Personal Story: Dafydd Henke-Reed, AbilityNet

Dafydd Henke-Reed smiling to camera.In January 2020 Dafydd Henke-Reed, consultant with AbilityNet, spoke to us about his experiences of technology, Autism and Dyslexia.

AbilityNet provided Quick Tip Clips for creating resources accessible for neurodivergent people.

About Dafydd

Hi, I am Dafydd Henke-Reed. I am a senior Accessibility and Usability Consultant for AbilityNet. I help to lead and develop a team who provide accessibility consultancy for clients such as Microsoft, HSBC and the NHS, ensuring accessible apps, websites and more. Diagnosed with Autism and Dyslexia, I have a professional and personal interest in neurodiversity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an umbrella term. How people experience Autism differs widely. Nonetheless, technology can be hugely impactful in education, at work and in day to day life. A mixture of low and high-tech solutions assist me day-to-day. They allow me to customise communication, cancel-out background noise, and structure and order my activities.

Going to university is a challenging time for all young people. However, inaccessible environments, inflexible courses, etc., can particularly disadvantage neurodiverse students. More than simply allowing them to work at the same level as other students, technology and institutional flexibility, can enable them to excel. A positive, neurologically diverse environment benefits everyone.