Many people who do not suffer from dyslexia tend to pigeonhole people into once category, that everybody’s suffering from dyslexia suffer equally or respond the same to teaching styles and techniques. This could not be further from the truth and when as, many as one in four us suffer on the somewhere on the dyslexia spectrum and arguably even more people that have never been identified or diagnosed you would think that more would b done to cater for this huge population.
Thankfully the government are now listening and with the increase attention both online and via National curriculums it has given tech companies a reason to sit up and pay attention to this massive market place. Technology has advanced so much in the last few years within the education sector and although there is not one technological solution that will be right for all, hopefully you will find a tool on our list that will help you with everyday life, whether that being at work, for your child’s future or just executing daily tasks that little more proficiently.
Check out these 5 great tools and software’s that might just be the saving grace that you have been looking for….
A leading educational technology platform that helps partner people of all ages suffering from dyslexia with qualified SEND tutors in almost every subject in every major city across the United Kingdom. Their online platform is extremely user friendly and simple to use and you can identify the right tutors based on their experience, reviews and volume of bookings. Not just can you identify the right tutor for you or your child, but one that specialises working with pupils with dyslexia. Tutora was only founded in 2015 and this creative platform has been featured in the likes of the Guardian and the Telegraph for their work with local school, councils and parents a like.
- C-Pen – EXAM PEN READER
Everybody suffers from exam nerves to an extent, but when you have dyslexia as an additional worry to combat then exam halls can be very daunting places! Don’t fear the C-Pen is here, sorry for the awful rhyme, but this pen could really make the difference to those exam days.
This innovative pen has been approved by a number of governing bodies to be taken into assessments and exams. This pocket-sized pen connects to attached headphones that when it scans over written text will read the definition out loud and displays the definition of the word you have scanned via the headphones attached. The C-Pen only weighs 50g which is a massive reduction on what other similar products on the market weigh, allowing you to take your C-Pen with you without having to feel like your carrying a brick in your bag!
Whether you are sitting your GCSEs or completing a vocational training course from home, this creative device, which has been approved by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) can make the difference in your learning.
Originally created in 1994, but has had some modifications in recent years. The AcceleRead AcceleWrite software, which explains to the user how to use a computer effectively, harnessing technology that converts text into speech. The theory behind the approach is explained in a thorough manual that accompanies the software and is used by teaching practices and parents a like. It is designed to enhance listening, reading, writing and spelling skills to using colour coded flash cards, blank flash cards and record sheets to enable the learner to structure sentences correctly and now even comes in app format, with some extra cool features.
Nessy fingers, and no there has not been a typo there, it is really called Nessy Fingers! It is an ingenious piece of software that is every parents dream if they have a child who has been diagnosed with dyslexia or posses learning difficulties. This award-winning piece of software aimed at 8 years olds is fun, engaging and actually quite addictive. This software is great for when trying to teach your child how to type for the first time, using 9 games that children fully interact with, rewarding their performance with trophies and allowing them to enter the “hall of fame.”
The software makes learning to type easy and effortless via introducing the letters of the alphabet to your child easy through introducing the keys on the keyboard in alphabetical order. The only aspect that holds this software back is that it is only compatible with Windows, so if you have a MAC, tablet or chromebook it will not work.
As an alternative to the C-Pen, Livescribe is a ballpoint pen that has bluetooth technology inbuilt that links to an app on your phone or tablet. The pen looks like any other pen so it does not unnecessarily stand out, which is great if you don’t want to advertise your disability and wish to keep things discrete. It has an astonishing amount of technology in built to such a small device. It brings your notes to life through the inbuilt memory that then transfers and syncs to your electronic device that interprets what you have written or drawn into an electronically format.
The affiliated app allows you to organise and tag your notes making it quick and easy to categorise everything together. The award-winning pen even allows you to turn your notes directly into audio and is perfect if you struggle with constructing your sentences, spelling and grammar. This revolutionary pen is great if you suffer from dyslexia and could really make the difference in your educational development.
These are my top 5 learning and dyslexia focused software’s and tools available on the market that have a unique commodity to them. They can really help you get the most from your learning or help maximise your child’s development. Dyslexia focused technologies are always evolving and the government are pushing, slowly but surely to integrate them into national curriculums and vocational training programmes. Let us know if you have tried any of them and how you found them to generate awareness for other dyslexic sufferers or if I missed any that really helped you in your day to day life.
Luke Hughes, Director of Learning & Co-Founder Origym @Origym_COE
About the author
Luke loves all things health and fitness and is a qualified personal trainer himself. He helps write learning courses and materials for those who suffer from disabilities as it like his personal training, he loves helping those maximise their mental and physical potential. His biggest passion is cycling and he can often be found on the hills of the Lake District in his spare time.
