His idea tempted even Emmanuel Macron. A few weeks ago, the President of the Republic, on social media, sent a letter to Ryan Dubois, a 16-year-old who lives in Benic-Etabel-sur-Mer (22 years old) congratulating him on his ingenuity.
The high school student, enrolled in 1st STI2D in Saint-Brieuc, is the inventor of a computer keyboard suite that aims to make life easier for people with DYS disorders (dyslexia, dyslexia, etc.). A set with a simple principle: colored keys to stick to the keyboard to identify letters better and be faster.
Bored with kindergarten stickers
To imagine it, Ryan relied on his experience. “Colored dots are used for motor skills,” details a person diagnosed with DYS in CM2. “The problem is that these are kindergarten stickers, which hide the letters on the keyboard and have to be changed every two weeks because it pays off.” Not perfect, therefore. And not very conservative. “In class, I was asked why I had this on my computer.”
He failed to find another solution in the trade, so he contented himself with it. Until he made a decision, one evening in March 2021, to solve the problem himself. “The next morning, he came back with an A4 sheet of paper,” recalls Mum Sulin. The teenager has just created his first prototype. Let it get better for a few weeks. Especially to find the right paper and the right glue. Without imagining the benefit that his invention would raise.
I started telling myself that it might be useful to others
“Very quickly, in high school, some friends asked me if I could do that to them,” the teenager recalls. After discussion with the parents, he accepts and sells his first kits. “It was there where I started telling myself that it could be useful to other people.” Ryan talks about it with his mom, who agrees to post a message on a Facebook group dedicated to DYS. Very quickly, orders poured in.
Boss at 16
To deal with that, the family sets up a business, R2Dtooldys, which Ryan has headed since he was 16, on July 9, 2021. The living room has been converted into a workshop. “In the evening, the printer was running at full speed,” Father Olivier recalled. “Then you had to let it dry, then laminate everything before sending the kits by La Poste.” The concept was quickly discovered by Baker Foundation, who decided to support Ryan. “It is a very nice meeting. He told us about his difficulties and his desire to help others. And we wanted to help him,” sums up Nadig Delmot, president of the foundation.
I don’t do this to make money but to help others
With this support, the high school student improves his collection and creates versions for Windows, Mac, iPad and Android; And in Azerty, Qwerty, and Qwertz. A contract is also signed with a professional printer for him to take over the investigation. Father smiles: “Made at home, it’s over.” On the distribution side, the family continues to respond to requests from abroad and professionals. The kit is also available in 49 stores in Boulanger, France and on the home appliance brand’s website.
for schools
There is a growing interest in R2Dtooldys. Therefore, the President of the Republic. But also local elected officials. Like the mayor of Saint-Brieuc who wants to buy kits for the city’s schools. Success does not turn the head of a young entrepreneur. “I’m not doing this to make money but to help others.”
