Title Steps/description Optional Picture

Typing software

Learning to type properly means faster input, therefore, saving you time.  It also ensures that you maintain a correct posture and hand position.  This could be the difference between a comfortable experience and injuries down the line, like repetitive strain or back ache.

One of the best touch typing tutors is typing.com.  It is free and online, so there is no need to install it.  You will need to register by supplying a username and password, but this is easy to do.
 

Bionic Reading®

 Many people diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia benefit from the beginning of words being in bold font.
Two columns of text side by side headed Reading as before and Reading Mode Bionic Reading (variation).
There is an online feature through BionicReading® where you can convert Word documents and even websites into this accessible format. The Bionic Reading format makes it easier to read and comprehend information. There is also a free phone app anyone can download and use.		  

KAZ typing tutor - SEN/Dyslexia

If you have dyslexia, KAZ may be a better option.

KAZ has been developed with the Dyslexic Research Trust.

It offers a Preference Screen with choices of,

  • dyslexic friendly typefaces
  • dyslexic friendly font size & font colour
  • background/ filter screens
  • different keyboards
  • ‘speaking keys’.  
Users work at their own pace. It uses clear and simple grammar, records bookmarks, speed and accuracy.

KAZ typing tutor webpage

The online version is the cheapest at about $50 per annum.  You shouldn't need it for more than 1 year.

Font for dyslexia

Image of Open Dyslexic font

Open Dyslexic is a special font which is designed to make text easier to read and write for people with dyslexia. 

It is free from the Open Dyslexic website though you do have to register.

  1. Select the Download Now button.  On the next page, type in a price of 0, then select the I want this! button.  You will be prompted to register with your email address.
  2. You will receive an email.  Select the View Content link and this will take you to a webpage where you can download the font.
  3. It will download into your Downloads folder as a zip file.
  4. Right-click the file, and from the context menu select Extract All…
    Image of Windows menu to extract zip file
  5. In the dialogue box that appears, select the Extract button.  This will create a new folder in your Downloads folder which will contain the unzipped files.
  6. Select each file in turn to open the font install dialogue box.  Select the Install button
    Image of Windows dialogue box for installing a font
  7. Once installed on your computer, you can change your documents to use this font.  E.g. in Word select the drop-down menu for fonts on the ribbon, then scroll down the A-Z list and select OpenDyslexic.
    Image of changing font in Microsoft Word

  8. Open Dyslexic can be installed by students and staff on BHI computers (yes, even though installation of regular software is disabled).  However, on student computers the new font is deleted when you log off.  To resolve this, keep a copy of the files on OneDrive, or a usb drive, so that it’s quicker to install next time.


Note: 

If you use the Chrome browser, you can change the font to Open Dyslexic on web pages by installing the Dyslex.ie extension.  See the section on Screen colour schemes and filters > 6. Google Chrome - Dyslex.ie extension

You can also set Open Dyslexic as the default font in other browsers.  Go into your browser settings, Appearance section, then select Customize fonts.  However, it makes little difference, because almost all web pages use pre-defined fonts.

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Last modified: Thursday, 27 April 2023, 3:57 PM