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Dealing with

Dyslexia in education

AbilityNet Webinar

6 November 2014

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Welcome

Pauline Beresford

AbilityNet

Robin Christopherson

AbilityNet

Mark Walker

AbilityNet

Alex Barker

AbilityNet

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Dealing with Dyslexia in Education

What is the impact of Dyslexia in education?

• Adult education – FE, HE, etc

• Children and young people - schools

What adjustments can help with Dyslexia?

What help is available?

How is mobile changing things?

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What is Dyslexia?

Wikipedia:

• Dyslexia, or developmental reading disorder, is characterised by

difficulty with learning to read fluently and with accurate

comprehension despite normal or above-average intelligence

• Dyslexia is the most common learning difficulty and most recognised

reading disorder

Related issues include Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia

It is estimated that it affects at least 6 million people in the UK, 4 million

of those severely

Have to have a diagnosis to be eligible for education funding

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What is the impact of

Dyslexia in education?

Communication and collaboration

• Reading and writing

• Note-taking, comprehension

• Essays

• Time management

Not achieving the results you deserve

Personal and emotional effects

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Challenging environments

• Independent working

• Library

• Field work

• Placements

• Classrooms

• Lecture theatres

• Labs

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What adjustments can help with Dyslexia?

Lots of different options

• Overlays

• Preferences

• Keyboards

• Spellchecking

• Speech to Text

• Text to Speech

• Mind mapping

• Organisers/reminders

• Non medical helper support

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What adjustments can help with Dyslexia?

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• Reading

• Writing

• Note-taking

• Cognitive barriers

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Reading

Issues include

• Accuracy

• Understanding

Solutions include

• Overlays

• Reading Rulers

• Text to Speech/Screenreader

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Sky Blue

Celery

Grass Green

Jade Green

Magenta

Orange

Pink

Purple

Yellow

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Writing – essays, emails, etc

Issues include

• Spelling and grammar

• Clear and accurate articulation

• Mis-keying - hand eye co-ordination

Solutions include

• Spellchecking

• Speech-to-text and text-to-speech

• Mind-mapping

• Keyboard adaptations

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Mind-mapping

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Note-taking - meetings, on the telephone, etc

Issues include

• Listening and note-taking

at the same time

• Understanding information

• Keeping pace with information

Possible solutions include

• Digital Voice Recording

• Mind Mapping

• Strategy training - identifying key information

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Audio Notetaker

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Cognitive Barriers

Issues include

• Planning and organising workload

• Concentration

• Processing Information

• Memory Recall

Possible solutions include

• Mind mapping

• Outlook Calendar training

• Strategy coaching – memory tools

• Reminders

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What help is available?

Financial help

• Disabled Students Allowances

• Schools

Free help from AbilityNet

• Helpline – 0800 269 545

• Factsheets

• IT Support At Home

• My Computer My Way

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Dealing with Dyslexia in education

One size doesn’t fit all

• Deal with the individual and the support they need

May not be a cost

• For built in options see www.mycomputermyway.com

It’s about the person, not about the technology

• Training and support

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Questions

Please use the Questions box on GotoWebinar

Next AbilityNet webinars

Dealing with Dyslexia in Education, 1pm BST, Thursday 6 Nov

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Contact Us

robin.christopherson@abilitynet.org.uk

+44 (0) 1926 465 247 @abilitynet

Next AbilityNet webinars

Dyslexia and Digital Design, 1pm BST, Tuesday 11 November

Sign up at www.abilitynet.org.uk/webinars