Hillary Summerbell is the founder and CEO of Summerbell, a literacy technology company born from her own experience as a visual dyslexic. For most of her life, reading felt like work, until the day she curved text into a soft arc and, suddenly, everything clicked. Words flowed. Comprehension deepened. Reading felt possible.
That moment changed her life, and she set out to bring the same clarity to others. Drawing on her background in design and her instinct for pattern and form, Hillary transformed the concept of positional arc reading into an accessible technology now helping students, families, and educators across the country.
Her vision is simple: reshape how dyslexics experience text and replace struggle with confidence. Today, Summerbell is doing exactly that, pairing research, empathy, and beautifully intuitive tools to make reading more equitable for every learner.
When she’s not leading Summerbell, Hillary can be found sailing, gardening, or exploring the world with her four children. She believes wholeheartedly that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—or the way we learn.
Hillary Summerbell is the founder and CEO of Summerbell, a literacy technology company born from her own experience as a visual dyslexic. For most of her life, reading felt like work, until the day she curved text into a soft arc and, suddenly, everything clicked. Words flowed. Comprehension deepened. Reading felt possible.
That moment changed her life, and she set out to bring the same clarity to others. Drawing on her background in design and her instinct for pattern and form, Hillary transformed the concept of positional arc reading into an accessible technology now helping students, families, and educators across the country.
Her vision is simple: reshape how dyslexics experience text and replace struggle with confidence. Today, Summerbell is doing exactly that, pairing research, empathy, and beautifully intuitive tools to make reading more equitable for every learner.
When she’s not leading Summerbell, Hillary can be found sailing, gardening, or exploring the world with her four children. She believes wholeheartedly that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—or the way we learn.
Hillary Summerbell is the founder and CEO of Summerbell, a literacy technology company born from her own experience as a visual dyslexic. For most of her life, reading felt like work, until the day she curved text into a soft arc and, suddenly, everything clicked. Words flowed. Comprehension deepened. Reading felt possible.
That moment changed her life, and she set out to bring the same clarity to others. Drawing on her background in design and her instinct for pattern and form, Hillary transformed the concept of positional arc reading into an accessible technology now helping students, families, and educators across the country.
Her vision is simple: reshape how dyslexics experience text and replace struggle with confidence. Today, Summerbell is doing exactly that, pairing research, empathy, and beautifully intuitive tools to make reading more equitable for every learner.
When she’s not leading Summerbell, Hillary can be found sailing, gardening, or exploring the world with her four children. She believes wholeheartedly that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—or the way we learn.
Summerbell turns linear text into a gentle arc that helps eyes track, brains focus, and words click, so more visual dyslexics become independent readers.
Summerbell turns linear text into a gentle arc that helps eyes track, brains focus, and words click, so more visual dyslexics become independent readers.
The book
My Journey with Dyslexia Through Resilience and Creativity
For fifty years, Hillary was told her brilliant mind was broken. Then, in 2019, curving the text on a page let her truly read for the first time, and she rewrote her story.
Hillary Patience Summerbell
Printed in standard and Summerbell curved text.
The book
My Journey with Dyslexia Through Resilience and Creativity
For fifty years, Hillary was told her brilliant mind was broken. Then, in 2019, curving the text on a page let her truly read for the first time, and she rewrote her story.
Hillary Patience Summerbell
Printed in standard and Summerbell curved text.
The book
My Journey with Dyslexia Through Resilience and Creativity
For fifty years, Hillary was told her brilliant mind was broken. Then, in 2019, curving the text on a page let her truly read for the first time, and she rewrote her story.
Hillary Patience Summerbell
Printed in standard and Summerbell curved text.
benefits
Classroom Tested
The Summerbell Reading Method software has been used in school classrooms, allowing students to read in the positional arc on their computers, tablets and as print outs.
Educator - Approved
Specialized reading teachers call Summerbell transformative: the arc matches how many dyslexic brains process text, turning hesitant readers confident with simple, adaptable tools for real classrooms.
Accessible Everywhere
Use Summerbell anywhere, Chrome Extension for schools and iOS/Android apps for home. Reader, and Word Helper travel with students: no special training, inclusive support across devices.
Classroom Tested
The Summerbell Reading Method software has been used in school classrooms, allowing students to read in the positional arc on their computers, tablets and as print outs.
Educator - Approved
Specialized reading teachers call Summerbell transformative: the arc matches how many dyslexic brains process text, turning hesitant readers confident with simple, adaptable tools for real classrooms.
Accessible Everywhere
Use Summerbell anywhere, Chrome Extension for schools and iOS/Android apps for home. Reader, and Word Helper travel with students: no special training, inclusive support across devices.
When reading in the arc, you can click a word and Summerbell’s Word Helper breaks down unfamiliar words into phonetic sounds, helping readers decode and pronounce them with confidence. It supports vocabulary growth, spelling accuracy and reinforces independent reading.
When reading in the arc, you can click a word and Summerbell’s Word Helper breaks down unfamiliar words into phonetic sounds, helping readers decode and pronounce them with confidence. It supports vocabulary growth, spelling accuracy and reinforces independent reading.
The heart of Summerbell’s method is the Adjustable Reading Arc. Instead of reading straight lines of text, users can reshape words into a gentle curve that aligns with how the visual brain naturally tracks information. This small visual change has been shown to have instant improvement in fluency, comprehension, and reading comfort for students with visual dyslexia.
The heart of Summerbell’s method is the Adjustable Reading Arc. Instead of reading straight lines of text, users can reshape words into a gentle curve that aligns with how the visual brain naturally tracks information. This small visual change has been shown to have instant improvement in fluency, comprehension, and reading comfort for students with visual dyslexia.
Every reader sees differently. Summerbell lets students personalize how text appears by adjusting letter spacing. These small tweaks reduce visual crowding, improve focus, and make reading smoother across any screen or device.
Every reader sees differently. Summerbell lets students personalize how text appears by adjusting letter spacing. These small tweaks reduce visual crowding, improve focus, and make reading smoother across any screen or device.
Schools use it during independent reading and across digital assignments to boost fluency, decoding, and confidence. Teachers report that students read faster, make fewer errors, and stay more focused, and many students say the arc format simply makes reading feel easier and less stressful.
Frequent questions
The patented reading system with powerful features to change your life
The patented reading system with powerful features to change your life
Which learning differences can Summerbell help with?
Anyone with visual dyslexia who struggles with reading can benefit from the improved tracking, executive functioning, and focus created by Summerbell.
How does Summerbell help with executive functioning?
How long does it take to learn to use Summerbell?
Is Summerbell a browser?
Does Summerbell Support other languages that are not English?
Which learning differences can Summerbell help with?
Anyone with visual dyslexia who struggles with reading can benefit from the improved tracking, executive functioning, and focus created by Summerbell.
How does Summerbell help with executive functioning?
How long does it take to learn to use Summerbell?
Is Summerbell a browser?
Does Summerbell Support other languages that are not English?
Get started today
The patented, researched method that boosts fluency and comprehension
Get started today
The patented, researched method that boosts fluency and comprehension
Get started today
Download the app and practice using the AI to practice daily.
The patented, researched method that boosts fluency and comprehension
