University reading lists are built around one assumption: that students will read everything, in order, as printed text. That assumption works for some students. For dyslexia and reading, it is exactly the wrong format. This article is not about dyslexic students needing to catch up. It is about the format being wrong for a significant portion of the students using it.
What is dyslexia, and how does it affect reading?
Dyslexia is a difference in how the brain processes written language. It affects reading fluency, decoding, and working memory, and has no connection to intelligence or effort. For dyslexia readers, words on a page can appear to move, blur, or rearrange. How those with dyslexia see words varies between individuals and across different types of dyslexia. The different forms of dyslexia include phonological dyslexia, surface dyslexia, and visual dyslexia, each of which affects reading in distinct ways.
Where standard reading lists fall short
A typical university reading list is long, unranked, and built from dense PDFs and journal articles in standard academic formatting. For students with dyslexia, each of those is a genuine barrier. Screen readers cannot process scanned PDFs. Dense columns of text increase visual stress. With no audio alternative and no indication of priority, dyslexia readers face the full list with no way to triage it.
What dyslexia-friendly reading actually looks like
A dyslexia friendly reading experience starts with adjustable display settings. A dyslexia friendly font like OpenDyslexic or a clean sans-serif alternative significantly reduces letter confusion for many dyslexic readers. Adjustable line spacing, wider margins, and the option to change background colour reduce visual crowding. An audio version of the same content gives dyslexics a reading aid for dyslexia that bypasses the visual decoding difficulties entirely. The content is the same. The format is the one that actually works.
Reading strategies for dyslexic students
These dyslexia and reading strategies work regardless of what your university provides:
- Preview summaries or abstracts before reading the full paper. Knowing the argument before you read it significantly improves comprehension
- Break reading into shorter, timed sessions rather than open-ended blocks; 20 minutes with a clear endpoint is more manageable than an hour with no structure
- Use audio alongside text where possible. Listening while following along reduces the cognitive load of decoding
- Take notes as you read rather than rereading later. Capturing key ideas in your own words in the moment is far more effective for dyslexic students than going back through a text
- Use colour-coded highlighting to categorise different types of content so review and revision are faster
Assistive technology for reading
Assistive technology for reading covers a range of tools that make academic content more accessible for dyslexic students. Text to speech for dyslexia reads content aloud, so students can listen rather than decode. Reading rulers and overlays reduce visual crowding on screen. Font and colour adjustment tools let students create a display environment that reduces letter confusion. Highlighting-while-reading tools allow annotation without breaking focus. Together, these tools address the format problem posed by standard reading lists.
How text-to-speech tools within Tailo help with university reading lists
Tailo addresses the university reading list problem directly. Upload any PDF, and Tailo converts it into audio through Read Aloud, so you can listen rather than decode dense academic text. Adjust reading speed to what feels comfortable. Use Summaries to get an overview before committing to the full paper; useful for how to read with dyslexia in a way that triage your reading list efficiently. The format adapts to you, rather than the other way around.
Getting support with dyslexia at university
Dyslexia and university support is available through the Disabled Students’ Allowance, which can fund assistive software, equipment, and non-medical helper support. Your university’s disability services team is the right starting point. Help with dyslexia through DSA means to support dyslexia students in accessing funded tools like Tailo as part of a formal support package.