Case studies
Chris, Special Needs Teacher
I’ve found Touch-type Read and Spell is a great way of teaching typing skills while also addressing literacy difficulties. I am a Special Needs teacher in a primary school working with children who are 7-11 years old. The children enjoy monitoring and observing their own progress as they develop their typing skills. They love being awarded TTRS certificates for their progress and attainment!
Alan, Adult with severe dyslexia learning to read
Alan struggles with dyslexia. He spent much of his life avoiding reading and writing. Before beginning TTRS, he struggled to understand even simple text like instructions and signs in shops. When Alan joined a literacy and numeracy class at a local college, as part of his learning program, he embarked on a touch-typing course. With plenty of encouragement and perseverance, he began regular practice with the TTRS program. He learned to type and is now able to read and write most high frequency English words.
Success Stockport, Adult Education
We had run the Touch-type Read and Spell course before within a local authority and found it really inspired confidence in adult learners. That's why we ran it again in our most recent course for 9 unemployed adult learners, some of whom had learning difficulties. Our students enjoyed using TTRS and acquired the skill of touch-typing at the same time. One student said TTRS taught her not to be afraid of computers. Another said learning typing with TTRS made him more confident and that he was now ready to tackle future computer courses.
Bolton College, Adult Education
We offer the TTRS course to self-study adult learners who have returned to education to improve their spelling, increase their familiarity with technology, and use word processors. We find that many of our adult learners did not engage with spelling when they first attended school, and that the conventional ‘look-cover- spell-check’ and spelling test approach had a detrimental effect on their learning. In contrast, Touch-type Read and Spell provides a rewarding and positive experience for them.
North East Lancashire Dyslexia Association
We were looking for typing software that would teach keyboarding, but also help students make progress in terms of literacy skills development. Particularly for adults who struggle with literacy skills, it can be difficult to admit there is a problem and even harder to seek help in the form of private tutoring. Therefore, the fact that our mature learners could learn independently with TTRS meant they had access to literacy support without the embarrassment they might feel in a classroom setting.
Elizabeth, Adult learner with dyslexia
I was 15 when I was diagnosed with dyslexia. Because of my early experiences with reading and spelling difficulties, I chose a career in education and I am now a primary school teacher. I think Touch-type Read and Spell is just brilliant because it teaches you to type using real words. It’s all about sensory skills. It teaches typing, reading, and spelling and it’s designed for people who have dyslexia. When you have dyslexia, it’s difficult to learn how to type if the drills aren’t linked with spelling patterns and you don’t get the same benefit out of it, like you do with TTRS.
Annette, Adult learner returning to school
I’ve always known I had dyslexia but for most of my life I tried to ignore it. When I was younger my school didn’t diagnose me, and it was only this year when I took an adult education course that I was given a proper assessment. I was researching tools for adult dyslexia online when I first came across Touch-type Read and Spell. As I’ll be starting university in September, I’m using the course to help me get ready for school. What I like about TTRS is that it’s easy and straightforward to use. The first time I signed in to the program I was able to get started right away.
Brian, Retiree and youth mentor with dyslexia
I was never officially diagnosed as dyslexic, but I’ve read a lot about it and I’m pretty sure I have phonological dyslexia. When I was 9 or 10 I can remember looking at the word off, thinking that's alright. Then looking at the word of, and thinking that should be 'ov' -- this doesn't make sense. At work, when I became a manager, my boss would say things to me like “you take the minutes for the meeting,” and I’d sit there thinking how can I write the rough copy big enough, so that I can read it later, but too small for anyone to see my mistakes as I write?
Samantha, Adult learner who works in family business
When I was at school it wasn’t as popular to talk about dyslexia. Reading I’m okay with but with spelling it’s another story. Over the years I’ve sort of self-taught myself typing, but I really like learning with Touch-type Read and Spell and it’s made a difference for me at work already! That’s because it makes me think about what I’m typing. When I write emails I normally look up and there are about ten red lines with errors. Now it’s about half that, and that’s only from using TTRS for 3-4 weeks.