James Churchill

Individual Strategy 1: Color Overlays

Colored overlays for computer screens or overhead projectors may be beneficial to
some students who have Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and Autism. Colored overlays tint the screen,
page, or projector slide a color instead of stark white as to be less strenuous for the students
eyes. Luckily, colored overlays are incredibly easy to implement and do not hinder general ed
students whatsoever. Putting an overlay on an overhead projector is not terribly different than
putting a blue background on a powerpoint slide, and would not bother the other students in the
class. You can also give an overlay for a student to hold over their paper as well for reading at
the desk. The overlays are just tinted overhead slides, so theyre incredibly easy to use. The
main purpose of overlays is to lessen eye fatigue, which is nice for general ed students, and
doubly helpful for struggling students. Eye fatigue and ease of reading is one less thing to worry
about for them.

STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION:

1) acquire a set of colored overlays
2) utilise the overlay:
a) some colors work better for different students, let your student try reading with the overlay on
the projector or over their paper
b) if using a projector, you can place the overlay over your text, tinting the white space the color
easiest for your student to read
c) you can also extend the concept of colored overlays to your powerpoints, tinting them a color

like blue or red instead of stark white

Works Cited

Iovino, I., Fletcher, J. M., Breitmeyer, B. G., & Foorman, B. R. (1998). Colored overlays for visual perceptual deficits
in children with reading disability and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: are they
differentiallyeffective?. Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Neuropsychology, 20(6), 791-806.

Jeanes, R., Busby, A., Martin, J., Lewis, E., Stevenson, N., Pointon, D., & Wilkins, A. (1997). Prolonged use of
coloured overlays for classroom reading. British Journal Of
Psychology (London, England:
1953), 88 ( Pt 4)531-548.

O'Connor, P. D., Sofo, F., Kendall, L., & Olsen, G. (1990). Reading disabilities and the effects of colored
filters.Journal Of Learning Disabilities, 23(10), 597.