From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education

Melanie Schaur; Reinhard Koutny

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-01628-7_42

From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education

Melanie Schaur^*
, Reinhard Koutny

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceedings › peer-review

Abstract

The following paper examines the state of the art in Assistive Technolo-gies (AT) for neurodiverse individuals in higher education, focusing on dyslexia as a primary example. The rationale of the study is to highlight the significant role that AT plays in supporting students with dyslexia in higher education, improving their academic performance, their overall learning experience and their ability to cope in everyday life. The primary objective of this study was to provide an overview of existing ATs and evaluate their effectiveness for neurodiverse individuals, focus-ing on dyslexia. This involved identifying current advances, understanding user experiences and identifying the most beneficial tools for supporting students with dyslexia in higher education. The following paper is based on a three-step app-roach, which includes a systematic review of the literature, a comprehensive col-lection of additional ATs from online sources, and an empirical assessment of the effectiveness of selected tools for dyslexic students in higher education. The conclusion identifies the use of technology to address the challenges of persons with dyslexia in higher education, as well as technology gaps and suggests future research directions for AT for neurodiverse students in higher education.

Translated title of the contribution	Von Herausforderungen zu Lösungen: Evaluierung von Assistierenden Technologien für Studierende mit Dyslexie im Hochschulbereich
Original language	English
Title of host publication	Technology for Inclusion and Participation for All: Recent Achievements and Future Directions
Subtitle of host publication	18th International Conference, AAATE, 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus, September 10-12, 2025, Proceedings, Part I
Editors	Katerina Mavrou, Pedro Encarnação
Place of Publication	Cham, Schweiz
Pages	355
Number of pages	9
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-032-01628-7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-01628-7_42
Publication status	Published - Sept 2025

Publication series

Name	International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education

Fields of science

211902 Assistive technologies
509002 Disability studies
102013 Human-computer interaction
503008 E-learning
102024 Usability research
102036 Digital accessibility
102 Computer Sciences
102015 Information systems
102014 Information design

JKU Focus areas

Sustainable Development: Responsible Technologies and Management
Digital Transformation

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-01628-7_42

DyslexieLab
Ajlani, A. (Researcher), Feichtenschlager, P. (Researcher), Fellinger, J. (Researcher), Koutny, R. (Researcher), Laube, S. (Researcher), Massoumzadeh, M. (Researcher), Meyer, U. (Researcher), Petz, A. (Researcher), Schaur, M. (Researcher), Schöfl, M. (Researcher) & Miesenberger, K. (PI)
01.04.2023 → 31.12.2025
Project: Funded research › Federal / regional / local authorities

From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education
Schaur, M. (Speaker) & Koutny, R. (Speaker)
12 Sept 2025
Activity: Talk or presentation › Contributed talk › science-to-science

Cite this

Schaur, M., & Koutny, R. (2025). From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education. In K. Mavrou, & P. Encarnação (Eds.), Technology for Inclusion and Participation for All: Recent Achievements and Future Directions: 18th International Conference, AAATE, 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus, September 10-12, 2025, Proceedings, Part I (1 ed., pp. 355). (International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe).. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-01628-7_42

Schaur, Melanie ; Koutny, Reinhard. / From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education. Technology for Inclusion and Participation for All: Recent Achievements and Future Directions: 18th International Conference, AAATE, 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus, September 10-12, 2025, Proceedings, Part I. editor / Katerina Mavrou ; Pedro Encarnação. 1. ed. Cham, Schweiz, 2025. pp. 355 (International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe).

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title = "From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education",

abstract = "The following paper examines the state of the art in Assistive Technolo-gies (AT) for neurodiverse individuals in higher education, focusing on dyslexia as a primary example. The rationale of the study is to highlight the significant role that AT plays in supporting students with dyslexia in higher education, improving their academic performance, their overall learning experience and their ability to cope in everyday life. The primary objective of this study was to provide an overview of existing ATs and evaluate their effectiveness for neurodiverse individuals, focus-ing on dyslexia. This involved identifying current advances, understanding user experiences and identifying the most beneficial tools for supporting students with dyslexia in higher education. The following paper is based on a three-step app-roach, which includes a systematic review of the literature, a comprehensive col-lection of additional ATs from online sources, and an empirical assessment of the effectiveness of selected tools for dyslexic students in higher education. The conclusion identifies the use of technology to address the challenges of persons with dyslexia in higher education, as well as technology gaps and suggests future research directions for AT for neurodiverse students in higher education.",

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series = "International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe",

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Schaur, M & Koutny, R 2025, From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education. in K Mavrou & P Encarnação (eds), Technology for Inclusion and Participation for All: Recent Achievements and Future Directions: 18th International Conference, AAATE, 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus, September 10-12, 2025, Proceedings, Part I. 1 edn, International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe, Cham, Schweiz, pp. 355. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-01628-7_42

From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education. / Schaur, Melanie ; Koutny, Reinhard.
Technology for Inclusion and Participation for All: Recent Achievements and Future Directions: 18th International Conference, AAATE, 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus, September 10-12, 2025, Proceedings, Part I. ed. / Katerina Mavrou; Pedro Encarnação. 1. ed. Cham, Schweiz, 2025. p. 355 (International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceedings › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education

AU - Schaur, Melanie

AU - Koutny, Reinhard

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - The following paper examines the state of the art in Assistive Technolo-gies (AT) for neurodiverse individuals in higher education, focusing on dyslexia as a primary example. The rationale of the study is to highlight the significant role that AT plays in supporting students with dyslexia in higher education, improving their academic performance, their overall learning experience and their ability to cope in everyday life. The primary objective of this study was to provide an overview of existing ATs and evaluate their effectiveness for neurodiverse individuals, focus-ing on dyslexia. This involved identifying current advances, understanding user experiences and identifying the most beneficial tools for supporting students with dyslexia in higher education. The following paper is based on a three-step app-roach, which includes a systematic review of the literature, a comprehensive col-lection of additional ATs from online sources, and an empirical assessment of the effectiveness of selected tools for dyslexic students in higher education. The conclusion identifies the use of technology to address the challenges of persons with dyslexia in higher education, as well as technology gaps and suggests future research directions for AT for neurodiverse students in higher education.

AB - The following paper examines the state of the art in Assistive Technolo-gies (AT) for neurodiverse individuals in higher education, focusing on dyslexia as a primary example. The rationale of the study is to highlight the significant role that AT plays in supporting students with dyslexia in higher education, improving their academic performance, their overall learning experience and their ability to cope in everyday life. The primary objective of this study was to provide an overview of existing ATs and evaluate their effectiveness for neurodiverse individuals, focus-ing on dyslexia. This involved identifying current advances, understanding user experiences and identifying the most beneficial tools for supporting students with dyslexia in higher education. The following paper is based on a three-step app-roach, which includes a systematic review of the literature, a comprehensive col-lection of additional ATs from online sources, and an empirical assessment of the effectiveness of selected tools for dyslexic students in higher education. The conclusion identifies the use of technology to address the challenges of persons with dyslexia in higher education, as well as technology gaps and suggests future research directions for AT for neurodiverse students in higher education.

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ER -

Schaur M , Koutny R. From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education. In Mavrou K, Encarnação P, editors, Technology for Inclusion and Participation for All: Recent Achievements and Future Directions: 18th International Conference, AAATE, 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus, September 10-12, 2025, Proceedings, Part I. 1 ed. Cham, Schweiz. 2025. p. 355. (International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-01628-7_42

From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Fields of science

JKU Focus areas

Access to Document

Projects

DyslexieLab

Activities

From Challenges to Solutions: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education

Cite this