B.D.A. Contact magazine September 2010.
Some useful ways to support Dyslexic learners using Microsoft Word 2007.
Victoria Crivelli B.D.A. N.T.C.
Many Dyslexic learners using a computer, find word processing one of the most useful applications to help them.
It can help plan and record ideas together with easy editing and publishing features for their writing or homework tasks.
Ideally a text to speech tool to work together with M.S. Word, such as those found in TextHelp Read & Write Gold or ClaroRead tool-bars, can offer the additional benefits of speech support and are one of their most useful features. There are also similar basic text to speech tools freely available from the web.
Additional features such as “a talking spellchecker”, enabling users to make an informed choice, are equally important options found in those programs already mentioned or in online programs such as Ginger and Ghotit, which also both check grammar and correctly spelled words in the wrong places. Commercial talking word processors, such as Clicker, Textease, Co:Writer and Write OnLine, found in many schools, will also have those features.
There are however many other useful features in M.S. Word that can help in a variety of ways without any additional cost or tools. A selection of some of the most popular features in the 2007 version can be found in the attached pdf file, 11 ways to support dyslexic learners using Microsoft Word 2007.
Most are available in earlier versions of M.S. Word. Remember, for individual users, all tool-bars can be personalised to enable them to have their favourite features and icons always easily available. These can feature on the quick access tool-bar on the top left hand side of the screen. See the last two paragraphs in the attached pdf for help with doing this.
