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NUA's Rob Hillier's dyslexia friendly typeface 'Sylexiad'

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NUA's Rob Hillier's dyslexia friendly typeface 'Sylexiad'

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Dr. Robert Hillier is a semi-retired Senior Lecturer at Norwich University of the Arts and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA). He designed and developed the Sylexiad range of fonts for adult dyslexic readers as part of his doctoral research (2006). Hillier has presented his research findings at numerous design institutions and conferences, including the Design Principles and Practices Conference's at University of California, Los Angeles (2012) and University Center, Chicago (2015) and also at the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI) Conference in Reykjavik (2011).

Sylexiad has been written about in design publications including Communication Arts, Baseline, Novum, Étapes, Slanted, Ultrabold and the Journal of Writing in Creative Practice. A chapter about the typeface is also featured in the book Supporting Dyslexic Adults in Higher Education and the Workplace published by Wiley Blackwell (2012). Sylexiad was included as part of the NEVERODDOREVEN exhibition at The Serpentine Gallery, London (2007) and has been used by Bloomsbury Publishing in their Wired Connect / High Low series (2016) aimed at struggling and reluctant readers. The font was the subject of an Academic Minute radio programme (2015) broadcast on sixty public stations across the USA and Canada.

Hillier's solo exhibitions include List Landscapes at The Norwich Arts Centre (2010), Typologies: Making Lists, Marking Time at the St. Bride Library, London (2011) and Typography: Portrait / Landscape at the University of the Arts London (2014).

To-ing, a self-authored book is in the Tate Special Collections, Tate Britain, London (2013). Hillier has also exhibited work in the USA, Germany and South Korea.

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Dr. Robert Hillier is a semi-retired Senior Lecturer at Norwich University of the Arts and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA). He designed and developed the Sylexiad range of fonts for adult dyslexic readers as part of his doctoral research (2006).

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Norwich University of the Arts - Library and Learning Support

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Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.

These types of technologies can range from colour tint apps, to mind-mapping software, to screen magnifiers, so there's a huge range. For each of the areas below we've identified a few apps and tools that might help. You can also find out more by following the further reading links at the bottom of the page.

Reading, writing & spelling

Reading and writing can be a real challenge for learners, whether they have SpLD or not. Fortunately there are many tools available that can help.

NUA has subscriptions to some specific software which is available on computers across campus:

Apple Text to Speech and Dictation
This enables your Mac to read out loud text that is on the screen.

ReadIris OCR scanning
This will allow you to convert any paper document, image or PDF into editable and searchable digital files (Word, Excel, PDF, HTML, etc).

You can find out more about the support available from the Design Studio intranet pages.

There are also many free tools available:

Change Microsoft colour themes
You can change all the default colours of Office applications which may help you with reading on screen.

Google Docs speech-to-text
This means you can speak into your microphone and Google will convert it to text for you (very handy if you are good at thinking out loud, but not so good at typing!)

Some software has been developed specifically to support SpLD learners, and this usually needs to be paid for (although many also have free 'lite' versions). If you are applying for DSA you may be able to request these from your needs assessor as part of the application process. Here are a few examples:

Easy to use reading and writing software including text to speech.

Note taking & memory

Free tools:

Free note taking app, useful for easily collating notes from multiple sources, making web clippings, and capturing ideas in a variety of formats.

Microsoft Edge web notes
Really useful tool that lets you highlight, annotate and save notes on a web page. Just click the pen icon to the right of the address bar.

Microsoft OneNote is not like Word - it allows you to click and start typing anywhere on the screen, easily add pages, and highlight and colour-code, making it a brilliant note-taking tool. OneNote is available to all NUA students via Office 365.

Audio recording
You can use your phone as a recording device to record teaching sessions, and then play them back in your own time. If you don't already have a dictaphone app installed, you can find lots of options on the app store for your device.

Tools available for individual purchase:

Learning & study skills

Mindmapping
NUA provides access to two different mind mapping tools:

XMind - available on all NUA computers.

