Author: Matt

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This is a bonus episode of The Dyslexia Life Hacks Show, in this podcast is the audio of an webinar on Dyslexia in Engineering that Matt did along with the IET Derby/Notts local network, which is part of the IET East Midlands network. IET stands for The Institution of Engineering and Technology which is one of the professional engineering institutions in the UK a person who is a Chartered Engineer will be a member if the IET or similar institutions.

In this webinar Matthew chats about his own experience of dyslexia, setting up Dyslexia Life Hacks to help fellow dyslexics and how dyslexic people can be an asset to any engineering team. The webinar starts with a talk from Matt and at 28 minutes 55 seconds the Q&A section starts.

The video from the webinar is on YouTube, you can watch it here.

• The British Dyslexia Association
• The Gift of Dyslexia – Article, podcast

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In this episode of The Dyslexia Life Hacks Show, we are talking about reading pens with Lauran Jeffery Area Sales Manager for OrCam.

OrCam have been developing reading cameras for the blind and visual impaired since 2010, there latest product the OrCam Read provides a portable reading pen that dyslexics can use to help with reading problems.

In this podcast, we talk about how OrCam moved into the dyslexia market, the operation of OrCam Read and best practices for use. How different do the blind and visually impaired use the device compared to a dyslexic? What is the benefit of using it over a smart phone?

Lauran shares her experiences with dyslexics, what she has learned so much since OrCam have entered the dyslexia support market.

Selected Links

• OrCam’s Website
• OrCam Read Demonstration Video
• OrCam video case study with Moon Hall School
• Paloma Ford – Screening 4 Dyslexia
• Darren Clark
• Scanning Pens
• Joint Council for Qualifications – JCQ
• Disabled Students’ Allowance – DSA
• Tes SEN Show
• Access to work – ATW
• IP Ratings
• OrCam contact details

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In this episode of The Dyslexia Life Hacks Show, we talk to Ben Hurst who is a racing driver. He has raced for Aston Martin Academy and BMW. Like fellow racing drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jackie Stewart, dyslexia assists him when racing. Having only started racing at 16 he a quickly started winning and has rose through the ranks, hear how dyslexic visitations skills helps him learn the car and set it up. We also talk about how these skills help Ben be a better driver coach and the business side of being a driver.

Born is Canada, Ben found out he was dyslexic at a young age and got the support he needed throughout is schooling. When he moved to the UK he was able to balance studying for a degree and his racing. He is a great example of how getting good support early can really help a dyslexic person.

Even if you are not a motor racing fan there is still a lot of great takeaways in this podcast, from racing at night in the rain to running a business there is something for everyone.

Selected Links:

• Ben’s website
• British GT championship
• Dubai 24 Hr
• BMW M4 GT4
• Aston Martin Academy
• Formula Ford festival – Brands Hatch
• DSA
• Silverstone
• BMW M2
• Without Remorse Movie
• The Hobbit
• Khan Academy
• McLaren Cars
• BMW – MDM Mode
• Ben’s Instagram

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In this episode of The Dyslexia Life Hacks Show, Matt talks to Nicola James the founder of Lexxic. She started it in 2007 and it has grown to over 50 employees. They provide psychologists that assist organisations in making environments that neurodiversity can thrive.

In this podcast Nicola shares how she found out she was dyslexic in her last year at university. This lead to a big change for her as having access to the right support turned studying and writing things down, from a arduous task into something she enjoyed. Before this she was aware that she could always talk about a subject and it was the writing it down that she struggled with.

Post university she work in HR before deciding to do something she loved, that in her words “ended up being a business”, we cover what Lexxic does and how they can help dyslexic’s at work from both the individual and team perspective. Nicola provides so fascinating insights into psychology, dyslexia and getting the right tools in place.

Selected Links

• Lexxic
• Neurotalent unlocked
• Nottingham university
• Nottingham university dyslexia department
• Mind view – Nicola recommends this for students and for work
• Mind manager
• OrCam
• Hello@lexxic.com

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In the episode of The Dyslexia Life Hacks Show we take a deep dive into dyscalculia with Marni Spicer, co-founder of dyscalculia.me and Table Fables. Dyscalculia can be thought of as dyslexia with maths, as you will hear throughout this podcast there are many similarities with dyslexia. Marni explains the difficulties dyscalculics can face and how her and her business partner Rebecca have developed Table Fables to teach children maths. They are on a missions to remove maths anxiety for all for good. As with dyslexics, give dyscalculics the right tool they can learn maths and even thrive. There is also a positive side to having dyscalculia and Marni believes that a dyscalculic may find the nest big maths innovation.

Marni is not dyscalculic but there business partner is, using her background in graphic design to create Table Fables and her experience as a life coach to build dyscalculia.me. She goes into detail on how negative experiences with maths in childhood can affect a persons confidence as an adult and how she can coach them to have better relationship with maths and a better life.

Selected links

• Table Fables
• dycalculia.me
• ADD and Dyslexia
• Dyslexia and dyscalculia
• Time line therapy
• Dr. Schroeder
• Alice in Wonderland and Maths

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In this episode of The Dyslexia Life Hacks Show, we talk to Stuart Marsden product manager at Claro Software. After finishing his PHD, he worked for the NHS designing assistive equipment, this experience would become inviable when he later moved to Claro. Stuart who is not dyslexic is able to apply his epithetic design approach to provide technology that fulfils his mission to level the playing field for all.

In this podcast we talk about Stuart’s path from his PHD to working with the neurodiverse, his philosophy on dyslexia, how Claro developed writing helper and the design process. Both Matt and Stuart are engineers; they take a deep drive in to all areas of design.

Stuart has interesting insights on dyslexia and working with dyslexic people and draws fascinating parallels with his work for the NHS.    

Selected links

• Claro Software
• Claro Writing Helper
• Biomechanics
• Assistive Technology
• NHS Scientist Training Programme
• Matlab
• Fluid Dynamics
• Fourier Series maths
• CAD (Computer aided design)
• DSA
• Dragon Natural Speaking
• LaTeX writing software