Dyslexia and Digital Design

It is always interesting when Dyslexia is in the media and at the moment a lot of attention is being given to the new research by The University of Cincinnati and Renee Seward, UC assistant professor of digital design.

The University is employing its design research capabilities to create a 21st century electronic toolkit that hopes to help children with dyslexia.

Seward, presented her project, titled “Reading by Design: Visualizing Phonemic Sound for Dyslexic Readers 9-11 Years Old,” at the Southwest International Reading Association Regional Conference in Oklahoma City, on Feb. 5, 2010.

The project was inspired by the struggles of a friend’s child to read and Seward’s own exploration of the topic, wherein she learned that one out of five children have some form of dyslexia.

She found that “The child is able to read the letter ‘b.’ He or she is unable to quickly recall that we associate that symbol with the sound, ‘buh.

“In my work,” said Seward, “I want to deemphasize the 26 letters of the alphabet and emphasize the 44 common sounds of the English language.

I do so by helping educators employ children’s senses, from the visual to the kinesthetic.” The toolkit seeks to create a multi sensory onscreen reading experience.