Caroline, Adult student working in healthcare

I was assessed for dyslexia when I was 8 and then again at 17. I find reading, spelling, and grammar really difficult. For example, I haven’t read a full book in the last twenty years. And while I don’t mind writing as much, my spelling isn’t great.

When I first started using the Touch-type Read and Spell program I was terrible. I was so slow and found it really hard to keep to the new hand keyboard position outside of the modules.

But I’ve noticed an improvement already when I’m typing. I know where the letters are, even if I don’t always type them in the proper way. I’m also typing with a bit more confidence and I’m motivated to keep taking modules as I want to get things perfect.

I originally just wanted to take typing lessons, but Touch-type Read and Spell is helping me build my spelling and reading skills too.

About five years ago, I did a media degree and briefly pursued a career in photography. Now, at 27 I’m going back to school for an occupational therapy degree. I’d been working as a care-giver in the healthcare sector and realized this is what I wanted to do.

Strengthening my typing and literacy skills will help me when I’m a full-time student and in my future career. At my current job, I’m not on computers very often, but when I do a work placement through school, I’ll have to fill out a lot of patient paperwork.

Years ago, my mother used to bring me, my brother and my sister to typing lessons and I could never do them. With my dyslexia, I just couldn’t understand what I was supposed to do, and I always got everything in the program wrong. She ended up pulling me out of the class and then in Ireland they don’t really do a lot of computer training in schools until you’re 16.

But with TTRS, I sat down on Day 1 and did an entire level of 31 modules. I love that it’s teaching me typing skills, which I really need for my degree, but that I’m getting help with the spelling, reading and grammar as well.

It’s also easy to do. I try to practice mostly on my days off, as I work 13-hour shifts, and it’s encouraging to know it’s already having an effect.

I can remember at age 5 my teacher told me that I just wasn’t smart. It was embarrassing, and I got it into my head that I was useless. I had really low self-esteem and a lot of anxiety, particularly about going back to school as an adult. But now I’ve reached the point where I’ve stopped caring. I don’t have to hide my dyslexia because this is me, it’s part of me and of who I am.

It’s nice to find TTRS and know that someone is finally interested in helping adults with dyslexia. I don’t see much out there for us now that we’re older. I understand that most programs are geared towards kids with dyslexia because they need to catch it early on and introduce strategies and support, but adults need help too!