⏱️ Reading time: ~9 minutes

Act

This Site Is Now Designed for Neurodivergent Brains First

We added reading times, TL;DRs, definitions, and print-friendly design. Here's what changed and why it matters.

TL;DR: In 30 Seconds

Added reading time estimates so you can decide if you have time right now
Every post now has a TL;DR box with the key takeaways up front
Technical terms get defined inline so you don't have to context-switch
Adjusted typography and spacing for easier reading on all devices

What Changed

I spent the last month redesigning this entire site around how neurodivergent brains actually work, not how web designers think they should work.

Here\'s what you\'ll notice:

Reading time estimates at the top of every article so you can decide upfront if you have the mental energy right now
TL;DR sections with the key points so you can read the summary instead of the whole thing if you need to
Inline jargon definitions in gray boxes so you don\'t have to leave the page to understand what I\'m talking about
Larger line spacing and margins because walls of text are overwhelming
Print-friendly design because some people read better on paper
Better heading hierarchy so screen readers can navigate properly
No dark mode toggle that breaks on refresh (if you need dark mode, use your browser or OS setting)
Text size demo so you can see how the site looks at different sizes

Here's the key thing: I built these features not because I'm trying to earn accessibility points. I built them because neurodivergent readers were bouncing off this site and I was losing readers I actually wanted to reach.

Why Neurodivergent Accessibility Matters

About 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent. That includes people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, anxiety, and related conditions. Most websites actively work against how these brains function.

Here's what happens:

Someone with ADHD sees a wall of text and can\'t figure out if it\'s worth their limited executive function to read it
An autistic reader encounters jargon and has to leave the page to look it up, breaking their focus
Someone with dyslexia struggles with the font or line spacing and gets fatigued quickly
An anxious reader doesn't know how long something will take and gets stressed about commitment

The result? They leave. And they tell other people the site wasn't for them.

The weird part is that fixing these problems makes the site better for everyone . Clear structure helps people who speak English as a second language. Reading times help busy people. Large text helps older readers. It\'s not neurodivergent-only, it\'s just good design.

Neurodivergent: A person whose brain works differently than the neurotypical (non-neurodivergent) average. Common types include ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and others. Not a disorder or deficiency, just different neurology.

How Each Feature Actually Helps

🕐 Reading Times (for ADHD brains)

People with ADHD struggle with time blindness and don't know how to allocate their executive function. When you see "5 minutes" vs "25 minutes," you can make a real decision about whether you have the energy right now.

What changed: Every article now shows the estimated reading time at the top.

Why it matters: You get to decide, not guilt yourself into reading something you don't have time for.

📋 TL;DR Sections (for executive dysfunction)

A TL;DR (Too Long; Didn\'t Read) is the elevator pitch of an article. It\'s not a replacement for reading the full thing, it's permission to skip it if you only need the main idea.

What changed: Every post starts with 3-5 key takeaways you can read in 30 seconds.

Why it matters: Sometimes you don't have time for the deep dive. A TL;DR lets you get value without reading the whole thing.

📖 Inline Definitions (for context-switching fatigue)

When you see a term you don't know, looking it up means leaving the page, breaking your train of thought, and trying to remember where you were. Inline definitions solve this:

Executive function: Your brain's ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and follow through. ADHD folks often struggle with this.

What changed: Technical terms now get brief explanations right next to them.

Why it matters: No context-switching = better focus = easier reading.

🔤 Typography Improvements (for dyslexia and reading fatigue)

I increased line spacing, margins, and letter spacing. The fonts are system fonts, which read faster than decorative ones.

What changed: Line height is now 1.8 (instead of 1.5), margins are bigger, and the font is Segoe UI or system default.

Why it matters: People with dyslexia read faster when letters don\'t crowd each other. Everyone benefits from not feeling like they\'re reading a dense brick of text.

🖨️ Print-Friendly Design (for processing differences)

Some people just read better on paper. Print stylesheets make sure this site prints cleanly without headers, ads, or navigation.

What changed: Try printing an article, it removes clutter and prints in black ink only.

Why it matters: Different processing styles = different reading preferences. Paper is still valid.

🎯 Better Focus Areas (for overstimulation)

Reduced animations, proper focus outlines, and minimal visual noise so you can focus on reading instead of fighting distractions.

What changed: No auto-playing videos, no animations unless you specifically want them, high-contrast focus outlines.

Why it matters: Sensory overload makes reading impossible. Clean design = actual readability.

How to Use These Features

Text Size Control

You can change text size three ways:

Browser zoom: Ctrl/Cmd + Plus to make everything bigger
Browser settings: Many browsers let you set a default page zoom level
OS settings: Windows, Mac, and mobile all have system-wide text size options

Here's how the site looks at different sizes:

This is 85% size (small)

This is 100% size (normal)

This is 125% size (large)

This is 150% size (extra large)

Reading Time

Look at the top of the article. That's the reading time. If it says "15 minutes" and you only have 5 minutes, read the TL;DR instead or come back later. No guilt.

TL;DR

Want the summary? Read the TL;DR box at the top. It has the key points and that's often enough. The rest of the article is there if you want to dive deeper.

Definitions

See a gray box with a term in bold? That\'s a definition. Read it right there, you don\'t need to look anything up.

Print

Want to read on paper? Use your browser's print function (Ctrl/Cmd + P). The site will print cleanly without navigation or clutter.

Behind the Scenes (Pure HTML/CSS, No Bloat)

Here\'s the thing I\'m most proud of: all of this is pure HTML and CSS. Zero JavaScript.

No frameworks. No dependencies. No performance hit. The site is faster because of these features, not slower.

/* This is a real CSS rule that powers the print-friendly design */ @media print { .breadcrumbs, .article-meta { display: none; } }

This matters because:

It's fast: No JavaScript means no parsing delay, no runtime errors, instant page load
It's reliable: CSS works everywhere. JavaScript breaks in old browsers, slow networks, and NoScript users
It's inclusive: Works on any device, connection speed, or browser, including text-only browsers and screen readers
It's maintainable: Simpler code means fewer bugs and easier updates

The irony: The most "advanced" design approach is HTML and CSS. Everything else is usually bloat.

The Philosophy: Accessibility Isn't a Feature

I used to think of accessibility as a feature you add at the end. "Oh, let's add alt text and color contrast." Checkbox complete.

That\'s backwards. Accessibility is the foundation. It\'s not a feature, it's a default.

A website designed for neurodivergent readers is:

Clear for everyone
Fast for everyone
Readable for everyone
Usable for everyone

The "special accommodations" aren\'t special, they\'re just good design. Building for neurodivergent needs first makes the site better for everyone.

That\'s why I\'m not calling this "accessibility features" anymore. I'm calling it the default design.

What's Coming Next

This isn\'t finished. I\'m planning:

Dark mode (properly): Real CSS dark mode that respects system settings, not a toggle that breaks
Content warnings: Heads-up if an article discusses difficult topics
Jump links: Quick navigation to major sections for people who scan
Better keyboard navigation: Full site navigation via Tab key
Related articles: "If you liked this, you might like..." to reduce search fatigue
Glossary page: All definitions in one place for reference

I\'m also testing with actual neurodivergent readers to see what actually works and what\'s still annoying. If you have feedback, email me or leave a comment.

This Is for You

If you have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, anxiety, or any other neurodivergent brain: this site is now designed for you. Not "accommodating", actually designed.

You shouldn\'t have to fight the interface to read words. You shouldn\'t have to guess if an article is worth your time. You shouldn't have to break your focus to understand jargon.

That was the old web. This is the new version.

Welcome.