Meet Josie Jarvis: An Occupational Therapist who uses Speechify to Overcome ADHD and NVLD Challenges

Explore the inspiring story of Josie Jarvis, an occupational therapist who effectively uses Speechify to manage her ADHD and NVLD.

Josie Jarvis is an doctor of occupational therapy with a specialization in home health services and an active participant in the field of Occupational Science, where she contributes through writing scholarly texts and producing educational episodes of the Evolved Living Podcast. Alongside her professional and academic pursuits, Josie manages the complexities associated with a nonverbal learning disability and ADHD. These conditions make traditional reading and writing processes more challenging, prompting her to seek tools that can accommodate her unique needs and enhance her ability to perform her job and academic responsibilities effectively. You can learn more about her experiences of non-verbal learning disability and how vital accommodations for adult learners with diverse neurodivergences are in this episode of the Evolved Living Podcast. This case study dives into how Speechify helps Josie’s academic and professional pursuits.

How Josie uses Speechify  

Josie has integrated Speechify into her daily routine for the past two months, utilizing it both professionally and academically. She primarily leverages the Speechify app to refine her academic writing, an activity that includes drafting and revising papers and articles relevant to her field. 

“It’s been great for handling long texts and helping me revise my academic work,” Josie said, underscoring the tool’s effectiveness in making complex writing tasks more manageable and improving her overall workflow.

Speechify aids Josie by converting text to speech, allowing her to audit her written work through auditory feedback. This method proves particularly useful in helping her detect inconsistencies and errors that might be missed during visual review. Additionally, Speechify helps Josie engage with lengthy academic materials such as dissertations, which are critical to her continuous learning and professional development. 

How Speechify Helps Josie

The daily impact of Speechify on Josie’s routine is significant. The app facilitates a seamless integration of professional review and personal study into her daily commutes and other routine activities, allowing her to make effective use of her time. By listening to academic content while driving or completing other tasks, Josie can stay productive and make progress on her academic work without needing to carve out additional time from her busy schedule. 

“I’ve been using [Speechify] to edit a textbook chapter and listen to a colleague’s dissertation while driving,” she shared.

Additionally, the tool acts as an auditory bridge that helps mitigate the challenges posed by her nonverbal learning disability and ADHD, enhancing her ability to process complex information. This auditory processing aid significantly reduces the cognitive load associated with reading and comprehension, allowing Josie to focus more on content engagement and less on the mechanics of reading. 

Josie’s Favorite Speechify Features 

Josie expresses high satisfaction with Speechify, rating her experience as a perfect ten, noting that the “interface is easy to use” and “the voices are impressive.” She especially appreciates the app's compatibility with multiple document types, the variety of AI voices, and its efficiency in handling lengthy texts without compromising performance. 

One of the key features Josie enjoys is the ability to paste text directly into Speechify. This function is crucial for her, especially when working with drafts or reviewing scholarly articles. This auditory method of content review not only improves her productivity but also enhances her comprehension and retention of information, catering to her learning preferences influenced by her disabilities.

“Auditory language is like a bridge between the two sides of my brain, making Speechify invaluable,” Josie explained. “It’s been a game-changer for making my writing process smoother and more productive,” she added. 

Conclusion 

Speechify has become an indispensable tool for Josie, significantly enhancing her ability to manage her professional and academic responsibilities. The app not only helps her engage with complex texts but also supports her in managing the symptoms of her disabilities, enabling a higher level of productivity and efficiency. Josie's experience highlights the transformative impact that adaptive technologies can have on individuals with specific learning needs, providing them with the means to succeed in both professional and academic spheres.