MindView - available on stickered computers in the Library.

You can find out more from the Design Studio intranet pages. There are also some free online mind mapping tools such as MindMeister.

Assignments survival kit
Developed by Kent University, this tool can help plan your work schedule for you.

Academic Phrasebank
Resource from the University of Manchester that explains the use of academic terminology.

Quick and easy citation and reference generator. Remember to change the blue drop down bar to 'Cite Them Right 10th Edition - Harvard'.

Organisation & time management

My Study Life
A free cross platform planner app for students, teachers and lecturers designed to make your study life easier to manage.

Wunderlist
To-do planner you can use across platforms, and which is also useful for working collaboratively.

Further sources of information

DnA Diversity and Ability:
This website compiles a huge range of resources to assist in a range of different areas from note taking to mindfulness

AbilityNet:
Loads of advice here for helping make the most of the accessibility functions of your computer.
These sources were used to create this page:
The Dyslexia Association (2019) What is assistive technology? Available at: https://www.dyslexia.uk.net/assistive-technology/

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Assistive technology - Norwich University of the Arts - Library and Learning Support

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Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. These types of technologies can range from colour tint apps, to mind-mapping software, to screen magnifiers, so there's a huge range.

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Free Webinar hosted by our BDA Helpline and Panel of Experts discussing solutions for the day-to-day problems that are often invisible to others.

Time

Thursday 7th October 2021
7:00pm - 8:00pm

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Free Webinar - Dyslexia Week - Invisible Dyslexia - British Dyslexia Association

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Free Webinar hosted by our BDA Helpline and Panel of Experts discussing solutions for the day-to-day problems that are often invisible to others. Thursday 7th October 2021 7:00pm - 8:00pm

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Norwich University of the Arts - Library and Learning Support

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To access Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) support you will have to apply for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).

If you already have a diagnosis of a SpLD you can use your diagnosis assessment to apply for DSA when you apply for your full time undergraduate course.

If you are an undergraduate who is not applying for any finance, or if you are a postgraduate student, you can apply for DSA on paper.

I think I might have dyslexia but I don't have a diagnosis

If you think you have dyslexia, or another SpLD, then you can make an appointment to see one of our Specialist Study Skills Tutors for a screening. Book a free screening by emailing spld.support@nua.ac.uk or calling (01603) 977977.

A screening is a short, informal conversation where you and the tutor will discuss the challenges you have been facing. This process is not daunting, and you will not be judged or tested. Our sole focus is to support you in your learning and to receive the most effective support you can, to help you fulfil your goals.

What happens if the screening suggests I am dyslexic?

If there are signs of SpLD the tutor will supply you with a list of websites which details providers who are qualified to undertake a full diagnostic assessment. The University is currently unable to offer you an appointment with a specific provider.

We will generally contribute up to £200 towards the cost of this assessment, based on your household income, although the University contributes £100 towards that cost for the majority of students. Additional funding support is also available through the Financial Support Fund. Please don't be put off by the cost of an assessment, just come and talk to us.

If a SpLD/dyslexia is confirmed at your assessment, then you will be eligible to apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). The next step is to make a feedback appointment with a Specialist Tutor. They will talk you through your diagnostic assessment report, answer any questions you may have, and help you apply for DSA.

What benefit will I get from receiving DSA?

As part of the process of applying for DSA you will be asked to attend a Needs Assessment where your Needs Assessor will recommend appropriate support and equipment for you. Quite often a Needs Assessor will recommend you receive Specialist Study Skills Tutorials, which are intended to help students develop the skills they need to overcome their specific challenges. Your Needs Assessor may also suggest some Assistive Technology you might find useful, such as texthelp read&write, ClaroRead, or Grammarly.

I get DSA and have my tutorials provided by NUA. How do I book an appointment?

Tutorials are available in hourly sessions, and must be booked in advance by emailing spld.support@nua.ac.uk or calling (01603) 977977. Please do let us know if you are unable to keep an appointment with as much notice as possible.

