Why do people use Dragon for Dyslexia support? A good question! Allow us to elaborate…
Long before it became a productivity tool, Dragon speech recognition was an accessibility tool, often used to help with repetitive strain injury, physical impairments and learning disabilities such as Dyslexia.
Now widely used in organisations to save time and boost efficiency, Dragon remains widely used for assistive purposes, particularly for Dyslexia, and is largely recommended by the Access To Work scheme.
But how exactly is Dragon helpful for Dyslexic users? Let’s see…
Guaranteed spelling accuracy
Spelling is one of the most common struggles associated with Dyslexia, and writing is such a key part of academic and professional life that it can create stress and pressure for the individual.
Dragon’s excellent accuracy takes away the pressure of spelling. The software will never spell a word wrong, allowing users to focus on what’s most important: The content.
The “Read That” voice command
Dragon’s voice commands are arguably the most popular feature amongst users, allowing them to complete specific computer actions via a simple word or phrase. Commands are great for speeding up and simplifying a workflow.
Although you can create personalised custom commands, Dragon also has built-in commands which are ready to use out of the box.
A default command that’s particularly helpful for Dyslexic users is the “Read That” command. Simply highlight the text that you’d like Dragon to read aloud and say “Read That”. Dragon will then read the text aloud for the user to listen to.
This is extremely helpful for Dyslexic users who have trouble reading or processing text.
See it in action here:
Reduced cognitive load
There’s a lot of mental strain that comes with writing, spelling and working in general – And this only multiplies for someone with Dyslexia.
Speech recognition allows users to express their ideas easily and quickly, eliminating an element of that mental strain and promoting free-flowing creativity.
Automatic formatting
Similarly to the above point, custom templates are another great way to avoid getting bogged down in the admin and logistics of writing.
Dragon users can format and insert pre-chosen bodies of text through custom templates. Also known as Auto-Text, this feature automatically inserts frequently used text in the desired format through a simple voice command.
For example, a student may begin an assessment by saying “Open new assessment template” to find a Word document with correct line spacing and a header with the student number already in place.
Thanks for reading about Dragon for Dyslexia!
That’s all from us in the way of Dragon’s features – Hopefully you found it insightful!
Should you wish to look further into Dragon, the specific version recommended for assistive users is Dragon Professional 16.
