I’m a Microsoft Accessibility Champion
I’m incredibly proud to be one of Microsoft’s UK Accessibility Champions. In my collaboration with the Microsoft team, I discussed my son Zane's journey with Microsoft Learning Tools. I spoke about how the platform empowers Zane, and makes learning and living with dyslexia a little easier for him.
Ever since I began learning about Zane’s unique and amazing brain, I’ve been a champion for neurodiverse people. So, when I became recognised as a Microsoft UK Accessibility Champion, it was a huge honour.
Like an estimated 10% of all the people in the world, Zane has dyslexia. But he also has ADHD – and both ADHD and dyslexia have an often misunderstood link:
Read more – What’s the Link Between ADHD and Dyslexia?
As a bright, creative young person brimming with ideas, Zane was absolutely thrilled to be part of Microsoft’s first Think Differently about Dyslexia workshop. The whole experience ignited his passions, and exposed him to people with the same challenges as him who had found success and joy in learning.
It was pretty profound for him. I think it was the first time ever that he felt surrounded by people who shared some of the same differences that he did. And he discovered a new passion, enabled by technology. He learnt to create animations, and became incredibly inspired by it, because he's an incredibly creative person – unsurprisingly, for someone who is dyslexic with ADHD.
Today, Zane continues to use Microsoft Learning Tools to make life and learning with dyslexia a little bit easier – tools like Immersive Reader and Dictation.
Microsoft and I collaborated on a little video about the benefits to Zane’s school and home life - watch it here:
All Aboard and Microsoft are on different sides of the same path.
Microsoft has firmly attached itself to inclusivity for all. From making adaptive Xbox controllers, to helping blind people recognise faces, Microsoft’s brand is deeply associated with inclusivity, and providing the technology to empower everyone.
When we work with the strengths that neurodivergent people possess, and give them the understanding of themselves that they need, we unlock their creativity, imagination, and potential.