Paper Sizes And Low Vision Accessibility

When it comes to receiving physical copies of materials and text-based content, paper size plays a significant role in how I both read and write on a page. Since my vision fluctuates often due to environmental factors, I typically prefer digital materials that I can adapt or adjust on my own to make them easier to see, but I still work with paper copies of information and accessible materials on a regular basis. Here is how paper sizes and other characteristics influence my preferences for accessible materials as a student with low vision who primarily accesses information visually.

Paper sizes and low vision access

Note: All sizes are indicated in inches.

3 x 3 sticky notes

Sticky notes are an easy way to place reminders on a door or another surface, but I find them difficult to see or read from unless “proper sticky note etiquette” (to borrow a term from my friend) is used. Proper sticky note etiquette involves using a marker to write across the note and fill up all available space so that it can be easily read no matter where it is placed. Because of this, sticky notes don’t work particularly well for low vision audiences if they are used to write a long list of items, but they can be helpful for writing down individual tasks.

In lieu of writing on sticky notes by hand, there are several templates available online for printing on sticky notes using a printer and template from a word processing program like Word, Docs, or Pages. This can be helpful for individuals that have trouble reading handwriting but benefit from the colored sticky note paper.

4 x 6 index cards

Index cards are another paper size that benefit from having text written so that all available space is filled. This works great for flashcards, but can be more challenging for “cheat sheets” in exams where instructors allow students to write notes or formulas on a single index card. Plus, having text written in multiple columns can be challenging to read with some assistive technology devices, or when visual clutter plays a factor in accessing information.

While index cards do have their place for some projects, they aren’t particularly useful for “cheat sheets” or presentation cues with small writing. Instead, I will print information on a larger paper size with a larger font size as well, which is approved by my professors as part of a disability accommodation. For presentation cues, I prefer to use a digital teleprompter app that can display text in a large font size on a simplified background.

8.5 x 11 letter paper

The most widely available paper size for printers, copy machines, and office supply closets, this is the most common paper size that I encounter both for print assignments and digital copies of assignments. This fits into a folder or binder nicely, and I can position it under a video magnifier or scanner comfortably so text can be enlarged if needed.

11 x 14 poster paper

When enlarging content printed on standard letter paper, I like to use 11 x 14 paper to maximize space for enlarging content, and use this paper size for sheet music. Since this paper size can be challenging to find at times, I sometimes will print 11 x 14 documents on 11 x 17 paper, and get the remaining three inches of paper trimmed off. This size works well on my desk and music stands without having pages spill over the edge.

11 x 17 tabloid paper/ledger paper

This is the largest paper size that I interact with on a regular basis, as larger paper sizes than this often spill over the edge of desks or become challenging to read with visual clutter. 11 x 17 paper is helpful for enlarging print content where every letter, number, and/or symbol is essential for understanding information or solving a problem, especially in the context of math and science equations. However, it is important to ensure that the larger paper size also has a larger font size to go with it, as printing small text on large paper doesn’t make a huge difference in terms of accessing text.

Paper characteristics and low vision access

Paper type and texture

When it comes to writing on paper, I prefer to use cardstock as ink does not bleed through on either side and I can comfortably write in pen. As for reading, I avoid glossy, reflective, or shiny paper textures that reflect overhead light as the glare can make it challenging to track lines of text or identify letters/words. I’m not incredibly picky about the type of paper or texture that is used, and consider color to be a more important characteristic.

Horizontal or vertical orientation?

I prefer to use a horizontal or landscape orientation when reading math equations or lines of text that don’t have natural line breaks/word breaks so that information doesn’t get cut off or spill into another line. For other types of content, vertical or portrait orientations are easy for me to position on my desk, and I can use a line guide or other reading tool to block out surrounding text if needed. It’s easiest for me to read single-column layouts as having multiple sections placed next together can make it more difficult for line tracking with double vision.

Paper color

When I was in high school, my teacher of the visually impaired recommended that I use off-white, light blue, or light yellow paper as it provided less glare than white paper and was more comfortable for me to read for long periods of time. While content printed on white paper isn’t impossible for me to read, I do find it easier to read for long periods of time on tinted displays or pages. One easy tool that can change the color of reading material is an acetate sheet, which provides a colored overlay on a page.

Lined paper vs unlined paper

Due to poor contrast vision, I find it impossible to see the light blue lines on white lined paper with low vision, and have additional difficulty with writing in a straight line. I generally prefer unlined paper over “standard” lined paper since I can’t see the lines anyway.

Using bold lined paper or high contrast paper has been helpful for writing in a straight line, as well as using a physical line guide or typoscope that stops my pen from writing beyond a specific area. This is especially helpful for graph paper or grid paper, and I wish I had used this more often in school because it made a significant difference with accessing graphs and coordinate planes.

More resources on accessible paper sizes and low vision

Wondering how I write on different types of paper? Read Writing Aids For Low Vision: My Personal Superlatives
I have a few different tools that I use for reading paper materials that are otherwise inaccessible- learn more in All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired and How To Make Historical Documents Accessible For Low Vision
Another strategy I use for reading paper materials and resizing content is scanning them with my phone or a scanning pen. I share more about this in How I Use Microsoft Lens With Low Vision and ScanMarker Air: OCR Scanner Pen for Low Vision
Want to learn more about creating or modifying accessible text content? Read A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text

Published September 3, 2019. Updated August 2024

Reference

Lewis, Veronica. (2019). Paper Sizes and Low Vision Accessibility. Veroniiiica. https://veroniiiica.com/paper-size-and-low-vision/ (Accessed on December 20, 2025)

Paper Sizes and Low Vision Accessibility