Job Accommodation Network's
Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR)

People with learning disabilities may have limitations that result in difficulty reading text from a paper copy. Due to the difficulty in discriminating letters and numbers, such characters may appear jumbled or reversed. Entire words or strings of letters may be unrecognizable. Accommodations may include:

Convert text to audio

Provide larger print

Double space the text on print material

Use color overlays (Irlen lenses) to help make the text easier to read

Provide materials that are type-written, in a font that is not italicized; if handwritten material must be provided, use print, not cursive

Have someone read the document aloud to the individual

Scan the documents into a computer and use Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which will read the information aloud via speech output software

Use a reading pen, which is a portable device that scans a word and provides auditory feedback

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Accommodations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you need additional information or would like to discuss the information presented here, contact JAN directly.

SOAR is brought to you by the Job Accommodation Network, a service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor.