This page contains practical advice for those of us with dyslexia who use computers for writing.
Create Your Own Working Environment
One of the problems with word processors is how distracting they can be. The phrase 'bells and whistles' is often used to refer to such features – often the non-essential ones – that they possess. 'Bells and whistles' are meant to be product enhancements. However, many people are coming to consider them to be a distraction when it comes to trying to write.
Word processors with all their 'bells and whistles' should really be considered as being applications for making text look nice – particularly on paper. They are not applications that enhance the writing process. The writer should be in control of their writing environment. Just as one may have a particular way of setting out one's desk, a particular pen one prefers to use etc., one should also give consideration to how one's electronic pen and paper is set up. One should not conform to the working parameters imposed by the word processor, one should impose one's requirements onto it.
Reduce Distractions and Visual Clutter
If the organization of content is a problem, that problem is likely to be made a lot worse by distractions and visual clutter. There are a number of things one can do to reduce this problem.
For example, if one is doing cell-writing using a spreadsheet, one can remove the row and column headings. These are the areas of the screen which provide the number and letter gird that identifies each cell. Similarly, since one can type directly into cells, the formula bar – that strip at the top of the screen where formulae can be typed – is unnecessary. It is often possible to hide it quite easily.
It is often possible to hide the vertical and horizontal scroll bars, too. Even the spreadsheet 'tabs' may be hidden. It one is using only one sheet, these tabs are not necessary. Furthermore, one can choose to go into 'full screen' mode so that no background windows and a minimum of features are visible. It seems that relatively few people are aware of this option, let alone use it. However, it can prove to be particularly beneficial. All spreadsheets that I have tried allow for a degree of customisation. All one has to do is find the options or preferences menu. Where this is found and what it does varies, so it may be necessary to explore all the menus and their sub-menus. Another way is to think of some way in which you want the spreadsheet to be altered and either search the help menu or online to see if it is possible and how.
When making such changes it is important to remember how you made the change and, if you do not like it, how to restore the former set-up. If in doubt, write down the steps so that you can retrace them later.
Another feature about which few seem to be aware is that of the keyboard shortcut. Most applications have the option of assigning specified actions of the user's choice to certain key presses. For example, my cell-writing application is set up so that I can insert or delete a row by pressing 'Ctrl+Shift+I' or 'Ctrl+Shift+D' respectively. Similarly, if I press 'Ctrl+SpaceBar', the currently selected cell enters edit mode. These are tweaks that suit me. They make my working environment more my own and not merely that bequeathed to me by the designers of the application.
Distraction-free word processors are becoming increasingly common. These are otherwise standard word processors which allow menus, scroll bars, tabs etc. to be hidden and only the page upon which one is writing to be seen. Although this is of great benefit, it does not solve the problem that cell-writing set out to solve: that of overcoming the problem of linear writing with its strings of sentences.
Control Page Appearance
Some people prefer to write with different coloured ink on different coloured paper. The same is the case when writing using a computer. It is certainly something that can be done when using cell-writing.
Fonts
It is well known that different fonts can be chosen but it is surprising how many people simply stick to Times New Roman which seems to have been the default font for a lot of applications. It appears that a lot of computer users do not change from the default font provided by the software provider. Default fonts can be changed and should be to an alternative with which one finds comfortable. One can also change the size of the default font. This is not hard to do and one can find out how via the application's 'Help' facility – by pressing 'F1' – or by doing a simple online search. I prefer to use the more cursive font Segoe Print. Others prefer a simple sans serif style such as Arial or Verdana. It is a matter of personal preference. What is important is that one's working environment should not be determined by the software provider.
Font and Background Colour
Just as one can chose which font to use and its size, one can also choose its colour and that of the 'paper' upon which one is typing.
It is not necessary to have to type using black characters on a white page. For many people, white can be a rather too bright, even dazzling, colour upon which to type – or write. Again, one should always consider changing one's font and background colour. I find dark blue characters (RGB: 00007F) on a light blue background (RGB: A3B5FF) ideal. Others who have looked at my screen as I typed and have found it almost impossible to read. As ever, it is a matter of personal preference and experimentation.
Once one has decided upon one's ideal set-up, one should should either set these as the default application settings or save the set-up to a template file. That way, whenever one opens the application or template, one will have one's writing environment precisely as one wants it to be.