One of the reasons it’s nice to have a live teacher in front of the class is the teacher’s ability to make adjustments for the students on the fly. While possible with computer-based instruction, it would be quite difficult to account for all potential problems, situations and characteristics of all likely learners.
One unique new to assist people with dyslexia is to use a free font called OpenDyslexic. This font is uniquely designed (and still being updated based on feedback) to be easier for a person with dyslexia to read. Check out an example here and download the Free OpenSource Dyslexia Font | OpenDyslexic.The example does more than just make use of the font. It also uses various types of shading to make it easier to focus on specific text.
Similarly, it’s important to design instruction so as to be usable by all people. Yes, students need to be exposed and learn how to use the tools those in their field use. Yes, students need to learn how to cope, no their own, with texts and different opinions and other learning & teaching styles. At the same time, it’s important not to exclude students because of differing, non-discipline-specific abilities. In fact, if it’s a program open to all students, it’s the law that the program is accessible to all students.
At least, as far as I understand the law. 🙂
Incidentally, another useful tool is called Ginger. It is an intelligent spelling and grammar checker, sentence rephraser and text reader.
