assistive technology for reading, writing and note...
TRANSCRIPT
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR READING, WRITING AND NOTE TAKINGMARLENA LANINI, OTR/L
MONTECH EASTERN CLINIC COORDINATOR
WHAT WE’LL COVER TODAY
1. What is MonTECH
2. SETT Framework to help select correct technology
3. AT for Reading
4. AT for Writing
5. AT for Notetaking
What is MonTECH?
• Mission: MonTECH provides technology, support, and services
that improve the quality of life for Montanans with disabilities.
• Federally funded program based out of U of M’s Rural Institute.
MONTECH LOCATIONS
New Billings Outreach Center
MSU Billings
Montana Center for Inclusive Education
• Hours:
• Mondays 8am – 5pm
• Tuesdays 8am – 5pm
• Wednesdays by appointment
Main Office at U of M’s Rural Institute
• Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
• Tools to make life easier
• In schools: AT helps
students access the
curriculum & increase
independence
MONTECH SERVICES
DEMONSTRATIONS AT LOANS
• All Montanans living with a temporary or
permanent disability of any kind.
• 30 day device loan
• Equipment: vision equipment, communication
devices, daily living, ergonomic, etc.
• Inventory in Missoula: We ship equipment to
you and you pay for return shipping
• Work with our Clinic Coordinator to
try out AT and see what pieces of
equipment work best
• Anyone can schedule: Consumer, Family,
Teacher, Therapist, Advocate – Anyone!
• FREE
MONTECH SERVICES
AT EVALUATIONS & TRAININGS
• Clinic coordinator will evaluate AT
options and make recommendations
with formal report
• Trainings can be for individuals or large
groups, customized to your needs
• Fee: $125/hr
FINANCIAL LOAN
• In partnership with Rural Dynamics
• Nonprofit lender offering more flexible lending than
traditional banking systems.
Considers current situation, not just credit
history
Offers 0% interest mini-loans of up to $1,500.
Offers 3.5% interest on loans up to $50,000.
http://matl.ruraldynamics.org/
SETT FRAMEWORK
Before you consider any piece of AT, consider the whole picture!
SETT FRAMEWORK
Student
Environment
Task
Tools
SETT Framework created by Joy Zabala,
http://www.joyzabala.com/Documents.html
AT FOR READING
A Sample of Some Assistive Technology
IS READING PRINT DIFFICULT DUE TOVISUAL IMPAIRMENT, PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR SEVERE LEARNING DISABILITY?
Want to hear text aloud?
Want to see the text while you hear it read aloud?
Want something light weight or that you don’t have to carry?
Want something that will turn pages for you?
Want text in Braille?
ELECTRONIC TEXT
• Electronic format, not paper
• Text can be read and interacted with on computer, e-reader or tablet
• e-text can be converted into several accessible formats to meet students’ various need
• Examples: DAISY Talking Books, EPUB, Braille, large print
• Today’s Focus: text that can be read aloud
• Not all e-text is accessible! Often protected due to copyright laws intended to prevent
piracy. Learn what format will meet your needs and how to obtain it.
HEARING TEXT: LOTS OF DIFFERENT FORMATS!
Audio only vs Audio with text
Human voice vs synthesized text to speech (TTS) voice
Interact with text (highlight, copy and paste, etc.) vs Look only
Accessible vs Inaccessible
Where do you want to read it? On the computer? Tablet? E-Reader?
WHERE CAN I GET E-TEXT?
• At school, ask:
• Your special education teacher
• College disability services coordinator
• Accessible Textbook Finder http://www.accesstext.org/resources.php
• Membership Required with Qualifying Print Disability
• Learning Ally
• Bookshare: FREE, if you qualify
• AccessText.org: college textbooks; for disability services coordinators
• MT Talking Book Library
WHERE CAN I GET E-TEXT? CONTINUED
• Project Gutenberg (free)
• E-Books*
• Audible
• Kindle
• Nook
• iBooks
• Public Library* often has many great (FREE!) resources: OverDrive
*individual books may not be accessible on these platforms
NOW I HAVE MY E-TEXT. HOW DO I HEAR IT?
TTS Software and Apps
• Read & Write Gold
• WYNN Literacy Software
• Kurzweil
• Snap & Read Universal
• Central Access Reader (Free)
• Natural Reader (Free and paid versions)
• Balabolka (Free)
• Dolphin Easy Reader
• Capti Narrator
• Voice Dream Reader
• iBooks: speak screen or voice over
• Kindle: Audio companion with Wisper sync
(links Audible & Kindle books), or TTS if
enabled
• And many more!
DEMONSTRATION: READ & WRITE GOLD FOR READING TEXT ALOUD
WHY I’M SHOWING YOU READ &
WRITE
• Many Montana Universities and Colleges have this
software
• 30 day free trial
• Free account for educators
• Available on Windows, Mac, Google Chrome, iPad
and Android (features vary)
• Remember: This is just an example of one software,
there are many competitors
WHAT IF SOMEONE GIVES ME NON-ACCESSIBLE TEXT?
OCR IT!• OCR = Optical Character Recognition
• Requires scanner/camera & OCR software
• Best fit for small amounts of text, not entire books
• Will not recognize graphics or pictures, only text
AT FOR WRITING
A Sample of Some Assistive Technology
WRITING SUPPORTS SOFTWARE
• Read & Write Gold
• WYNN Literacy Software
• Kurzweil
• Co-Writer
• Ginger
• Grammerly
• Ghotit
• And many more!
DEMONSTRATION: READ & WRITE GOLD FOR WRITING
• Spelling supports
• Word prediction & word banks
• Idea organization/mind map
• Audio supports for editing
TYPE BY TALKING
• Windows: Speech Recognition (free)
• Mac: Dictation (free)
• Chrome OS: Voice Type (free)
• Tablet: Voice Dictation (free)
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
WHAT IF SOMEONE GIVES ME A PAPER WORKSHEET?
• Ask for an electronic copy
• Write answers on a separate sheet of
paper
• App like Snap Type
• Scan and use PDF annotator like xodo
AT FOR NOTE TAKING
A Sample of Some Assistive Technology
NOTE TAKING DEMONSTRATIONS
Sonocent Audio NotetakerNotability AppLiveScribe Echo Smart Pen
COMPARING NOTE TAKING AT
Check out OT’s with Apps Note Taking
Tools and Feature Matrix
• Sonocent
• One Note
• Livescribe Echo & 3 Pen
• Notability
• Evernote
• Inspiration
• Digital Voice Recorder & Apps
QUESTIONS?
EASTERN OUTREACH OFFICE -
BILLINGS
• Phone: 406-657-2089
• Marlena Lanini, OTR/L, Eastern
Clinic Coordinator in Billings
MAIN OFFICE – MISSOULA
• Phone: 406-243-5751 or 1-
877-243-5511
• Julie Doerner, M.S. CCC-SLP, MATP
Clinical Coordinator
• Dave Gentry, Assistive Technology
Resource Coordinator
http://montech.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/