Assistive Technology Notes Flashcards
Assistive technology (AT)
Technology that is available to assist individuals to participate in activities and tasks
Common types of Learning Differences:
Dyslexia Dysgraphia Dyscalculia Executive Functioning Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder Visual Processing Disorder
Dyslexia
A specific learning disability related to reading; mainly a problem with reading accurately and fluently
Dysgraphia
A specific learning disability related to writing; mainly with handwriting legibly and at age-appropriate speed.
Dyscalculia
A specific learning disability related to math; mainly understanding number-related concepts and using symbols or functions needed to be successful in math
Executive Functioning disorder
Difficulty in organizing oneself to accomplish tasks
Attention deficit disorder
Known as ADD or ADHD and usually characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Visual Processing Disorder
Difficulty in processing or interpreting visual information such as shapes or words on a page
AT: Reading, Decoding, & Accessing Content
Learning Ally (audiobook service)
Bookshare (digital book service)
Digital Book Library (digital books)
Read & Write Screenshot Reader/Reading Tools (allow user to listen to digital text)
Read & Write AudioMaker (allow user to listen to digital text)
Why AT Reading, Decoding, & Accessing Content tools help people with LD
They allow information to be sent to the user using different modes using different senses (seeing and hearing)
This allows different parts of the brain to work together to understand the information instead of just one part of the brain
What people benefit from using AT Reading, Decoding, & Accessing Content tools
People with reading issues (dyslexia) or visual processing disorder
People with reading comprehension issues
People with working memory issues
People who can read but it takes them a long time
AT: Reading Comprehension/ Understanding what you read/ Vocabulary tools
Word Clouds (Tagul, Wordle, WordClouds.com, Tagxedo, WordItOut)
Read & Write Vocabulary List Builder
Read & Write Dictionary & Picture Dictionary tools
Online dictionary
Why AT: Reading Comprehension/ Understanding what you read/ Vocabulary what you read tools help people with LD
These tools allow users to understand the smaller components and words that make up larger reading passages.
Using a combination of pictures and words that are readable and listenable make it easier for a user to understand.
Word clouds in particular also help with finding the main idea and summarizing reading passages.
What people benefit from using AT: Reading Comprehension/ Understanding what you read/ Vocabulary
People with reading comprehension issues
People with limited vocabulary
People who struggle with summarizing or finding the main idea of reading passages
What is POWER UP?
It is a writing process developed by Lawrence School teachers that include specific steps to good writing
POWER UP Steps
Planning Organizing Writing Editing Revising Understanding Publishing
AT: Pre-Writing Tools for Planning & Organizing steps of POWER UP
Inspiration
Graphic Organizers like bubbl.us or popplet.com or mindmeister.com
Read & Write Study Skill Highlighters
Read & Write Voice Note tool
Why AT: Pre-Writing Tools help people with LD
They help users to gather ideas, facts, and research, and organize them before turning them into sentences and paragraphs
They help get ideas for writing down before the user forgets to include them
What people benefit from using AT: Pre-Writing Tools
People with written expression
People who have a hard time starting a writing project
People doing a research project (which means ALL STUDENTS)
AT: Writing Tools for Writing step of POWER UP
Google Voice Typing
Dragon Naturally Speaking
Read & Write Word Prediction
***Recommendation: Turn off Spellcheck as you Write. It slows down the writing process. Spellcheck afterwards instead of during editing step
Why AT: Writing Tools help people with LD
Replaces the act of handwriting or typing
Typing uses a different part of the brain than handwriting
Dictating uses a different part of the brain than typing and handwriting
It allows ideas and content to be created quicker and easier
What people benefit from using AT: Writing Tools
People who are poor spellers
People with written expression issues
People who know what they want to say but struggle with getting into documents by handwriting or typing
People with dysgraphia
AT: Editing & Revising Writing Tools for Editing & Revising steps of POWER UP
Grammarly
Criterion
Spellcheck
Reading Tools (Listen to what you wrote)
Why AT: Editing & Revising Writing Tools help people with LD
These tools help students to help themselves in correcting writing errors without another human being having to help them