2025 has been another transformative year for Empowering Tech, marked by significant progress, positivity, and a clear sense of purpose.

Our teams around the world have taken every opportunity to champion

neurodiversity and promote support for people with learning difficulties.

The aim is to help everyone, regardless of how they learn, reach their full potential - and we believe this goal is being continually achieved.

As in previous years, our mission has been to share inspiring stories, provide practical strategies, introduce new products and welcome talented people into the business.

This year’s energy sparked new conversations, deepened connections, and transformed challenges into creativity, courage, and growth, making 2025 a year for positive change and empowered learning.

We wanted to share some of the year's most poignant highlights as we look forward to embarking on another exciting chapter in 2026.

Launching for literacy: Empowerment for all

The C-Pen Reader 3 made a notable debut in 2025, bringing with it a new era of assistive technology for individuals with dyslexia and learning difficulties.

Engineered for accessibility, this sleek, portable scanning pen has advanced features, including intuitive text-to-speech functionality, built-in dictionaries for instant definitions, and powerful multilingual support.

Users simply glide the pen over printed text. It instantly reads aloud in a clear, natural voice, a breakthrough for learners who benefit from auditory input.

The device empowers users to scan and store text. They can access vocabulary support and even translate content in over 40 languages when connected online.​

With its touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi capabilities, the C-Pen Reader 3 is suitable for use in schools, workplaces, and homes.

Teachers and educators alike have found it especially helpful for creating more inclusive learning spaces, allowing neurodivergent children, including those with dyslexia, to access materials independently and with confidence.

Empowering every mind to succeed

One of the most significant days on our calendar is Dyslexia Awareness Month in October. This day celebrates the strengths, creativity, and resilience of people with dyslexia.

At Empowering Tech, we use this time to initiate meaningful conversations about how people with dyslexia can succeed not only at work but also in everyday life.

Our global Succeed with Dyslexia movement is all about promoting as much positivity around learning and literacy differences. The website is packed with resources, including interviews and blogs that aim to raise awareness of dyslexia – make sure to check it out.

We continue to focus on supporting neurodiversity and demonstrating how, with the right tools and inclusive practices, everyday challenges can be transformed into opportunities for innovation and growth.

There have been numerous positive stories shared about dyslexic professionals, educators, and children alike who are changing what success means.

We also highlighted practical strategies and assistive technologies that help people work more effectively.

Most importantly, they reminded everyone that thriving at work is not just about overcoming challenges; it is also about embracing opportunities.

It is also about recognising unique problem-solving skills and ways of thinking that bring tremendous value to any team or individual.

Growing independence through technology

Reading pens are changing how primary schools support literacy. They help children with learning difficulties read independently and feel more confident.

These devices help children learn new words, understand what they read, and acquire new vocabulary without making them feel different from others.

One example of the impact these revolutionary reading pens is having comes from Birchwood Primary School.

Our reading pens have transformed the way children engage with reading and learning. These small but powerful tools quickly became a valued part of everyday classroom life.

They help pupils grow in confidence and independence.

Whether used during literacy lessons or quiet reading time, the pens have given children the chance to access texts at their own pace. They remove barriers that once made reading feel like a challenge.

Teachers have seen improved fluency, comprehension, and genuine pride as pupils discover the joy of reading.

For children with dyslexia and other neurodivergent learning difficulties, reading pens have encouraged inclusion and participation, allowing everyone to contribute and succeed individually.

Teachers at the school have adopted the technology as part of a broader strategy to create a supportive, learner-centred environment where every child can excel.

The school’s approach demonstrated how assistive technology can make classrooms more accessible, thereby nurturing both independence and a lifelong love of learning.

A proud achievement driving global impact

Over in the Southern Hemisphere, the Scanning Pens team celebrated an incredibly proud moment, as the C-Pen Reader 3 was named the Most Impactful Assistive Technology at the Australian Disability Service Awards.

This is a fantastic achievement, as the recognition highlights the powerful difference the device is making across schools and workplaces. It helps people with dyslexia and other reading difficulties gain independence, confidence, and equal access to information.

The award highlights Scanning Pens’ ongoing commitment to innovation and inclusion, demonstrating how technology can truly empower learners of all ages.

David Campbell, Country Manager at Scanning Pens Australia, said: “Our scanning pens are used in primary & secondary schools, by healthcare professionals, in libraries, workplaces, and in state and federal elections.

“We are delighted to receive this award as it underpins all the great work our teams are doing, as well as the ambassadors who champion the success of our reading pens”.

Welcoming new talent to squid.

Our staff are the backbone of our success, and organisational growth is reflected in the addition of new talent to collaborative teams.

The squid. team welcomed James Tomlinson as a new copywriter in November, bringing with him 20 years of experience in digital marketing.

Having worked in both the B2B and B2C sectors, as well as agency and client-side environments. James, or JT, as he is more well known, blends creativity with strategic thinking.

His copywriting expertise will help Empowering Tech and subsequent brands to craft messages that connect with audiences and get results through powerful storytelling.

The team is excited to have him join and looks forward to the new energy, ideas, and skills he brings to the creative process.

Promoting equality and accessibility

In addition to communicating our message virtually, we strive to meet people face-to-face.

The Scanning Pens team attended the Tes SEND Show at the Business Design Centre in London to showcase the C-Pen range.

We highlighted the Reader 2, Exam Reader 2, and newly launched Reader 3, which are tools that provide reading support to all individuals.

At the event, we met with educators and SEND professionals as well as children, who were excited to experience the reading pens first-hand.

We demonstrated how these devices can help people struggling with dyslexia learn independently and increase their confidence during exams and classroom activities.

Julia Clouter, Head of Education at Scanning Pens, delivered an inspiring talk on how to incorporate equality, diversity, and accessibility into every lesson.

She emphasised the importance of using inclusive practices and assistive technology to provide all children with a fair chance. She encouraged educators to use these ideas to make a real difference for every individual.

Looking ahead to 2026

There are lots of exciting things on the horizon for 2026, including the official launch of the Scanning Pens CPD programme. This programme will equip educators to use reading pens effectively through practical, hands-on guidance that meets professional standards.

These resources help educators boost literacy, improve exam results, and gain CPD recognition. Additional support includes toolkits, cost calculators, and specialised courses for schools and adults.

There will be no shortage of dyslexia-led events in 2026, and the team will attend the BETT Show to connect, share, and highlight edtech innovation.

Elsewhere, Succeed with Dyslexia is also changing, with a new website coming soon to provide more accessible resources and up-to-date information for educators and families.

The site will have a fresh look and new content, but our mission remains: to create global change through awareness, support, and celebration. We look forward to sharing this new chapter with you.

Finally, Wizcom Tech is keeping things tightly under wraps, but there are intriguing hints that something exceptional is coming soon regarding their SuperPen.

While official details remain scarce, those in the know suggest a leap forward in advanced reading technology is on the horizon.

For now, all that can be said is to keep a watchful eye for upcoming news.

With these new initiatives, we're looking forward to supporting you and sharing more soon.