If individuals with dyslexia are equipped with the correct tools, they stand a far greater chance of reaching their full potential.
Trials and feedback from special needs teachers across the world have proven that touch typing and using a computer are formidable and even life-changing tools that open doors for individuals with dyslexia, as they present a new and powerful medium for learning and communicating – introducing them to a new, accessible academic world they can cope with and even excel in!
The disturbances experienced by dyslexics make writing and producing a piece of work extremely challenging. The level of concentration and effort involved can be exhausting and can affect the overall structure and quality of a piece of work.
The skill of typing can help eliminate many of these challenges and frustrations, and early acquisition familiarizes users with the keyboard, allowing them to fully appreciate the tools available to them through typing and using a computer.
When typing:
- The need for neat handwriting is no longer a priority.
- Errors can be easily edited/corrected without messy crossings out, resulting in neat and presentable work.
- Spell checkers highlight mistakes and offer alternatives.
- Reassurance with the above automatically boosts confidence – promoting experimentation with vocabulary and spelling, and allows concentration to be focused on content.
- Quick and accurate typing can reduce the amount of time spent on a piece of work and often increases the amount of work produced.
- Physical dexterity is enhanced, helping with handwriting skills.
- Reading, spelling, and vocabulary are ingrained in memory – with ‘muscle memory’, spellings become a series of finger movements and patterns on a keyboard, reducing the likelihood of transposing or misspelling words.
- The working memory is not overloaded. Students can work at their own pace in a non-linear fashion, where they can process their thoughts first and structure them later.
KAZ’s NEW SEN/Dyslexia typing software was developed with advice and guidance from the British Dyslexia Research Trust.
Incorporating a multi-sensory approach throughout and available with US and UK accents and keyboards, it teaches typing skills whilst minimizing disturbances related to visual stress, by means of a unique ‘Preference Screen’ – tailoring the course to individual’s needs.
Preferences include:-
- A choice of colored background/filter screens – for reducing white screen glare.
- A choice of 2 specific research-based background/filter colors – for steadying letter movement and blurring.
- A choice of dyslexic friendly typefaces – for ease of reading.
- A choice of font colour – for contrast from background screen colour.
- A choice of font size – for optimum visibility, comfort and to minimize fusing and crowding of letters.
- A choice of Keyboard for optimum visibility comfort.
Once the user has selected their preferences and can read the sample text comfortably, these options are applied throughout the course, ensuring the learning experience is a comfortable and enjoyable one. No other typing tutor works in this way.
The program uses a unique and proven ‘accelerated learning’ teaching method. Incorporating both ‘muscle memory’ and ‘brain balance’, it engages the major senses of sight, sound, and touch simultaneously, radically enhancing memory retention and recall, which is why it is so effective.
Using specific combinations and progressions of just 11 words in 5 scientifically structured phrases, the method trains the fingers on both hands to work symmetrically and simultaneously – a direct result of both hemispheres of the brain working at the same time – ‘brain balance’.
With repetition, reading, spelling, and vocabulary are ingrained to memory and with ‘muscle memory’ spellings become a series of finger movements and patterns on a keyboard, reducing the likelihood of transposing and misspelling words.
The Course is presented in a structured but light-hearted manner to make learning fun and enjoyable. It solely focuses on teaching typing and does not include gaming or try to teach typing with other subjects, as research has proven that this splits concentration and may overload the ‘working memory’.
The program offers both spoken and written instruction and includes ‘speaking keys’ covering the a-z keys. It is delivered in 5 short modules, in order to hold interest and concentration, and once again, avoid overloading the working memory. The student is allowed to progress at their own pace, acquiring the skill and gaining speed and accuracy without even realizing it. Additionally, a visual of the keyboard is always on the screen, encouraging the user to look up at the screen and not down at their fingers (so there is no need to cover hands or keyboard).
The combination of KAZ’s unique ‘Preference Screen’ and its proven accelerated learning teaching method delivers a simple, yet dynamic course.
The software is suitable for ages 6+ and is available in ‘Junior’, ‘Adult’ and ‘Corporate’, editions – Online, as a Download, or via SCORM for LMS.
Since launch, it has received wonderful reviews and is now promoted by the British Dyslexia Association and many SEN resellers across the world.