About ReadEase
ReadEase started because of my brother. He has dyslexia, and I watched him wrestle with dense webpages for years before I decided to build something about it. The project has since grown into a broader research effort on how personalized reading controls can help people with dyslexia read more comfortably online.
What drives this work
Most dyslexia-friendly tools force a single preset on everyone. ReadEase takes a different approach: it gives readers direct control over fonts, spacing, colors, and focus aids. Our research question is whether this level of individual customization leads to better reading outcomes than fixed accessible defaults.
We are building the tool and testing it at the same time. Each round of user feedback shapes the next set of features and defaults.
Research goals
- Measure how different typography and spacing settings affect reading comfort for dyslexic vs. non-dyslexic readers.
- Understand whether user-controlled interventions outperform one-size-fits-all accessible presets.
- Identify which features (guide bar, bionic reading, color tints) have the strongest effect on sustained reading.
- Publish open findings that other tool builders can use.
Principles
Evidence-based practice
Every feature ties back to published research. Where evidence is thin (e.g. bionic reading), we label it clearly and collect our own data.
Participatory design
Co-designed with dyslexic readers. Preferences vary widely, so every control is optional and reversible.
Privacy-first
No data leaves the browser. The extension does not phone home. Settings are stored locally.
Production quality
Fast loads, resilient styles, and guardrails that prevent breaking host websites or assistive tech.
About the author
I am Arslan Kaleem, a software engineer with an interest in accessible interfaces and adaptive design. ReadEase is part of my ongoing research into user-controlled accessibility tools. If you have questions, want to collaborate, or would like to participate in our study, feel free to reach out.