EVERYDAY SUPPORT · FOR ADULTS
Make today
easier.
Start with something you want to do. Find a small change to try, words to ask for support, and a plan that works for you.
For work, study and life. You can explore these ideas whether or not you have a dyslexia diagnosis. This is a practical resource, not an assessment.
01 / CHOOSE A SITUATION
What would help today?
Choose one. You can come back to the others.
02 / TRY A SMALL CHANGE
Give your reading a purpose
A clear question and small, meaningful sections give you a framework for the information.
Write one question: what do I need to find out?
Read one section. Note its main point in your own words.
Put any action and its deadline on a separate list.
For a long email about a meeting, look for three things: what to prepare, where to attend and when it starts.
Show me a worked example
An illustrative plan to adapt, not a real person’s result.
- Task
- Find what I need to prepare for a meeting.
- One next step
- Read the email once for the request. My note: bring the draft agenda; send it by Thursday at 3 pm; meeting Friday at 10 am.
- Support to ask for
- Ask the organiser to separate the preparation deadline from the meeting time.
- How to review it
- Compare my note with the email. Have I kept the two dates separate?
CHANGE THE SETTING, TOO
Support you could ask for
Ask for a short summary with actions and dates clearly separated.
Words you could use“Could you put the main request and deadline at the top, with the background information underneath? That helps me respond accurately.”
If this does not help
Try a shorter section, or ask someone to explain the main point and check your understanding.
You can change the strategy or ask someone to explore it with you. The aim is to find a useful fit.
The idea behind this strategy
Group information by meaning. A heading such as “what I need to do” connects details to a purpose; simply cutting text into equal pieces does not create that connection.
This everyday strategy is DTC’s application of a theme in the handbook.
Try it on your own task
Choose a real email. Write its main request, the deadline and one detail that explains why it matters.
SEE IT IN PRACTICE
From a busy message to a clear next step
A made-up example. Keep the meaning and check the details against the original.
“Our meeting is on Friday at 10 am in Room 2. Please email your draft agenda by Thursday at 3 pm so everyone can read it first. Bring a copy to the meeting.”
- Send
- Draft agenda — Thursday, 3 pm
- Attend
- Meeting — Friday, 10 am, Room 2
- Bring
- A copy of the agenda
Why send it early? So everyone can read it first.
See how this becomes a personal plan
An example, not a form to complete. Your own plan is below.
- My task
Prepare for Friday’s meeting.
Name one real situation.
- My next step
Open a document and write three agenda headings.
Choose an action you can begin.
- Support I can ask for
Ask the organiser which topics to include.
Identify what would make it easier.
- When I will review
Thursday at 2 pm: check the draft before sending it by 3 pm.
Choose a review time before the deadline.
03 / MAKE IT YOURS
Your next-step plan
All fields are optional. Start with the suggestions or write your own. The Word plan includes your selected strategy and notes. Open it in Word to edit or print. The full toolkit includes the strategies, worked examples, a planner and optional AI prompts.
Your notes stay in this page while it is open and are not submitted. Download or print to keep them; refreshing or leaving the page clears them.
A useful check
Can I explain the main point and find the next action without rereading everything?
Keep: it helped. Change: adjust one part and try again. Ask: get support with the part that is still difficult. You do not need to finish every task or use every strategy.
OPTIONAL / ANOTHER WAY TO GET STARTED
Using AI for everyday tasks
Optional: copy a prompt into an AI chat tool you already use. Replace the words in square brackets with your own information. Nothing is sent to an AI service by this toolkit.
Before you paste anything
Leave out personal, financial, health and confidential work information. Use made-up examples or placeholders instead. Follow your workplace or course rules before using AI.
AI can miss details or invent information. Compare the answer with the original, especially names, numbers, dates and deadlines. Check new explanations with a reliable source or someone who knows the subject.
Understand an email
Copy this prompt, then replace the square brackets.
Summarise this email in plain English. Use three headings: what I need to do, deadlines, and anything unclear. Keep all dates and numbers exactly as written. If something is missing, say it is missing. Do not guess. Email: [paste a non-sensitive example]
Before you use the answer: Can you match every action and deadline to the original email? Check that no important condition has been left out.
Find a first step
Copy this prompt, then replace the square brackets.
Help me start this task: [describe the task without private details]. Ask one question if you need more information. Suggest one small first action and what finishing that action looks like. Wait before giving me another step.
Before you use the answer: Is the first action realistic for your time, energy and situation? Change it if it is too big.
Turn notes into a clear message
Copy this prompt, then replace the square brackets.
Turn these notes into a short, clear email. Keep my meaning and do not invent facts, commitments or deadlines. Use placeholders for anything missing. Ask me about anything unclear. Notes: [paste non-sensitive notes]
Before you use the answer: Does it still say what you mean? Remove any promise or detail you did not intend before sending it yourself.
Understand an unfamiliar word
Copy this prompt, then replace the square brackets.
Explain this word in the context below using plain English and one everyday example. Say if you are unsure. Then ask me to explain it in my own words and wait for my answer. Word and context: [add a non-sensitive example]
Before you use the answer: Check the explanation against your course materials, a reliable reference or someone who understands the subject.
If the answer feels overwhelming
That is too much information. Give me one short step in plain English, then wait for me.
You can use every other activity without AI. These AI prompts are a new DTC addition. They are not taken from the 2020 Dyslexia Guild handbook.
My make today easier plan
MY MAKE TODAY EASIER PLAN Situation: Read a long email or document My task: To decide My next step: Write one question: what do I need to find out? Support to ask for: Ask for a short summary with actions and dates clearly separated. When I will review it: After I next try this task A useful check: Can I explain the main point and find the next action without rereading everything? What helped / what I will change: To review after trying Words I could use: Could you put the main request and deadline at the top, with the background information underneath? That helps me respond accurately. Independent DTC resource, inspired by The Dyslexia Guild Supporting Adults Toolkit (May 2020). Group information by meaning. A heading such as “what I need to do” connects details to a purpose; simply cutting text into equal pieces does not create that connection. Practical support ideas, not an assessment.
Created by DTC, drawing on The Dyslexia Guild Supporting Adults Toolkit (2020). Source notes in the printable companion.