D'oh on the guy/girl mix-up. And agreed on the Ash bit.
Anyhow, yes on the designs, a little texture and occasionally a sillhouette of a pokemon or something like the one panel is great. I don't have poor vision, it's just a matter of how much one has to actually try to read it, as opposed to just reading it. Like the colors for the entirety of the forum here. It's not just black-on-white, which hurts my eyes when I have a headache, it's a very pale, subdued gray and almost black lettering. Try something like that.
...and remember: Pale is your friend. :P