MightyDoodle Founder Deb Mallin is Transforming Early Literacy through the Power of AI
Following is an informational Q+A with Deb Mallin, Creator and Founder of Mighty Doodle, an AI-powered virtual tutor designed to help children in grades 1–4 learn to read, write, and spell—especially those who learn differently. Mighty Doodle is ideal for struggling readers who need targeted support, children with diagnosed learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD, and ASD, and brand-new readers just beginning their literacy journey. Deb is also an Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumna and a Forbes Nonprofit Council contributor!
Q: Please introduce our readers to Mighty Doodle.
A: Mighty Doodle® is an AI-powered virtual tutor designed to help children in grades 1–4 learn to read, write, and spell—especially those who learn differently. Originally created with dyslexic learners in mind, the app is rooted in the Orton-Gillingham approach, a time-tested, multisensory method that breaks language into manageable steps while engaging sight, sound, and touch.
Mighty Doodle makes evidence-based literacy instruction feel like play. Children receive a personalized, interactive experience tailored to their pace and learning style. A built-in parent portal includes progress tracking, printable flashcards, and support resources—making early literacy not just effective, but joyful.
MightyMatch by Mighty Doodle.
Q: Why did you develop Mighty Doodle?
A: Mighty Doodle was born of personal urgency and professional insight. As a mother of a child with dyslexia and deficits in attention, I experienced firsthand the overwhelm, confusion, and heartbreak that can come when the education system isn’t built for how your child learns. I knew there had to be a better way—one that was joyful, evidence-based, and designed with neurodivergent learners in mind.
I’ve spent decades creating learning experiences that were able to reach and teach all children how they learn and that played a critical role when designing user-centered learning experiences (LUX) and building impactful curriculum in both classrooms and EdTech settings.
I’m also an Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumna and a Forbes Nonprofit Council contributor, where I focus on ethical technology and equity in literacy. Mighty Doodle is the platform I wish my child—and every child—had access to from the start.
Doodle trace by Mighty Doodle.
Q: Your website also offers some great free resources such as sight words. Why are sight words important to emerging readers? How can parents of dyslexic students help their child learn sight words?
A: Sight words are high-frequency words that don’t always follow standard phonics rules—words like the, said, and were—making them tough to decode. But they appear so often in early reading materials that recognizing them instantly helps children read more fluently and understand what they’re reading.
For children with dyslexia, learning to read can already require significant mental effort. Memorizing sight words helps reduce that cognitive load so they can focus on comprehension instead of decoding every word.
Parents can support their child’s sight word practice through fun, multisensory activities like:
● Flashcard games and memory matching
● Writing sight words in sand, shaving cream, or with playdough
● Playing sight word bingo
● Circling sight words during read-aloud time
We offer free, printable sight word lists by grade level on our website—because we believe literacy support should be both accessible and enjoyable.
Mighty Doodle’s parent portal.
Q: How do parents know if Mighty Doodle is right for their child?
A: Mighty Doodle is ideal for:
● Struggling readers who need targeted support
● Children with diagnosed learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD, ASD
● Brand-new readers just beginning their literacy journey
The app adjusts to each child’s pace and learning profile, offering just-right challenges through research-based instruction and play.
We designed Mighty Doodle for real families who need learning tools that actually work—without tears, tantrums, or confusion.
We also offer a free 7-day trial so families can explore the app and decide if it’s the right fit.
Q: Mighty Doodle offers a one for one model. What is one for one? Why is it important to your mission?
Our Buy-One, Give-One model is simple: for every annual subscription purchased, we donate a full-year subscription to a child who would otherwise not have access to our program—because we believe that access to literacy isn’t just a privilege, it’s a right.
We partner with community organizations to ensure the gifted subscriptions go directly to families who need them most. This model helps us bridge equity gaps in early literacy while inviting every family to be part of the solution.
Q: Please tell our readers how they can learn more about Might Doodle! Please include social handles so that we can tag Mighty Doodle!
A: We’d love for you to join the Mighty Doodle community and see what we’re all about. Visit us at www.mightydoodle.com to learn more, try our app, and download free literacy resources.
And follow us on social media for joyful reading tips, family stories, and neurodivergent-friendly strategies:
● Instagram: @mightydoodle
● Facebook: @mightydoodle
● X (formerly Twitter): @mightydoodle