WordQ [wurd-kyoo] is an award-winning assistive technology software that was developed right here in Ontario, by Dr. Frasier Shein in partnership with Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. In the simplest terms, WordQ helps people read better and write better and, because of that, it increases confidence and independence in the students that use it. Regardless of whether they have an IEP in place or not, whether they are neurodiverse or neurotypical, or whether they have a physical disability or are non-disabled, students that use WordQ improve their writing skills and communicate more effectively.

Today is the tenth annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day. GAAD is a day to take time to learn more about digital accessibility, who it helps, why it matters, and what you can do to help make digital spaces more accessible and inclusive. At Quillsoft we understand the importance accessible digital spaces, and the technologies that help make all digital spaces more accessible for disabled people. For over twenty years Quillsoft’s focus has been on equity, inclusivity, and accessibility in education and beyond, for everyone who struggles to read, write, or communicate.

How WordQ Helped Me Succeed in English Writing

As an ESL student, it used to be very difficult to write in English when I started studying in Canada, especially in academic writing. For me, the three most useful tools for improving my writing in English are Google Translate, Grammarly, and WordQ.

At the beginning of November 2020 the Ontario government announced that a new one-time payment for parents of children ages 0-12 called Support for Learners would be coming soon. Like the Support for Families payment that came before it, this program offers “a one-time payment of $200 for each child up to age 12, or $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs.”

Online learning is on the rise across Ontario, where COVID-19 cases are as high now as they were in March, at the beginning of the first wave of the pandemic. As confirmed case numbers creep up, more and more parents are opting for virtual school across the province.

This October, the Ontario Human Rights Commission launched a public inquiry into the Right to Read. The inquiry was spurred on by the data collected from recent EQAO ­– Education Quality and Accountability Office ­– test results, which showed that more than 25% of grade 3 students and 53% of grade 3 students with special education needs did not meet the Ontario’s reading standard.