AI could transform careers support for neurodivergent learners

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A British edtech boss has explained to Digital Journal what the case is for using AI to help neurodiverse learners. Recently the education technology chief used the UK National Careers Week to call for wider adoption of artificial intelligence to support neurodivergent learners into work.

James Tweed, founder and CEO of Cambridge based edtech firm Coracle, explains that too many young people are being failed by rigid education systems that do not adapt to how they learn.

His company delivers secure digital education in more than 90% of public prisons in England and Wales. The technology allows learners to study courses ranging from basic skills to vocational qualifications via offline devices in their cells.

Read more HERE

Girl designs glasses to help others with dyslexia

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Eleven-year-old Millie from Salford, Greater Manchester, has turned her personal struggle with dyslexia into an innovation that could help thousands of others. Inspired by her own experiences of headaches, nausea, and words “moving around” on the page, Millie designed colour-changing glasses with interchangeable lenses that allow users to select the hue that eases visual stress and improves reading comfort. Her invention, the rainbow spectacles, won a gold medal at the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal, standing out among more than 70,000 entries.

With the support of manufacturing firm Thales, Millie’s prototype is now a tangible reality, demonstrating that young minds can tackle real-world problems with creativity, empathy, and determination. Engineers involved in developing her design praised Millie for her innovative thinking and clear communication, noting that the glasses address a common challenge that is often overlooked.

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Illustrator says book helped with her own dyslexia

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A children’s book illustrator, nominated for a Carnegie Medal, said she had been trying to hide her dyslexia while making her book.

Kate Rolfe, from Framlingham, Suffolk, wrote and illustrated Wiggling Words, a “story about a child lost in a forest of letters”.

The story has been shortlisted for a Carnegie in the illustration category.

Rolfe said she was “thrilled” with the nomination and said the response to the book had given her “the confidence to unmask more of who I am”.

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Dyslexia and ADHD should not be a barrier to enjoy books

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World Book Day is a wonderful celebration of reading, writes Adam Dance MP.

Schools across our area mark the occasion with costumes, storytelling, and activities that encourage children to discover the joy of books.

But for some children and adults, reading is not always straightforward.

I know that from personal experience.

I live with severe dyslexia and ADHD, and reading traditional text can sometimes be difficult.

Read the column HERE

Trends in testing effect research: from lab to classroom, but not yet for all learners

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Active retrieval leads to better learning outcomes than passive study. This perspective, in which we analyze 23,850 publications, reveals an increasing focus on the educational applications of this testing effect but limited attention to subpopulations with learning disabilities. Using dyslexia as a case study, we identify theoretical grounds to question whether testing effects generalize universally, highlighting the need for empirical research. Future research should examine benefits of testing in neurodiverse learners to develop tailored interventions.

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Why Uneven Development Matters in Dyslexia

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  • Dyslexia often shows uneven abilities, with strong reasoning or language alongside reading difficulty.
  • Research shows IQ discrepancy should not determine who receives early reading intervention.
  • But those findings do not mean intelligence or cognitive strengths are irrelevant to dyslexia.
  • Education should identify and cultivate dyslexic students’ strengths while addressing reading challenges.

Read the full article HERE