A Christian publishing company has created a first-of-its-kind Bible for children and students with dyslexia. According to the International Dyslexia Association, one in five U.S. children has some form of dyslexia, which speaks to the importance of this youth Bible.

A common misunderstanding about children with dyslexia is that they can’t read, which is far from the truth. The Child Mind Institute states, “dyslexia is not a reflection of a child’s intelligence — it’s defined as a gap between a student’s ability and achievement.” The neurological condition is more than reversing letters when reading. Children with dyslexia struggle with rhymes and find it difficult to take notes and sound out words. Most importantly, reading is laborious for them. It’s more than difficult; it can be humiliating.

This is the catalyst for the Christian Standard Bible (CSB)® Grace Bible for Kids from Lifeway.

“Kids who feel intimidated by reading can feel comfortable with this new typeface in a Bible that’s made specifically with them in mind,” said Lifeway President Ben Mandrell. “Dyslexia shouldn’t keep kids from reading the Bible. At its core, the CSB Grace Bible for Kids is meeting the need of helping young readers interact and connect with God in a personal way through His Word.”

 Making God’s Word More Accessible for Kids with Dyslexia

Dyslexia does more damage than the numbers tell. It’s known that 80 to 90 percent of children with learning disorders have dyslexia, but it is often misdiagnosed as ADHD or not discovered at all. There are many myths about dyslexia, but one that Lifeway connected with was that “dyslexia cannot be diagnosed until third grade.”

The truth is it can be detected and treated as early as age five, which is a primary reason why the CSB Bible is designed for children up to age 12. The exclusive Bible features an inclusive reading approach with visual processing cues and an academically tested typeface from  typeface design company 2K/DENMARK and Cambridge University.

“If you are dyslexic, sometimes you see letters as bouncing balloons because they don’t stay on the baseline. In designing the Grace typeface, we made sure to fix the letters to the baseline by making them heavier towards the bottom,” said Klaus Krogh, founder of 2K/DENMARK.

Utilizing the Grace typeface is a labor of love for Krogh, who began developing it over five years ago. Working alongside Cambridge University for the testing, the typeface assists readers in distinguishing between similar letters such as “m” and “n” or “p” and “q.”

The stylized changes can be seen as soon as someone turns the pages, focusing on kerning, spacing, and tracking, adding space between letters, lines, and words.

Other dynamic features of the CSB Bible will enhance the reading experience for children with dyslexia. They include:

• Inclusive Grace typeface, layout, and design

  

• Enhances readability for all levels and varieties of dyslexia and other reading challenges
• Unique, colored page overlays are included to improve visual processing further
• The complete text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB)
• 40 insert pages with study help and maps to help connect kids to Scripture
• Bible skills checklist and summaries of Bible books and divisions
• Large, 11-point type size
• Durable Smyth-sewn, lay-flat binding
• Black letter text
• Ribbon marker
• Presentation page for gift-giving

Lifeway and 2K/DENMARK are eager to learn how this new Bible reaches children with dyslexia. Together, they are relying on the new features found inside the CSB pages and its “blend of accuracy and readability.”

“I am so looking forward to hearing the feedback. I hope and pray this will help someone connect with the content of the Bible,” Krogh said. “We know faith changes lives, and we’d like as many as possible to be given the chance to change their life by the message in the Bible.”

A Holman Christian Study Bible made with many of the same features for teenagers and adults with dyslexia is planned for Spring 2025.