Assistive Technology For Students With Leaning

Disabilities

By: Megan Lee

These Characteristics are helpful when choosing useful technology

for students with learning disabilities:

• The software should address the skill the individual needs to learn and have levels to allow the student to progress.

• Computer display should not be cluttered, to allow for better concentration with few distractions.

• Directions should be straightforward.• It should be easy for student to correct mistakes.

• The program should be easy to enter and exit.• The software should be fun and motivating, with

topics of interest to the individual.• Saving the work should be easy.• There should be guidance and assistance by a

parent or teacher so the student dose not become frustrated or bored with the software.

• Taken from:Closing The Gap Oct./Nov., 2000 vol.19 #4

The Talking Word Processor That Encourages Writing and

Reading• Listens letter by letter, word by word, or

sentence by sentence.

• Talking spell checker reads misspelled words in context.

• Auditory feedback turns this word processor into a reading tool as well as a writing tool.

Help struggling students express themselves Write:OutLoud is a

valuable tool for students who:

Write with Discover:Switch, Discover:Board or Discover:Screen

• Are reluctant, frustrated writers. • Need help to pass their writing standards. • Have difficulty expressing their ideas in writing. • Need to write and work more independently. • Have limited reading skills.

Prices For The Write:OutLoud

• • Single user $99.00• Five user $346.50• Ten user $663.30• Twenty user

$1,267.20• Fifty user

$2,970.00

Co:Writer® 4000• The spelling- and grammar-smart word coach

that builds BETTER sentences Student outcomes

• Students work at their developmental spelling level.

• Students write with content-specific words. • Students build good first sentences with correct

conventions. • Students gain writing confidence.

Co:Writer 4000 Helps struggling students find the right words

• Co:Writer 4000 is the leading writing intervention for students who:

• Write with Discover:Switch, Discover:Board or Discover:Screen

• Have limited grammar, spelling and vocabulary skills.

• Are auditory learners. • Become frustrated because writing is too difficult.• Use writing to communicate verbally. • Fatigue when writing one letter at a time.

Prices Of The Co:Writer 4000

• • Single user $325.00

• Fiver user $1137.50

• Ten user $2,177.50

• Fifty user $9,750.00

• One hundred user $17,875.00

• One thousand user $81,250.00

Wizcom Quickline Pen

• Quicktionary II is :• a hand-held, pen

shaped scanner• an assistive reading

device• scans a word and will

read the word aloud using a built- in speaker or headphones

•

                       

Wizcom Quickline Pen

• Wizcom was particularly designed for people with reading or learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. It is also useful for people who are learning English, or want the convenience of having a dictionary at their fingertips.

• Price for quickline $148.10

AlphaSmart 3000

• For students who: * Need spelling

support and mobility* Become frustrated with paper/pencil writing tasks* Have trouble keeping assignments organized

AlphaSmart 3000 - $229 + S&H

• In conclusion, there are many companies that offer a variety of assistive technology for students with learning disabilities.

• There are also many national organizations that offer support, assistance and information to students with learning disabilities.