If I have SpLD am I entitled to extensions to academic deadlines?

No, we do not offer automatic extensions for students with SpLD. We believe tutorial support via the DSA is a more productive and effective way for students to develop the skills to overcome learning challenges and effectively meet deadlines. This does not prevent you for applying for an extension for any other relevant reason.

Is there any other support available to me?

There is a wealth of information you can access online that is designed to help you with your study skills. Take a look at the Study Skills section of this website. You may also find our page on Assistive Technology useful. For more guided assistance, a 'Successful Study' course is run by the Norfolk and Suffolk Wellbeing Service.
"Dyslexia Support has been essential for my time at NUA. Specialist dyslexia tutors made my research report manageable and were a constant source of reassurance. I can't thank/praise them enough!"

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How do I get support? - Norwich University of the Arts - Library and Learning Support

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To access Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) support you will have to apply for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). If you already have a diagnosis of a SpLD you can use your diagnosis assessment to apply for DSA when you apply for your full time undergraduate course.

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The British Dyslexia Association is the voice for the 10% of the population that are dyslexic

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Norwich University of the Arts - Library and Learning Support

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Dyslexia is often described in terms of difficulties with reading and spelling, but in fact dyslexia is about information processing, so can impact on areas such as memory and organisation as well. It's important to remember that dyslexia is a combination of abilities and challenges, and that having dyslexia is not related to intelligence.

If you are finding areas of learning at University challenging, and you wonder if it might be related to dyslexia, then take a look at the signs below and consider if they apply to you. You can also find out more information from the British Dyslexia Association.

If you think you have dyslexia, or another SpLD, then you can make an appointment to see one of our Specialist Study Skills Tutors for a screening. Book a free screening by emailing spld.support@nua.ac.uk or calling (01603) 977977.

Dyslexic learners may experience a combination of the following:

In tutorials and lectures

Tiredness: language based tasks require a lot of effort for dyslexic people. May experience information overload.

Poor concentration.

Difficulty in taking notes simultaneously whilst listening.

Difficulty with copying from screen/board.

Oral presentations

Difficulty in communicating clearly and concisely.

Mispronouncing multi-syllabic words. (E.g. preliminary).

Losing the train of thought.

Unable to handle questioning effectively.

Unable to read their own notes.

Workshop/ studio

Difficulty in following instructions and sequences.

May become stressed.

May appear to be disorganised.

Possible clumsiness.

Writing

Difficulty in getting ideas on to paper

Misinterprets the brief or essay title

Lack of coherence when presenting ideas in writing; ideas, words and structure get all 'jumbled up.' Despite this, the answers are often contained within the piece of writing.

Lack of structure in written work. Tendency to 'go off at tangents' and get diverted from main points.

Long, rambling sentences; incomplete sentences; confusion about verb tenses.

Difficulty in 'word retrieval' - finding the right word to use. May use a limited vocabulary as learners can avoid words they cannot spell.

Difficulty in understanding use of punctuation and capital letters.

Poor handwriting.

Cannot proofread own work.

Spelling

Spells phonetically e.g. nessissery (necessary); berlidurant (belligerent).

Confusion over homophones and other similar words - their/there; where/were; who/how etc.

Letters put in the wrong order.

Variations on spelling of the same word in a document.

Library

May avoid the library in general and/or have a general anxiety about books.

Difficulties with using a system that relies on numbers and letters that do not 'mean anything'.

Difficulties with reading: unable to quickly scan texts for meaning.

Takes longer to read books and may exceed due date for return, due to forgetfulness.

Embarrassment about approaching staff to help them.

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Signs of dyslexia - Norwich University of the Arts - Library and Learning Support

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Dyslexia is often described in terms of difficulties with reading and spelling, but in fact dyslexia is about information processing, so can impact on areas such as memory and organisation as well. It's important to remember that dyslexia is a combination of abilities and challenges, and that having dyslexia is not related to intelligence.

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