Why does Peer support people with learning disabilities?
We hate to use the word ‘disability’. As a team with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia, we understand that while reading and spelling can be really difficult at times, we see our ‘disabilities’ as a bit of a superpower. Through our lifetimes, we have formed unique perspectives and some awesome creative problem solving techniques and that’s all thanks to Dyslexia and Dyscalculia.
We’re eager to spread our message that, our ‘disabilities’ are a part of who we are. They make us unique and while certain things may be more difficult than others, we’re here to give you the tools you need to approach those challenges in a different way. To make them manageable, to make them fun.
How It Started: Graham’s Story
When I returned to college to study computer science, I knew that the biggest issue I was going to face was reading and writing for my course work.
On my first day, I went to the learning support centre so I could access the new Assistive Technologies (AT), available to me as a person with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia.
I discovered the ‘cutting edge’ Assistive Technologies (AT) on offer were the same Assistive Technologies (AT) that I had been using over 10 years earlier. Nothing had changed! They are still frustrating to use, slow to respond, painful to listen to and only helped with reading. I looked elsewhere, for something better but I was even more surprised to learn that every
platform on offer, was just as bad.
During college I began to make my own text-to-speech, Dyslexia and Dyscalculia mobile app, to help me with reading and the following version to support me in writing and spelling.
My goal was to create an app that would work for me as a person with a learning disability both in the classroom and at home. This is where Peer started, as a simple product to help me read and write.
As Peer developed it became a fully formed product, I began to realise that we could help people with other learning disabilities such as ADHD, Dyspraxia / DCD, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia and Autism.
Our Promise
Peer is, and always will be, learning and growing. As we uncover more information about how people with learning disabilities can learn more effectively, from small changes to entire new services. Our ethos is to make Peer as accessible as possible for people with learning disabilities while promoting diversity and inclusion.
We love getting suggestions, we want to provide a learning platform that works for you. If there’s anything we can add to the platform to make it easier for you, please let us know info@peer.ie
What our customers have to say
Chris Hedley
BBC Sport, Senior Producer
Peer is a game changer for me. The stress of sending out documents that are read by loads of people has gone away. Having a voice reading back my documents gives me piece of mind that I am not making typos. Being dyslexic in journalism is sometimes a barrier – Peer breaks down those barriers.
Ros Terry
Artist and Creative working in Media
My Dyslexia has always been difficult to deal with. I have always tried to stay away from reading and writing. Peer has given me the support I need when reading and when I need to write. It’s allowed me to communicate my ideas to my clients helping me hear what I have written and type what I am thinking. Works great on my Mac and my Phone.
Gary Melican
Owner, Digital Agency
Peer has been surprisingly helpful for me when creating documents for clients. I don’t actually have dyslexia but I find the Text to Speech feature so helpful when drafting longer and sometimes complicated documents. The platform is also so easy to use that it always puts me in a good mood!
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