Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella made the announcement by video at the Made by Dyslexia summit in London on October 15th.

By signing the pledge, the technology giant has vowed to tackle a lack of resources and training in schools and homes where children find it difficult to read, write and do maths.

As well as a video message from the Microsoft CEO, the company’s general manager for Education, Barbara Holzapfel, gave a speech at the summit.

The event brought together experts, business leaders and celebrities, including Virgin founder Richard Branson and actress Keira Knightley to “discuss, shape and change the future of dyslexia.”

‘Democratising Educational Opportunities’

Dyslexia affects millions of people worldwide, and recently hit headlines after the UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, told GQ magazine that he struggles with the learning difference.

Dyslexia International estimates that there are more than 700 million people around the world with dyslexia. Of this significant number, around one-in-five students are also believed to struggle with reading, writing and maths. Around 90% of children with this learning difference can be educated in regular classrooms, however, most are placed in special education classes.

The British Dyslexia Association has voiced concerns that many students are “unable to fulfil their potential” due to a lack of understanding and support.

In a post on LinkedIn, the Microsoft chief said technology can be an empowering tool for people with dyslexia and helps to “democratise educational opportunities”.

“There is nothing that gives me deeper satisfaction than seeing our customers, of all abilities and backgrounds, empowered by the technology we build,” he said. “In the classroom, technology can democratise educational opportunities for students and personalise their learning experience.”

Nadella added: “We are honoured to be the first company to signs the Made by Dyslexia pledge to give the 700 million people around the world with dyslexia technology and free intervention and training materials to ensure they can realise their brilliant potential.”

Developing Tools

Microsoft will collaborate with Made by Dyslexia to create free training materials, which include short films and reading tools to help teachers and parents improve ways of spotting the learning difference.

Through its work with researchers and partners within the dyslexic community, the tech giant said it hopes to encourage parents and educators to better engage with young students.

The company also announced a number of new features in its products to help people. Dictation will be rolled out to Word and OneNote Online, which will be accessible from any web browser. This feature was made available for the desktop versions of Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook earlier this year.

Immersive Reader will enable dyslexic people to translate content before they are given help reading it. This free tool reads out text, breaks words into syllables and increases the spacing between lines and letters. Microsoft said the tool will be compatible with popular discussion platform, Flipgrid.

Collaboration

Additionally, Immersive Reader will now be available on the Office Lens app for Android Devices. Students will be able to take a photograph of a book or worksheet on their phone or tablet, and the tool will read the words aloud, space out text and change font size.

Microsoft wrote in a blog post: “The English language has been notoriously tricky for its use of more than 19 sounds represented by five vowels (and sometimes ‘y’).

“Together with the University of Washington’s Brain Development and Education Lab, we will begin to develop and test new tools designed to help struggling young readers sound out words that would otherwise be difficult.”

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