems

SUGGESTION Try various colours.

Recommended: Dark coloured backgrounds.

PROBLEM Developmental delays

SUGGESTION Try various colours.

Recommended: Red background. Users usually prefer red on screen (either text or background).

Learning Disabled

PROBLEM Dyslexia (perceive letter omissions, reversals, jumping letters) <

SUGGESTION Dark colours.

Recommended: Black text on dark blue background.

PROBLEM Learning disability

SUGGESTION Select preferred colours.

Often selected: Blues and greens.

PROBLEM Learning disability with attention deficit

SUGGESTION Coloured light stimulation.

Recommended: Green and red.

Colour Perception

PROBLEM Some retina-based visual impairments

SUGGESTION Sharp contrast with vibrant colours. Choice depends on individual colour perception and type of retinal damage.

Recommended: Yellow text on red background with bright blue cursor.
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 colour 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 colour. 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 colours; use dark text.

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 colours, 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.

General Strategies for Choosing Colour
and Other Text Options

Here are some guidelines for choosing screen colours:

  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 Colour
If you answer No to either question, you need to change the colour of the screen and/or print. First, try different coloured backgrounds. Look at the box and ask yourself the following questions each time you change the colour of the background until you find the colour that is the best. Try all the different colours with black print. Do not forget to also try black background with white letters.
  • Is this colour 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 Colour
Next pick the text colour. Some people see better and more comfortably with text that is low contrast or a similar colour family to the background, others prefer high contrast resulting from a totally different colour text, others prefer white text, and some prefer black text. Try colours, 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, unstylised block text is easier than cursive or handwriting-style text. Do you know what text style is best for you?

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.

  • Glare Guard Screen. Some people find that this helps reduce the glare from the computer screen and provides additional comfort.

  • 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 or fluorescent lighting, you may find that wearing a visor or brimmed hat 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 colour that is the same colour as your favorite screen colour. Some people find that it is easier to read the material when printed rather than on the screen. The colour of the paper may make reading the material more accessible.

  • Copying. Place material to be copied on a bookstand.

The above colour selection process, "General Strategies for Choosing Colour," was provided by the Irlen Institute, creators of the process that uses colour to improve comfort and clarity of printed material. If you find that changing the colour of the screen and/or print is helpful and you wish that all the material you have to read could be more comfortable and easier to see, read about the Irlen Method and Irlen Lenses. The Irlen Method uses individually created coloured glasses that reduce stress, strain, fatigue, and even headaches for individuals when reading and using the computer. The colour is also helpful for problems such as poor depth perception, clumsiness, uncoordination, night driving, and reduces sensitivity to sunlight, fluorescent lights, bright lights, and headlights at night. For more information about the Irlen Method, you can get Reading By The Colours by Helen Irlen, Avery Publishing, which is available in book or audio cassette, or visit the internet website www.Irlen.com.

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