Copy courtesy of Thames Valley Adult Dyslexia Centre

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a different way of thinking. The word dyslexia means ‘difficulty with words’. This means many dyslexics have problems with the written word: in reading and processing text or with spelling and organising it.

The dyslexic difference stems from the brain functioning in a more ‘holistic’ way than the average brain. i.e. the dyslexic may use more of his brain on each task and therefore, not travel the quickest route to the answer or even not ‘see’ the answer at all.
Dyslexics tend to be good conceptual thinkers and may be creative but are less adapted to tasks requiring analysis and logic. They need the whole’ picture’ before understanding and handling the detail within.

How does dyslexia affect an individual’s ability to access a web site?

• Dyslexics are often visual thinkers and need to link words to images to make them memorable.

• Dyslexics may have problems tracking print (reading from left to right without losing place) and reading black print off a white page.

Many web sites seem intent on packing the maximum information into the smallest space, in the least readable format i.e. dense text, small seriffed font, long lines of text, black text on white background or, worse still, a dark background with light coloured text

How can a web site be made more accessible, not just for the dyslexic, but for all readers?

• Many dyslexics prefer to read text on a coloured, rather than white, background, particularly if the text is black.

• Although blue and yellow have been shown to be most effective for the majority of readers, there is individual preference for other colours. Therefore, a site that allows the user to change the background and font colour permits users to set their own preferences.

• Difficulties tracking print can be helped by a highlighting tool that enables the text to be highlighted in a different, chosen colour by dragging the mouse across the text to be read, line-by-line or a paragraph at a time.

• If the site is speech-enabled, this highlighting will also enable the text to be read out. Most important here is that the speech is easily understood and fluent.

Presentation of text is very important:

 use a sans serif font: Arial, Tahoma, Comic
 make headings stand out
 do not capitalise first word on a line, unless grammatically necessary
 do not justify right-hand margins
 space information clearly
 use 12 font minimum
 use colour and appropriate image to help user find information easily
 box information to make it stand out
 do not try to fit too much information on a page
 DO NOT WRITE ALL IN CAPITALS EXCEPT FOR SHORT HEADINGS; lower case words are easier to read.
 italics should only be used in short bursts for emphasis – they slow the reader down.

It is estimated that 10% of the population in Britain is dyslexic (British Dyslexia Association figures). Why lose 10% of visitors to your site when you could improve readability for all?

Multi-Sensory

- The more our senses are involved, the more we learn and remember. By using a multisensory approach to learning adults and children use 3 memories, visual, auditory, and practical. Recall will be faster and better, so - See it, Say it, Hear it and Do it!
We promote our products through multisensory learning methods of touch, sight and sound, and save info to mp3.,

All people are different and learn in different ways.( Honey & Munford) , to help people understand their preferred style, produced a 'Learning Styles Questionnaire'. And the research result proved the following data:
Approximately 30% of people are visual learners - images and pictures are their primary helpers.
Approximately 30% are auditory learners - talking and listening their first choice for learning.
Approximately 40% are physical learners - doing, hands-on, touching, real time involvement provide the best methods of their learning.
We remember the following amounts, when we do the associated activities

The more our senses are involved, the more we learn and remember.
By using multisensory methods of reading and learning, adults and children are able to use 4 memories, visual, auditory, and be faster and better, so - Their ability to recall could be drastically increased.
See it, Say it, Hear it and Do it!
Intelligence - Fact and Fiction
Tony Buzan, in his book "Head First" lists ten separate types of Intelligence.
Learning is accelerated when we use as many intelligences as possible.
Learning is made easier when we use our dominant intelligences and restricted when we use our weaker ones.
The ten inteligences are grouped in 3 sets, as follows:
Creative & Emotional Intelligences.
1. Creative
2. Personal
3. Social
4. Spiritual
Bodily Intelligences.
5. Physical
Traditional Intelligences.
6 Numerical
7.Spatial
8. Verbal

A Multi-Lingual-Linguistic approach is beneficial in the seven types of Intelligence structure of Professor Howard Gardner (Harvard University) click here to read more
The Seven Types of Intelligence
Psychologist Dr Howard Gardner identified the following distinct types of intelligence listed here:
1. Linguistic
Children with this kind of intelligence enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles.
2. Logical-Mathematical
Children with lots of logical intelligence are interested in patterns, categories and relationships. They are drawn to arithmetic problems, strategy games and experiments.
3. Bodily-Kinesthetic
These kids process knowledge through bodily sensations. They are often athletic, dancers or good at crafts such as sewing or woodworking.
4. Spatial
These children think in images and pictures. They may be fascinated with mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend free time drawing, building with Leggos or daydreaming.
5. Musical
Musical children are always singing or drumming to themselves. They are usually quite aware of sounds others may miss. These kids are often discriminating listeners.
6. Interpersonal
Children who are leaders among their peers, who are good at communicating and who seem to understand others' feelings and motives possess interpersonal intelligence.
7. Intrapersonal
These children may be shy. They are very aware of their own feelings and are self-motivated.
(text from Bill Allen, photo from http://www.ed.psu.edu)

Multi-Media – addressing the world wide web, internet based, our products can turn text into audio files and be saved to be listened to later, RSS to iPOD, second language capability etc.

Multi-Level - Our products cater for the 20% plus market of millions of people with communication difficulties and the 100% of the market with communication proferences eg.

Multi-Choice the can use the range of choices with sellable add-ons, capable of meeting individuals needs enhancing every web visit, either for individuals or owners.