Last Updated on October 3, 2024 by Editorial Team
Please Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure (link) for more info.
Do you know Dyslexia and computers are a great source for an effective learning environment? With time, technology has enhanced our way of living and working. However, for people with Dyslexia, it can serve a greater purpose. Nowadays, laptops are programmed and devised with software such as Word Processing and Voice recognition. Such features can help dyslexic individuals easily write and use their speech for text.
However, despite all the advantages, there can be certain issues that dyslexic people might face with certain laptops; like the screen glare, which makes them feel washout or swirling effects on their eyes. Moreover, the different font sizes can also be an obstacle to reading.
To combat this, many options are available in the market which can help adults and students with Dyslexia in numerous aspects. Some of the most prominent sought-after features such as Microsoft Office, Open Dyslexic Font, Spelling, and Dictate software are all available in our best picks.
Features to look out for
Students, teachers, and adults dealing with Dyslexia sometimes find it challenging to function with normal technologies. Hence, there are certain features and technical improvements specifically made for the specially-abled kids. They range from accessibility, spelling, dictate, typing, touch, and voice recognition. These features make the laptops user-friendly and intuitive, which helps the users learn easily. It supports writing skills beneficial for school and college education. Hence, here are some features to look out for in a laptop if you are on a quest to find the perfect dyslexia-friendly laptops:
1. Apple Accessibility
Apple accessibility is a significant effort made to ease functioning for Dyslexic audiences. It offers a built-in screen reader and personal assistant to improvise learning experiences. To add to this, it also offers easy shortcuts to arrange, add or customize your settings and files. Options such as a magnifier can help adjust the font according to your preference and Voiceover to provide a robust screen reading experience.
2. Text-to-Speech
This feature makes it easier to make any form of written material such as PDFs, Word Documents, and E-Books into an audio form. The volume, speed, and replay options make it easier for dyslexics to access them. Since all the data is stored in the cloud, it can be easily transferred from one device to another.
3. Microsoft Office
The striking feature is that it’s free of cost to download. The learning tools are considered an efficient means to help a dyslexic’s reading, word formation, and breaking down complex comprehensions. Long sentences can be broken down to minimize visual crowding, and highlighting can help mark important grammatical points.
4. Adaptive Fonts
These specially designed fonts make the text look easier to read and have accurate word recognition. These fonts increase the text readability, and the design doesn’t allow the words to flip and bother the reader’s reading capabilities. These fonts are popular in all online portals and mediums, offering easy and accessible reading support. These fonts can also improve the reading accuracy and adaptive speed of people with Dyslexia who initially find it harder to work on screens.
5. Immersive Reading
This feature is considered helpful in enhancing the reading, fluency, and text-decoding skills of Dyslexic people. Along with this, the adaptive audio makes it easier to understand the spellings and pronunciations of the word used in the text. This Microsoft Learning Tool is quite simple to use and offers vibrant decoding methods for dyslexics who find it difficult to learn and memorize textual information.
Laptops for dyslexia – Our recommendations
1. MacBook Pro
To begin with, it is loaded with a variety of premium quality features that are the best options for children with Dyslexia. These features make the usage comparatively easy to understand. Many of the preloaded software such as Dragon Dictate, Read&Write, and Inspiration have provided a boost in reading and listening adaptability. More so, Siri offers to be the best in-house AI that can understand and function efficiently on command.
Now breaking down some of its best features, the VoiceOver narrates all the functions currently working on the screen. It makes the navigation onto the desktop and file system easier and user-friendly. It is preloaded with over 70 distinct voices and 30 plus languages; the Speak Screen feature can provide supportive assistance while reading different texts.
The only minor drawback of this laptop is its hefty price tag. Apple products offer prime accessibility software and features like the 16-inch Retina display and a fast processing 32 GB RAM with 512GB storage capacity. The graphics are managed by AMD Radeon Pro, which does not cause any harmful effects on the user’s vision.
2. MacBook Air
MacBook Air is a slightly cheaper version of the same brand with the same prime features. What it lacks with the performance, it makes up an 18-hour battery backup and expandable storage of up to 2 TB. The 13.3-inch Retina display provides an enhanced realism to the text and images. It comes preloaded with prime Apple features such as Spoken Content, Safari Reader, Predictive Text, and many more.
The Speak Screen can help the users understand and listen to any range of text. It also allows them to highlight or mark important words and sentences. This software is available in 70 distinct voices and 30 plus languages. The Safari Reader removes unnecessary distractions such as ads, navigation buttons, and bars. It offers a smooth and easy-to-understand reading experience.
This is an affordable option if someone is looking for top-of-the-quality accessibility features for Dyslexics. The accessibility tools combined with the availability and fast processing of third-party software make MacBook Air the best buy among dyslexic students and office goers.
3. Dell XPS 15
The smooth and elegant design and tough durability make it a realistic option to carry around for work and college. Programmed with Windows 10 software and laced with all the prime Microsoft programs such as OneNote, Microsoft Office, and other top-graded accessibility tools.
One of its top features is the text narrator, which converts any form of the written document into audio for better understanding. Apart from this, the widescreen display gives an immersive reading experience and avoids swirls. Microsoft Office tools are an added benefit with all its user-friendly accessibility tools. For writing, the Auto-correct option can make writing seamless and accurate.
Dell XPS 15 is also powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with a 15.6-inch display. The fast processing 512GB RAM supports the best graphics with an NVidia RTX 3050 Graphic card. It offers a reasonably good option for dyslexics who are inclined toward using Windows software. The price is lower than MacBook Pro but more than MacBook Air.
4. Acer Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5 comes with similar features to the Dell Xpiron but at a cheaper cost and fewer futuristic features. Preloaded with Windows software, it comes with all the prime accessibility features popular in Windows. All the Window tools combined provide a swift and easy-to-work user experience.
Acer assistive features such as text narrator, voice recognition, grammar correction, and adaptive typing software. Additionally, it has the best 12th generation intel core i7 processor and can accommodate high-level spelling software. Moreover, the BlueLightShield diminishes the number of screen flares experienced by the Dyslexic audience. With smart voice reduction and purified voice, it suppresses all the background noises and makes speech recognition feasible for the user.
It is the best option for beginners, reasonably priced, and available in many configurations. The processing system will work with all the apps without any obstacles. The battery backup for 8 hours is also considered sufficient and apt for long use.
5. Lenovo Yoga C740
The last entry to this list is the most unique. It comes with a 360-degree turn hinge that can make your laptop into a tablet. This gives it a 2-in-1 accessibility feature and makes it portable and easier to use. An elegant and powerful processor loaded with the pre-eminent Windows accessibility features makes it the slimmest and lighter pick.
In tablet form, the screen is upgraded with an FHD display which will be the best fit for the fonts while reading synchronized texts and other written formats. The text narrator tool can make it easier for individuals with Dyslexia to read through long documents. They can also transform their laptop into virtual whiteboards for better writing practice.
It is one of the basic price laptops available on the market. With a 1080p touchscreen and 14inch display, it is one of the most visually accessible laptops on the list. With a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader, people with Dyslexia can get a more self-reliant user experience.
Conclusion
In the list of best laptops for Dyslexia, we have focused more on user-friendly features that make the usage efficient and easy to adapt. These laptops are best suited for students and adults with Dyslexia as they focus on providing them with hassle-free accessibility features.
With due practice with such software, individuals can adapt and learn conveniently. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Lenovo are developing newer and more advanced software that would make it easier for dyslexics to study and work on laptops. Not only will they be able to work and study better with reading, writing, listening, and understanding aids, but they will also adapt to the ever-growing technological-driven world.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,