The Lifelong Impact of Read&Write
A brain injury in early childhood left Peter Dempsey struggling to communicate. But when he was introduced to Read&Write, he suddenly had a toolkit to access learning and voice his thoughts.
Now working as a Disability Consultant, he advocates for the widespread adoption of assistive technology in schools, universities and workplaces so that everyone can enjoy barrier-free access.
Summary
- Following a stroke, Peter struggled with literacy and communication. This profoundly impacted his education and left him isolated.
- The Read&Write toolbar offered tools to help Peter process information and communicate his ideas. He finally had confidence in his ability to understand and be understood.
Meet Peter
Aged 4, he suffered a stroke that led to a diagnosis of aphasia. Aphasia impairs a person's ability to recall information and express understanding. At school, Peter struggled to keep up with his peers as writing, reading comprehension, recalling information and articulating his thoughts all presented barriers to accessing learning.
But thanks to a supportive family, mentors and assistive technology, Peter today uses his skills and experience to consult organisations on their disability inclusion strategies. Read on to hear his story.
From isolated to included
Peter shares his story of growing up with the effects of aphasia, finding support and how his experiences have shaped the consultancy work he does today.
Discovering Read&Write
It wasn’t until Peter had left school that his dad – who was an engineer and always on the lookout for emerging technology – came across Read&Write.
That year, Peter returned to education with adult re-entry into Year 11. With the help of a mentor, he started using the Read&Write toolbar.
'That's when everything changed'
Peter now had access to a suite of tools that could help him to read, write and understand. He could hear text read aloud using the text-to-speech feature and see each word highlighted as it was read, helping him to follow along. The highlighter and dictionary tools also helped him solidify his comprehension.
How Read&Write helped
Read&Write acts as a literacy support partner, helping users to understand texts, process information and verbalise thoughts. Below, hear how Read&Write opened up new learning possibilities for Peter.
First impressions
Being introduced to Read&Write was a pivotal moment. It opened up new learning possibilities for Peter. In this video, he shares his first impressions of the toolbar.
Reading and processing information can demand a heavy cognitive load, but Read&Write reduces that strain by providing alternative ways to engage with reading and writing. This support was a game-changer, enabling Peter to access learning like never before. Most importantly, being able to access information in ways he could understand unlocked something else in Peter: a curiosity and love of learning.
'I now had the tools and the eagerness to learn'
'It was a lifeline'
Read&Write's text-to-speech feature gave Peter a new way to access the written word. He could adjust the speaking pace to a speed that fit his preferences.
Equipped with this toolbar, Peter now had a range of supports at his fingertips. Below, check out a few standout features which supported Peter's learning.
Key features of Read&Write
- Text-to-speech reads text aloud, highlighting each word as it's spoken. The speed and accent of the speaker are fully adjustable, allowing you to process information at a comfortable pace
- The dictation tool transcribes speech into text. Capture thoughts which you can later craft into sentences
- With the prediction tool, receive visual word prompts as you write, helping you reduce cognitive load and focus on content
Barriers at university
When he started university, Peter faced a roadblock. At the time, his university did not provide access to Read&Write or any other assistive software, and without that crucial support, Peter struggled.
'It was a very frustrating time', says Peter. 'To know that there are tools out there that can help but aren't being implemented. If I'd had Read&Write, it would have been a very good support for me.'
Peter made the difficult decision to drop out of university. However, he was still determined to continue his education. So he opted instead to pursue Technical and Further Education (TAFE). His parents bought a private licence of Read&Write, and with the dedicated support from teachers, Peter was able to complete an 18 month course in just 8 months.
'Getting Read&Write sped up my learning considerably. It was the first time I could achieve anything academic, so that was huge for me'
Having experienced education with and without access to Read&Write, Peter feels strongly that assistive tools should be made as widely available as possible.
'There are a lot of students who struggle with reading and writing', he says. 'Kids hide it extremely well. It’s called masking. We all want to keep up and fit in, and kids will put in extra hours of work in order to blend in and appear as if everything's fine. That pressure is really tough on them and their families... Tools like Read&Write give those kids a hand up.'
If we recognise and embrace different ways of thinking, we can help more people reach their potential. Read&Write supports these differences, enabling students to study with tools tailored to their needs.
Discover Read&Write for yourself and arrange a demo for your school, TAFE or university.
Lasting impact
Read&Write gave Peter access to the world of information around him. At a time when he was struggling to keep up with the pace of learning at school, the Read&Write toolbar gave him the helping hand he needed.
Growing confidence
Read&Write gave Peter the support and self-belief to continue his education. Without it, he likely would have dropped out of school.
All these years later, Peter now works with the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) to advocate for better inclusion of people with disabilities. He consults businesses on ways they can proactively create environments that welcome people who learn, work and think differently.
Peter remains a passionate advocate of assistive tools that help break down barriers to understanding. His goal is to shape companies 'that really strive to include and support people', and assistive tools go a long way towards achieving that.
'There isn’t another tool that offers the full range of support like Read&Write does'
'I’m all about supporting people who really want to do well, but who just need a hand up', says Peter. 'Read&Write helped me become a national advocate for everyone with a disability across Australia. It's been around a long time, and the missions and goals [of Everway, formerly Texthelp] have not changed.'
Support literacy, focus and organisation with Read&Write
Suitable for all ages, Read&Write is an accessible toolbar designed to help you read, write and study with confidence.
Over 250 million people worldwide have used Everway tools including Read&Write to help achieve their potential.
Read&Write helps students to:
- Understand and engage with reading assignments
- Remove background distractions and improve focus
- Build vocabulary and writing confidence