“
Few tools are available to us to make our lives easier
”.
It is in his room that Ryann Dubois, dyslexic and dyspraxic, imagines the creation of a keyboard intended to help people suffering from Dys disorders.
Recognized as a handicap in 2005, these pathologies attack in particular the school learning of young pupils.
Dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysorthographia... so many disorders that can manifest themselves alone or accumulate, complicating the daily life of the people concerned.
The French Federation of Dys counts 7 million French Dys in 2019 and estimates that around 10% of students in a class suffer from this handicap.
Figures difficult to obtain due to the absence of reliable studies and a lack of diagnosis.
In order to make the general public aware of this little-known cause, a national day is dedicated to them each year on October 10.
Resistant and aesthetic stickers
It all starts in February 2021, in full containment.
To break the boredom, Ryann, then aged 16, designed this tool alone and presented a paper prototype accompanied by a list of materials to buy from his parents.
“
He's always inventing stuff
,” proudly points out Olivier, the father of the high school student in the STID2 technology terminal.
Quickly, the family works every evening on the living room table to make the keyboard.
Read alsoOff the school tracks, the obstacle course for “
dys
” children
The idea was born after sessions spent with the occupational therapist, a specialist who intervenes to help the Dys in the management of their environment.
“
We worked with stickers that we stuck on the computer keyboard, but they peeled off too quickly
, explains Ryann.
So I wanted to create stickers to stick on the keys that wouldn't come off or discolor
."
Dys students are assigned a computer by the Departmental House for the Disabled (MDPH).
The stickers arranged on the keys, accompanied by the shortcuts pasted at the bottom right of the keyboard.
R2Dtooldys
The kit called "
KeyDys
" - "
key for the Dys
" in French - consists of three parts.
The first consists of stickers to stick on the keys, the second of a sticker that lists keyboard shortcuts and the third of stickers without letters intended for work with the occupational therapist.
This invention aims to facilitate the use of the computer keyboard by the Dys.
“Even us, adults, we don't realize that we don't know the keyboards well and that we don't optimize anything at all
”, is surprised Olivier.
Each color corresponds to the zone in which the finger can easily move.
For example, the two indexes are respectively placed on the "
T
" and the "
Y
", facilitating better ergonomics on the keyboard.
A quickly noticed invention
After a Facebook post published by Ryann's mother, several families around Brittany are starting to order the homemade kit.
"When we have positive feedback from families, it's magic
", reports Olivier who specifies that "
often, it is parents who order for their children
".
Thanks to word of mouth, the local media quickly picked up on the subject and the project took on a whole new dimension.
In August 2021, the Boulanger foundation offers its help by providing equipment and introduces the printer who is now responsible for manufacturing the kit.
The "
Keydys
" is also on sale "
in the largest Boulanger stores in France
".
“
I wanted as many people who need it as possible to have it
,” says Ryann.
“We also wanted to make it accessible as close as possible to families
,” adds Olivier.
Read alsoDyslexia, dysorthographia, dyspraxia: the epidemic of diagnoses of childhood disorders
Even Emmanuel Macron reacts to the success of the young boy by commenting on one of his Instagram posts: "
Your journey is impressive [...] this invention will relieve other people facing the same difficulties
".
“
Keydys
” is also the subject of an Elysée newsletter, which lists the latest French innovations.
Then, it was the rector of the Rennes academy who took an interest in the project by ordering kits to distribute to students in need.
He then presented the keyboard to the Minister of National Education at the time, Jean-Michel Blanquer.
The latter asks for a “
note
” to be produced on “
Keydys
” so that “
it is adopted in as many academies in France as possible
”.
The craze around the keyboard is such that sales are multiplying.
"
We sold just over 5,000 in just over a year
," says Olivier.
“It will be my job”
Today, many schools have provided the keyboard “
whether in primary, middle or high school
” and “
everywhere in France
”.
It is also for sale on the Boulanger and Ryann website “
R2Dtooldys
”.
Orders are even made across borders, among others "
from the United States, Canada, Belgium and Switzerland
".
Ryann therefore adapted and created new versions of the kit in foreign languages.
Read alsoEducation: false dyslexics?
Majority shareholder of his company at 17, the teenager juggles between high school and entrepreneurship: "
It's a whole organization
", laughs Olivier.
“
It's true that sometimes I feel like I'm starting a new day after class
,” admits Ryann.
But the young boy is enthusiastic about this success and confides: "
I think it will be my job, at least I hope so
".
Eyes oriented towards the future, he is already thinking of new inventions that could come to the aid of the Dys.