Iris Harrison

My main aim in life is working towards ridding our society of the stigma of illiteracy. Whilst living closely with my own family of profound dyslexics, I have seen the enormous pain and desperation that this stigma creates.

I have also seen the way that this pain totally diminishes when that person becomes literate through using technology appropriate to their needs.

 

Joyce Lawson

I was with the National Farmers Union for 25 years, when I took early retirement. For the last eight years I was an Agricultural Insurance Consultant. Retiring once more in June 2007.

Five years ago Iris and Geoff introduced us to Voice Recognition. This system allowed my severely dyslexic grandson to communicate, he was then 15 years of age. He is now in his last year at Lancashire University reading Animated Computer Design and Graphics. This is thanks to Voice Recognition, I was so grateful for his amazing progress that I readily accepted Iris and Geoff's invitation to join them in their idea for setting up a Charity to help young people with learning difficulties.

 

Geoff Harrison

I used to be a very withdrawn person, terrified that someone would ask me to write something. When the Bank Manager asked me to write “If at any time……” on the bottom of a form and Iris had to spell each word for me, I thought that was the end of my marriage . Instead, it was the opposite. She had an amazing understanding of me and focused on what I could do and not what I couldn’t do.

Since I have used voice recognition software my whole world has changed. I am now very proud to be profoundly dyslexic, full of confidence and able to do demonstrations in front of hundreds of people.

 

Jacqui Houlding

Many years ago I worked as a trainer teaching blind and partially sighted people to use computers and scanners to enable them to read and write and become part of the world's communication network.

My son has dyslexia and it always hurt that his word 'blindness' was not given the same respect, help and attention that we gave those with a physical sight impairment. Speaks Volumes will hopefully provide to people with dyslexia and other word blindness problems the ability to gain the self esteem and respect that they deserve.

Amanda Salmon

Having been a friend of Iris and Geoff Harrison for many years, and being aware of the efforts they afforded to assist young people with dyslexia, dyspraxia etc., I was delighted to be invited to be involved in the initiation and day to day organisation of Speaks Volumes.