Voice dictation for dyslexia, RSI and accessibility on Mac
Updated 12 October 2026
Voice dictation can make writing easier for people who find typing slow, tiring or painful, including some people with dyslexia or repetitive strain injury. On a Mac you can use Apple's built-in Dictation and Voice Control, or an app like Kords, which adds hold-to-talk, a hands-free lock and mouse-button shortcuts.
Everyone is different, and this is not medical advice. If you are not sure what would help, talk to your doctor, your workplace, or your university's disability or student support service.
Where dictation can help
- Spelling and typing speed. Speaking means you do not have to spell every word or find every key, and you can get your ideas down first and edit afterwards.
- Sore hands and wrists. Talking instead of typing can cut how much you use the keyboard.
- Fatigue. A hands-free lock lets you dictate a long stretch without holding anything down.
What Kords offers
- Hold to talk, or lock it on. Hold a key to speak, or double-tap to record hands-free and press once to finish.
- Any shortcut you choose. A key, a two-key combination or a mouse button, so you can pick what is comfortable for you.
- Your own words and names. Add names and terms once and they are written correctly from then on.
- Your words, as you said them. Kords tidies punctuation and hesitations and does not reword you. Word for word gives exactly what was heard.
- British spelling and pounds when your Mac is set to the United Kingdom.
Apple's built-in tools
macOS has its own accessibility features. Dictation turns speech into text. Voice Control, in System Settings under Accessibility, lets you operate the whole Mac by voice. Kords does not control your Mac. It only types what you say, so some people use it alongside Voice Control.
Help with costs for UK students
In England, students with a disability or specific learning difference may be able to get help with the cost of assistive software through the Disabled Students' Allowance. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schemes. Ask your university's disability or student support service what funding and software they support. Kords is not on any approved list that we know of, and we do not claim it is.
Be realistic about accuracy
How well dictation works depends on your voice, your accent, your microphone and the noise around you, so always read your text back. Kords does not work in password fields. Try the free version before you rely on it.
Questions people ask
Does voice dictation help with dyslexia?
Many people find speaking easier than spelling and typing, but results vary. Try it, and talk to your support service about what suits you.
Is there dictation for RSI?
Dictation can reduce how much you type, which some people with RSI find helpful. Kords offers hold-to-talk, a hands-free lock and mouse-button shortcuts. Speak to your doctor or workplace about what is right for you.
What is the difference between Dictation and Voice Control on a Mac?
Dictation turns your speech into text. Voice Control lets you operate the whole Mac by voice. Kords, like Dictation, turns speech into text.
Can UK students get funding for dictation software?
Some students can get help with assistive software through the Disabled Students' Allowance in England, and similar schemes in the rest of the UK. Ask your university's student support service.