At Tailo, we’re huge advocates for students with disabilities, and it’s our mission to make assistive tech more accessible, especially for those who are neurodivergent. Our founder, Chris Hughes, is dyslexic himself, and created Tailo to support students with disabilities and learning differences. Since this week marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week, what better time than now to delve into our founder’s journey, how tools like Tailo are helping in higher education and the workplace and the real experiences of neurodivergent students.
But what exactly does Neurodiversity Celebration Week mean, and what are we celebrating?
Neurodiversity Celebration Week (NCW) aims to acknowledge and celebrate all people with neurodivergent brains, such as those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and other differences. This is a time to speak loudly about neurodiversity, and to help the world better understand and accept the challenges and triumphs that neurodivergent people experience. It’s time to talk, but it’s also time to listen. Since neurodivergent people experience higher rates of discrimination in employment, education and healthcare as well as socially, NCW encourages educational institutions, workplaces, and communities to engage in activities that challenge stereotypes and foster greater empathy for neurodivergent people. And, what better way to do that than to showcase the brilliant neurodivergent minds at the centre of what we do?
In 2014, Chris was studying a business degree at the University of Strathclyde. As a dyslexic student, he experienced challenges with reading and writing, and this extended to the main assignments in his course – presentations. After speaking with disability services and dyslexia experts, Chris found that there was no suitable solution to help dyslexic people manage public speaking and presentations. So he invented his own app, Present Pal, to help neurodivergent people with communication tasks.
Now, in 2025, Present Pal has helped tens of thousands of people across the UK and US to build their communication skills and present more confidently. But Chris’ journey didn’t end there. He wanted to address another key challenge many students face at university – reading and comprehension. This is when Tailo came into play. Tailo transforms long, dense text into an engaging and accessible format for neurodivergent people. Both pieces of software are available through Disabled Students’ Allowance.
What is Tailo and how exactly does it help neurodivergent people?
Tailo is a web-based platform that transforms the way that neurodivergent students read and understand texts, providing tailored support and tools to help them succeed. Using intelligent extraction technology, Tailo creates a neuroinclusive experience that supports the strengths of different minds, eliminating the cognitive stress of rigid PDFs and long word documents.
Tailo does this by:
- Creating clearer breakdowns of sections of text, summaries, text-to-speech options and customisable elements.
- Helping you to determine the relevancy of a text
- Offering an ‘explain this’ feature
- Offering ‘advanced search’
- Allowing you to customise the visual environment by changing things like fonts, font sizes, paragraph spacing, and background colours.
Tailo is now available completely free through Disabled Students’ Allowance. Disabled Students’ Allowance is a grant that helps with the costs of studying with a disability, providing access to things like one to one support, travel allowance, equipment and technology.
DSA is available for all UK students in higher education level 4 or above, with a diagnosis of a disability defined under the Equality Act of 2010. If you’re interested in applying for DSA, or wondering if you’re eligible, access our free DSA guide here.
To further showcase our collaborations with neurodivergent students, here are Tailo’s top ambassadors and content creators.
Robyn @robynlikeshistory
Robyn is a student at Durham University, and she uses her channel to showcase student life and the realities of studying as an autistic student. She offers advice and insights into her day-to-day life in a way that’s relatable and conversational.
Megan @megelizabeth_33
A self-proclaimed Belfast gal, Megan creates content about studying and autism, including the things she wishes she had known and experiences she had growing up. Her channel also features funny videos that celebrate being autistic.
Helena @_whoishelena
An ADHD student whose ‘spend a week with me at uni’ content uses static images to showcase her day-to-day life, and the challenges and triumphs. Helena’s content is endearing, honest, and gives a true insight into life with ADHD and all that comes with it.
Jodie @autisticjodes
Aiming to increase awareness around how to get an autism and ADHD diagnosis, especially for women and girls, Jodie’s content is matter-of-fact, informative and completely authentic. She engages with her audience to help neurodivergent people with their journeys into self-acceptance, and discusses how she manages her neurodiversity at work and on her uni course.
As we recognise Neurodiversity Celebration Week, it’s important to remember that this isn’t just about awareness – it’s about action! Whether you’re an employer, educator, or simply someone who wants to be a better ally, there are many ways to get involved. You can take the time to learn more about neurodiversity, advocate for inclusive policies in schools and workplaces, or amplify the voices of neurodivergent individuals.
This week is a great opportunity to celebrate different ways of thinking, challenge misconceptions, and foster environments where neurodivergent people feel valued and supported. How will you be celebrating?
Writen by Mina Moriarty
Content Creator