wonderful
Ayman Mahrous
Helperbird user
The story behind Helperbird
What started as a personal project in 2015 became a mission to make reading, learning, and the web accessible for everyone.
our story
Trusted by teams at
Hey there!
I'm Robert James Gabriel, the founder (and the one and only developer!) behind Helperbird. This project wasn't just a business - it was personal, created from my own experiences and needs.
Growing up in Ireland, school was a struggle. When I was 15, my English teacher told my parents I should drop out. That news was devastating, but my parents didn't give up on me. After testing, they discovered I had dyslexia, and with their support, I was able to turn things around.
In January 2015, during an internship at Teamwork.com, I created the first version of Helperbird to learn coding and help me study. What started as a small tool to make web browsing easier quickly grew into something much bigger. And coming up on ten years now, it's still just me here, developing and supporting Helperbird.
Helperbird's mission is simple: to make reading, learning, and navigating the web easier and more accessible for everyone. Whether you have dyslexia, low vision, ADHD, or just want tools to improve focus and productivity, Helperbird is here for you.
If Helperbird has made a positive difference for you, please consider leaving a five-star review - it helps others discover us and grow our mission.
Thank you for being part of Helperbird's story. My goal is to make a difference, and I'm honored to be part of yours.
With love,
Robert James Gabriel
Founder & Developer, Helperbird
from the heart
Core values
These values guide every feature, every update, and every conversation.
Accessibility for All
Everyone deserves a web they can navigate with ease. Helperbird is built to empower people to access information in a way that's right for them.
Empathy First
Helperbird was built from lived experience. Empathy is at the core of everything - designed with compassion to help others overcome their own challenges.
Simplicity & Ease
Tools that help shouldn't be complicated. Helperbird is designed to be simple and easy to use — no extra steps, just helpful features that work.
Continuous Growth
Always listening, learning, and improving. Helperbird evolves with each update, guided by your feedback and the changing world of accessibility.
Affordability Matters
A free version ensures accessibility for all, and Pro features stay affordable. No one should be left out because of cost.
Community-Driven
Every suggestion, review, and story from our community helps shape Helperbird. It belongs to all of us.
we care!
Stay connected
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so useful and helpful!! i can actually retain so much more info in my head now. thanks man, you are so awesome and i appreciate all the kind words. thank you. :)
A Google User
Helperbird user
I got this tool as an extension to try out first of all. I was amazed at what it can do in terms of accessibility. I have shown my friends and brother who suffer from dyslexia and they have all downloaded the extension. Great step forward from a company looking to help people!!
Luke Pottinger
Helperbird user
Immersive Reader from Microsoft is amazing, but my friends in Google districts were missing out until I found Helperbird. Great for proofreading! Simply highlight the text and have it read back to you, change the spacing in your view, highlight parts of speech, even translate by word or by document to have it read to you and adjust the speed! So amazing that I posted a YouTube tutorial within days of installing it. Plus, unlike many extensions, it didn't ask for obnoxious permissions like asking to delete everything in my Google Drive. #Winner #a11y
GK Techies
Helperbird user
I love and use Helperbird for Chrome and I think it's a great tool!
Walter Washburn
Helperbird user
Hugely helpful app, readings become so much easier since I installed this.Saved me so much time for a couple of bucks
Jack Haverty
Helperbird user
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Make browsing easier and more accessible with tools like Text to Speech, Immersive Reader, and more.