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Does this sound familiar?
Homework is the biggest challenge. She feels frustrated and defeated before she even begins. Homework can trigger a big meltdown.
He’s not a big fan of school and sometimes refuses to go. He told me that he thinks his brain 'just isn't made for reading'.
My son has just been diagnosed with dyslexia. We were told technology would help, but we have no idea what we should buy.
Getting Started with Technology is a self-paced online course that teaches parents to use technology to better support children with additional learning needs such as dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or ADHD.
This online course can be done from your home computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Learn at your own pace!
Getting Started with Technology will help you:
Support your child who has dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or ADHD to stay positive and motivated to learn.
Learn to use your devices so your child isn’t one step ahead of you anymore!
Set up and use the built-in accessibility features that are on the devices you already own.
Learn about our favorite software and apps for Windows laptops and Apple iPad to help kids with reading, writing, maths, and organisational skills.
Getting Started with Technology includes:
Guided video lessons with James where he'll teach you how to use the built-in accessibility features of your Windows laptop or Apple iPad.
Video tutorials on how to use the best apps and software to help your child with reading, writing, maths, and organisational skills. We've done the research for you!
Bonus workshops with James and our favorite experts on internet safety, transitioning to secondary, and special programs available to your child in Ireland.
I cannot recommend this course highly enough, and it's a small investment for a large return in your child's future. The course was so easy to follow as James brings you through everything step-by-step via videos, and it's so easily accessible that I could engage with it whenever I had a spare few minutes or when I needed some specific information.
– Aisling Costello
It is money well spent and as a parent, it gives me great hope for my child in primary school now, secondary school in the future and maybe even college. Thank you, James!
– Marguerite Desmond
What parents say about Getting Started with Technology
“My daughter is severely dyslexic and struggles majorly with reading, writing, and with maths as well.”
“I have two children with dyslexia and dyspraxia. UrAbility was a lifesaver because the iPads were our way forward.”
“I've got a 12-year-old son who has dyslexia and dyspraxia. UrAbility really has opened up another world.”
I have 2 children who have Dyslexia with different learning styles and approaches to technology. Having this knowledge and knowing that James and the team are there to help has given us all great confidence. 100% recommend this course with UrAbility.
– Katie Eyre
James' iPad course was excellent. I learned facilities on the iPad that I was unaware of, which helped me as a parent to have more control over my iPad. I'd highly recommend this course if you want to learn more and keep up to date.
– Sheila Hyde
Inside Getting Started with Technology
This course is designed to be a reference that you can use throughout your child’s education. You can choose to work through the entire course, or use only the parts that your child needs right now and come back whenever a new challenge presents itself.
Here’s an overview of the topics we cover inside the course:
Getting to know your Devices
You’ll learn your way around your Windows laptop or iPad and explore the life-changing accessibility features that come built right into those devices.
Technology for Reading
We’ll cover software and apps to help children with reading challenges, plus scanning pens, and how to get digital textbooks for your students.
Technology for Writing
We’ll cover software and apps to help children who struggle with writing, including touch-typing and talk-to-type options.
Technology for Maths
We’ll cover software and apps to help children who struggle with maths and numeracy.
Technology for Organisation and Collaboration
You’ll learn how to help your child keep their files organised, as well as additional techniques that can help students organise their ideas and be productive in school.
Plus 3 Bonus Workshops
You’ll also get these additional on-demand video workshops included for free!
BONUS
Internet Safety Workshop
Learn the many ways you can help your child safely navigate and use the internet while at home or at school.
BONUS
Ireland-Specific Accessibility Workshop
The AT Grant, accessing digital reading material from publishers, state exams, and the Disability Access Route to Education.
BONUS
Transitioning to Secondary Workshop
Note-taking, study skills, wellbeing tips for teenagers, and helping your child prepare for state exams with expert Trish McGrath.
Get started with Assistive Technology now!
Choose which device your child uses for learning.
Windows Laptop Course
12-months access
Renew yearly for 50% off!
Apple iPad
Course
12-months access
Renew yearly for 50% off!
Both Courses
Windows + iPad
12-months access
Renew yearly for 50% off!
