Assistive Technology Enables Dyslexic Ninth Grader’s Straight-A Success as Schools Restrict Phones and Non-Essential Screens

Ninth grader Soraya Martin began using speech-to-text, audiobooks, and photo note-taking tools on her school laptop during the 2025-2026 school year and earned straight As for the first time. Martin, who has dyslexia, said the technology let her dictate writing instead of typing and listen to books rather than read printed pages. "I started getting really good grades," she said.

"It made me feel like ... '" Her mother, Heather Martin of Concord, California, said the tools changed how her daughter approached schoolwork. Soraya attends high school in northern California, where the 2025-2026 school year marked the first time students' phones were locked in pouches for the entire day.

Soraya's individualized education program states she can use her phone for note-taking along with other assistive technology. She said she sometimes feels singled out when she must ask teachers to unlock the pouch, and she worries the phone policy could lead to broader screen restrictions at her school. More than 30 states have banned cellphones in school.

Alabama, Tennessee, and Utah have enacted laws limiting screens that take effect as early as July 2026. Some states have proposed or enacted policies to remove laptops and tablets from classrooms.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a Surgeon General advisory warning of the harms of screen use. Students with disabilities number more than 8 million in the United States. Lindsay Jones, CEO of the Center for Applied Special Technology, said some state laws include exceptions for assistive technology.

U.S. Department of Education is less equipped to enforce civil rights protections, including access to assistive technology. The Trump administration delayed a long-expected digital accessibility rule for public institutions including schools.

Jones said the rapid pace of policy changes has left educators and disability communities with little time to prepare. CAST invented the Universal Design for Learning framework, which encourages teachers to present material in multiple formats such as blocks, diagrams, videos, and e-books.

Jones said intentional use of technology can create flexible learning environments needed for students with disabilities.

Soraya researched and wrote a series of essays on how people with dyslexia learn. She said the tools have made her feel more confident. "I have so much more to say ...