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Empowering Dyslexic Learners: How Hillary Summerbell Is Transforming Reading
What if the way in which reading is designed is holding millions of people back?
In this deeply moving and inspiring episode, Salli Carter sits down with Hillary Summerbell, founder of Summerbell, to explore her lifelong journey with dyslexia and how it led her to design a revolutionary reading tool that is transforming literacy for children and adults around the world.
Growing up dyslexic, Hillary struggled to read in traditional ways, often feeling frustrated, discouraged, and misunderstood. Instead of accepting these limitations, she leaned into how her brain worked. Writing in arcs rather than straight lines, which eventually inspired the creation of Summerbell, a technology that transforms linear text into a gentle arc that helps eyes track, brains focus, and words finally click.
Following the development of Summerbell, Johns Hopkins University conducted and published research demonstrating the powerful impact of arc-based reading for individuals with dyslexia. (Read the study: https://www.summerbell.com/study). The results highlight how thoughtful design, rooted in lived experience, can dramatically improve reading fluency, focus, and confidence.
Together, Salli and Hillary unpack:
What it’s like growing up dyslexic in a system not designed for different learners
How innovation in educational technology can unlock human potential
Why nearly 50% of adults in North America struggle with reading proficiency
How 15–20% of people with dyslexia deserve better tools, not lower expectations
The emotional and life-changing power of finally being able to read with ease
This episode is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the profound impact of designing education around real human needs. Hillary’s story reminds us that when we build from empathy, we can change lives.
🌐 Learn more about Summerbell: https://www.summerbell.com/
Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
04:05 Hillary’s Journey with Linear Reading
06:17 Understanding Visual Dyslexia
09:54 Summerbell and Why Arc’d Reading Works
15:11 Common Misconceptions with Dyslexic Learners
19:45 Elevating Kids Through Common Access to Texts
22:54 How to Download and Use Summerbell At Any Age
29:00 This Changed Her Life
32:05 A Piece of Advice for Innovators in Education
36:02 Hillary’s ‘Pink Bubble’
View all episodes
By Salli CarterWhat if the way in which reading is designed is holding millions of people back?
In this deeply moving and inspiring episode, Salli Carter sits down with Hillary Summerbell, founder of Summerbell, to explore her lifelong journey with dyslexia and how it led her to design a revolutionary reading tool that is transforming literacy for children and adults around the world.
Growing up dyslexic, Hillary struggled to read in traditional ways, often feeling frustrated, discouraged, and misunderstood. Instead of accepting these limitations, she leaned into how her brain worked. Writing in arcs rather than straight lines, which eventually inspired the creation of Summerbell, a technology that transforms linear text into a gentle arc that helps eyes track, brains focus, and words finally click.
Following the development of Summerbell, Johns Hopkins University conducted and published research demonstrating the powerful impact of arc-based reading for individuals with dyslexia. (Read the study: https://www.summerbell.com/study). The results highlight how thoughtful design, rooted in lived experience, can dramatically improve reading fluency, focus, and confidence.
Together, Salli and Hillary unpack:
What it’s like growing up dyslexic in a system not designed for different learners
How innovation in educational technology can unlock human potential
Why nearly 50% of adults in North America struggle with reading proficiency
How 15–20% of people with dyslexia deserve better tools, not lower expectations
The emotional and life-changing power of finally being able to read with ease
This episode is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the profound impact of designing education around real human needs. Hillary’s story reminds us that when we build from empathy, we can change lives.
🌐 Learn more about Summerbell: https://www.summerbell.com/
Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
04:05 Hillary’s Journey with Linear Reading
06:17 Understanding Visual Dyslexia
09:54 Summerbell and Why Arc’d Reading Works
15:11 Common Misconceptions with Dyslexic Learners
19:45 Elevating Kids Through Common Access to Texts
22:54 How to Download and Use Summerbell At Any Age
29:00 This Changed Her Life
32:05 A Piece of Advice for Innovators in Education
36:02 Hillary’s ‘Pink Bubble’