Your membership in the course will automatically renew in 12 months at 50% OFF today’s price. Cancel at any time to avoid automatic renewal for next year—you can continue using the course for 12-months from your date of enrollment.
I have two children with dyslexia and dyspraxia. It's up to the parent to understand the technology that they are using with their children, how to protect their children, and how to ensure the technology works for them in school and in life. UrAbility's courses give parents a very good foundation that helps parents understand the technology that their children are using.
– Sinead
I've got a 12-year-old son who has dyslexia and dyspraxia. I didn't have a huge amount of knowledge around assistive technology and what was available and all the supports that are there for kids that are going through school. UrAbility really has opened up another world. I can see positivity now and I can see something that he can work with that can make school a little bit easier for him.
– Anna
Getting Started with Technology is for you if:
Your child is in primary or secondary school
Your child has dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, or any other disability that makes reading and writing difficult for them
Technology feels scary or overwhelming to you. There’s just too much to learn!
Your child struggles to keep up with their peers in school and feels frustrated, different, and like they’ll never be as “smart” as their classmates
I’m James Northridge, the Founder of UrAbility.
James Northridge, Founder of UrAbility
At UrAbility, we use technology to help kids learn and thrive, whatever their challenges may be. And we want parents to have all the information they need to help their children succeed.
I have Dyslexia and ADHD, so I understand the challenges that face children at school because I’ve faced them myself. I struggled throughout my education—even going so far as to hide in the bathroom as a child to avoid having to read aloud in class!
But I was able to turn it around with the help of technology. I earned a first-class honours degree from University College Cork and a Masters in Disabilities Studies from University College Dublin.
I can honestly say that I wouldn't be where I am today without technology.
I’ve gone on to complete a Marie Curie Fellowship at UMass Medical School in Boston, was awarded Young Researcher of the Year at the International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP) in Austria, and recently won the United Nations Zero Project Award, where UrAbility was named one of the top 75 innovative practices that support people with disabilities in education worldwide.
I’ve trained hundreds of families and educators across Europe and the United States to use technology to help kids learn more effectively. I hope you’ll join me for this course!
I learned about apps that can put children who are struggling with reading and taking down notes from the board on a level playing field with their peers. Thanks!
– Trish Keane
Frequently Asked Questions
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The course starts as soon as you sign up! You’ll have immediate access to the course and all materials, and the course is self-paced so you can do it at home on your own schedule.
There are NO dates to remember and no live or in-person workshops you have to attend.
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For as long as the course exists, as long as you keep your membership!
The €110 you pay when you sign up covers the first year, so if you cancel your payments after that, you'll lose access to the course after 12 months.
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Your membership in the course is €110 for the first year, and then it automatically renews each year for €55 (50% off!)
You can cancel your membership at any time if you don't want to keep the course for another year, and you won't be billed the renewal amount.
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All you need to access this course is a device with internet access. You can use your laptop or desktop computer, a tablet, or even your smartphone.
This course teaches technology for Apple iPads and Windows laptops, but you don't need to use one of those devices just to watch the course. For instance, you could watch the course on your iPhone while learning to use your child’s Windows laptop that they use for schoolwork.
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That's fine! We start with the very basics: learning your way around your device, using some of the built-in features, and then we work our way up to downloading apps and using them. Because this course is self-paced, you can spend as long on each lesson as you need to get comfortable with it.
You do not need to be "tech-savvy" in any way to do this course. We'll help you get there!
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That's great! You might be able to skip over a few of the beginner lessons about getting to know your device.
After that, we dive into specific apps and tech for reading, writing, and maths, and most of that will probably be new to you.
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The course covers a wide range of apps and software for reading, writing, and maths on both Apple iPads and Windows laptops.
Click here to see what we cover in the Windows laptop course.
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This course is designed for those supporting children who have difficulties with reading, writing, maths, and organisational skills. This includes things like dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, or any other disability that makes learning these skills difficult.
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This course only covers the Apple iPad and Windows Laptops, as these are most commonly used in schools. We don’t cover other brands of devices.
Still have questions? Get in touch at courses@urability.com!