OVER 2 YOU, 073 (26/03/02)

DYSLEXIA HELP

Can anyone recommend a computer program, which would assist my 23-year-old son who has dyslexia, to learn or improve his spelling?

Alan Locke, Lower Earley, Berkshire

Alan Locke's son may find my website is helpful. It is called www.iamdyslexic.com and it has a spelling section. I am 12 and also have trouble with my spelling  (my mum has spell checked this).

Barnaby Blackburn,

I recommend Starspell 2001 from Fisher-Marriott (www.fishermarriott.com). It uses the classic 'Look, (Hear & Say) Cover, Write and Check' system of teaching with two other activities and optional pictorial support. After practising, a good option is to hear the word without seeing it. It has good word lists and excellent speech moreover your own words can be entered.
Jean Hutchins,

Alan Locke could try contacting the British Dyslexia Association at www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk for help with finding a suitable program to assist his son with his spelling. If he can't find anything on their website, their helpline 0118 966 8271 will almost certainly be able to put him in touch with someone who can help.
Peter Wakeman,

I have two sons who are dyslexic and who have been using the Dyslexia Institute's program of lessons. A gentleman in our area (East Yorkshire) has compiled a computer program to use with the institute's spelling pack, in conjunction with the Hull Dyslexia Institute (http://www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk/offices/hull/) and I believe Hull University (http://www.hull.ac.uk/home/index.html)

Deborah Cerutti, Kirk Ella East Yorkshire.

Have a look at Abilitynet (http://www.abilitynet.co.uk/). Your local dyslexia association may have some resources to try as well.

Laws Family,

I am a tutor of dyslexic adults and have produced a Resource Pack and was written out of necessity, as I couldn't find any appropriate material for adults. You will find it described on my website www.dyslexia-resources.com. It is really intended for use by tutors as it can be hard to understand spelling rules etc. on your own without help and guidance.

Marion Walker,

As a teacher of dyslexic children, the best place to go is the company that runs courses for teachers,  iANSYST (www.dyslexia.com). I'm sure they can make lots of recommendations. The best programs both available from
them will probably be Wordswork, which is for adults, and Wordshark, a comprehensive spelling program that may be too childish, but now has an adult section. The website or sales people could give all the details needed. They will also give details of grants available such as Disabled Student allowance and how to buy equipment with VAT exemption for dyslexic users etc.
Caroline Wootton, Wandsworth.

DISTANCE FINDER

We use a relational database (MS Access) containing approx. 120 names, to find which ones are available for specific dates, for specific subjects.  It would be useful to be able to add to that a distance finder for the names that come up in the search, by inputting the conference centre postcode for
example.  Does anybody have any ideas for a package that can be bolted on or merged?
L. Cook via e-mail

I’m not sure it can be done, at least not by any addition or module within Access, however there are various web resources that can be used to reverse-search postcodes and produce an address or show the location on a map, which you could use in your database. Have a look at:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/linkto.htm

http://www.afd.co.uk/tryit/

Jim Seeney, Halifax

EDUCATIONAL SCREENSAVER

My seven-month old son loves watching my screensaver. Is it possible to get one that would be educational, like a set of flash cards etc?

Rob Kent, via email

I would suggest that creating your own screensaver is the best option. Assuming your have a Windows PC, you should already have a screensaver called “My Pictures Screensaver” which can be used to display a slideshow of image files as a screensaver (if you don’t have this one, similar ones are available on www.download.com, such as “Screenpaver”). You could use a program such as MS Paint to make your own flashcards with text or images in seconds (saving them as bitmap files), add any other educational images you can find and then use the screensaver to make a slideshow of these images. Simple but effective!

Rob Wilmshurst,

Why not make your own, using photos or scanned pictures of family members, pets, favourite toys etc?   You could add single word captions if you wish. You can buy software especially for making screensavers and Adobe Photo Shop has very clear step-by-step instructions on how to
do this.

Shireen Shuster,

SAILING LAPTOP

Later this year I will be off on a sailing adventure lasting approximately five months. The accommodation on board will be fairly rough and ready, with a damp salty atmosphere. Can anyone recommend a laptop or portable PC that will be able to endure this kind of hostile environment?

Janet Leslie, via email

I may be able to advise Janet, if she would like to get in touch with me. I've lived aboard my own boat for nearly 18 years now, accompanied by a series of laptops for the last 13 of them. (I write cruising guidebooks and edit the journal of the Ocean Cruising Club.) Her choice should reflect the type of boat she will be sailing -- some are a lot drier than others! -- the intended route or destination, what she wants to use it for, and, finally, her budget?

Anne Hammick,

CAN YOU HELP?

I have several databases on Claris Works for Windows, which I would like to convert to MS Access 97.  My O.S. is Windows 95.  Can anyone tell me how to do it?
Tony Leydon, via email

A friend of mine is a pipe fitter.  At the moment he has to do all his draught work by hand, on graph paper. He was wondering if there was a program that would help him make it look more professional.  He needs a programme for routing pipes, with pipe lengths, arrows, angles, etc.  Does such a program exist?

Thomas Smith, via email

Our 8-month-old twins find the CD drives on our computer endlessly fascinating. It's only a matter of time before the drive gets broken by clumsy little hands. Does anyone know of a contraption or way to prevent them playing with it?

Steve Waller, via email

NB Jonathan, couldn’t resist including this one but I’ll understand if you think it’s a bit risqué…

Recently I have been investigating some of the erotic sites on the net and they are unsatisfactory. As an elderly and housebound widower in need of entertainment I would like to find something gentler, in the way, perhaps, I might visit the Follies Bergere or similar if in Paris, but going to Google on such a search gives reams of crudity. Can anyone recommend anything, which has class and style?  The cost of entry is of little importance.

Richard W., via email