Connecting dyslexic learners
Katherine Howey
Adult Dyslexia Support Specialist and Tutor
Founder, Adult Dyslexia Support Group
Presentation focus

Overview of DyslexicBuddies design process

Human/computer interaction considerations

Lessons learned

Demonstration

Way forward
About me

Adult dyslexia support specialist and tutor

Designs and teaches foundation courses for

dyslexic learners entering FE/HE
Previously consultant in human/computer
interaction and disability issues for UK/EU consortia
[email protected]
Adult Dyslexia Support Group

Formed 2010

Voluntary and community group

Supports adult dyslexic learners through

Short courses
 Reading group
 Resource site
Self-funding

About DyslexicBuddies





Specialist resource site, tightly focused on
literacy skills acquisition
Blog allows learners to provide feedback
on the resources and teaching strategies and
share experience
Website developed by subgroup of ADSG
volunteers over 18 month period
Over 500 resource hours to date
Project costs covered by funding from
ADSHE Liz Ahrends Award 2012
User profile

From pre-literate to HE level

Weak literacy skills

‘spikey’ profile
Various learning styles, varying in severity


auditory, visual, kinesthetic
User-Centered Design

Evaluation of products, services and teaching

strategies for dyslexic people rarely asks for
the feedback of dyslexic people
DyslexicBuddies recognises that dyslexics

are the experts on their own dyslexia
DyslexicBuddies puts dyslexics at the heart
of its design process
Design evolution



Basic blog site
 Cheap but nasty
Hotmail discussion group
 Not sufficiently transparent, too many clicks
WordPress
 Free
 Primarily a blogging tool but can support
a website with careful design
Wordpress.com v .org

WordPress.com

WordPress.org
Online content management
Downloaded software installed
system, easy to use, limited
locally, paired with a site hosted
functionality
elsewhere on the web
Comes with a branded
More advanced functionality
WordPress.com domain name Offers more options
eg dyslexicbuddies.wordpress.com
Both WordPress services are technically free, but the downloaded software
is only usable if you pay for a custom domain name and web hosting
Design 1 – Basic Blog
This site was difficult to use,
unattractive and needed a
subscription
Design 2 – Discussion Group

Set up on Hotmail

Users could send e-mails to each other

and access a resources page
Users needed to set up an e-mail account first

Messages were displayed over several pages

It was easy to get lost on the site

High level of user frustration with site design
Design 2 – Discussion Group
Dyslexic Friends Discussion
Group
1. Go to www.hotmail.com
2. Log in using your Hotmail email and password
Create a Hotmail account if necessary.
3. Put mouse over “SKY DRIVE”
4. Select “Groups”
5. Select “Dyslexic Friends”
6. Send an email to [email protected]
7. Add a photo or logo for your name.
Design 2 – Discussion Group
Resource Page
Design 2 – Discussion Group
Spelling Resource Template
Look
Dys lex i a
Say
Imagine Cover
Dyslexia
Write
Check
Dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia
Design 3 – WordPress.com

Users were invited to submit ideas for

site structure and navigation
Users’ key usability requirements




Simple clean design
Image friendly
Easy to navigate
Uncluttered text, clear signposting
Design 3 – User concept
About Us
Links
Celebrating Achievement
Events and Courses
.
Calendar
Welcome to DYSLEXIC FRIENDS
Here to help
Blog
MEMORY &
ORGANISATION
Click here to share your
experiences and learning
strategies…simple as that…look
forward to learning from one
another!
DYSLEXIA
DYSPRAXIA
READING
STUDY
SKILLS
WRITING
ASPERGER’S
SYNDROME
SPELLING
AD(H)D
Design 3 - WordPress
Design 3 – User feedback

Designed as one long page

Too crowded

Difficult to navigate

Too wordy, not enough visual and audio
alternatives to the written word
Design 4 – Current version
Design 4 – User reactions

More visually based

Emphasis on multimedia options - audio,
video and image resources
Much clearer

Simpler drop-down menu structure reduces
clutter on screen and groups topics
More elegant design



Less to read on screen, straight to the point
Website widgets

We included a number of plug-ins in the

light of user feedback and continue to monitor
take up and relevance
 PayPal Donate
 Facebook
For the future?


Twitter
ScanMe
Accessibility

Currently provide topic area on visual stress

which advises on font size and customising colour
Considering use of assistive technologies, eg,
to allow users to view website as spoken text
Is there a trade off between use of reading
software and visual presentation of text for those
with visual stress?
Proposed development path

Subject to fundraising, set up

custom domain name and web hosting
Seek to incorporate best practice and
website accessibility guidelines more fully
without compromising integrity of the site
Contact information

Contact us at if you want to add resources:

[email protected]
Or view the Website at:

www.dyslexicbuddies.org.uk
Or through the ADSHE website at
www.adshe.org.uk
Thank you