The Family Center on Technology and Disability
Assistive Technology Works
Begin with Me
This language arts project from the state of Michigan is directed to teaching teams to assist learning for all students but especially for those struggling with writing at the fifth grade level. The website describes a well thought-out program with outcomes, applicable to many students, with an emphasis on technology and training. While it is directed at teachers and classroom activities, parents may find it useful when helping their children ...
Published: 2008 by S. Hardin, F. Miracola , Reviewed: December 04, 2008
Dyscalculia.org website
This website has an incredible amount of information devoted to learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia and dyscalculia. There are links to symptoms of each diagnosis, legal questions, teaching strategies and software that will be useful for students who have these types of learning problems. Of questionable value is the option of obtaining an “online” diagnosis of your learning disability. The process and cost of obtaining this “online” evaluation is outlined on ...
Published: 2008 by Renee M. Newman , Reviewed: December 05, 2008
CAST UDL Book Builder
The CAST Universal Design for Learning Book Builder is a program that operates on the assumption that all children have a unique style of learning and that their brains process information differently. This program allows digital books to be created in individualized ways to accommodate different ways of reading and learning. The concept of Universal Design for Learning is explained in detail with activities to demonstrate. Model books are included ...
Published: 2008 by CAST , Reviewed: December 30, 2008
Using Technology to Support Writing
Although assistive technology has been around for several decades, it is hard to find quality research-based evidence to examine its effectiveness. This research article compiles scientifically-based research and summarizes the effectiveness of using technology to support writing by individuals with disabilities or by those simply struggling with the skill. The authors conclude that, although it is thought that tools do support the writing process of struggling students, additional research is ...
Published: 2007 by George R. Peterson-Karlan and Howard P. Parette , Reviewed: February 08, 2011
Improving Basic Mathematics Instruction
This article looks at the problems encountered in mathematics instruction of children with disabilities. First the authors describe common problems that make it difficult for children with disabilities to learn math concepts. They go on to list effective practices that have been discovered in research. Anchored instruction is described as a method that connects math to real world applications. The authors define different technologies that are available to help children ...
Published: 2007 by Boo Murray, Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, Fiona Innes Helsel , Reviewed: February 25, 2011
An Educator‘s Guide to the Acquisition of Alternate Format Core Learning ...
An Educator‘s Guide to the Acquisition of Alternate Format Core Learning Materials for Pre-K–12 Students with Print Disabilities is a report from NIMAS at CAST. It is a good first stop for educators, AT professionals, and parents looking for information and relevant resources on accessible textbooks for students with print disabilities. The Guide takes readers through emerging technologies and identifies common sources for Braille, e-text, audio, and large print. It ...
Published: 2007 by Skip Stahl, et. al. , Reviewed: September 07, 2008
ReadOn
ReadOn software was designed to assist people of all ages with dyslexia in learning to read. ReadOn uses specific learning strategies to help people overcome reading difficulties. It performs very much like other text-to-speech reading programs that have been used for years, in that text can be entered manually or by scanning, it uses visual tracking with colored highlights, has an onboard dictionary and many other features, it also keeps ...
Published: 2007 by ReadOn , Reviewed: March 05, 2008
Dyslexia My Life
This website features news and links focusing on dyslexia specifically and on learning disabilities in general. Features and links are intuitive and are designed for dyslexic readers. The site can "read" the menu for the viewer and offers books, cassettes, movies for sale, plus free articles and book reviews. Also highlighted are tips for the dyslexic student and for teachers of dyslexic students. The Yahoo search engine has compiled timely ...
Published: 2007 , Reviewed: March 09, 2009
Starfall
This resource may be very useful for those will work with students learning, or struggling to learn, how to read. Dr. Stephen Schutz, a physicist and publisher, had difficulty learning to read as a child. Dr. Schutz developed this free online resource so anyone who was learning to read would have access to reading instruction. The Starfall Method is based on research about how children learn to read from the ...
Published: 2007 by Dr. Stephen Schutz et al. , Reviewed: December 15, 2008
Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities - An Overview
This newly revised article on the greatschools website gives a very broad overview of assistive technology as it applies to learning disabilities. The article identifies a number of specific AT tools and provides parents with several questions to consider as they evaluate AT products that might be suitable for children with learning disabilities.
Published: 2006 by Kristin Stanberry and Marshall Raskind, PhD , Reviewed: March 09, 2009
Five Assistive Technologies You Should Be Aware Of
This is a list of five devices or software that can be useful to those with special needs. These are: (1) Mouth or Head Wands, (2) Speech Enabled Websites, (3) Screen Magnifiers, (4) Voice Recognition Software, and (5) The Browser. The one page handout is organized with similar information for each of the five subject areas: a definition of the device, a short description of how it is used, who ...
Published: 2006 by Nomensa , Reviewed: December 08, 2008
Full-Feature Demonstration Programs on the Internet
This 3-page article, prepared by the Butte County Office of Education in May 2006, covers 42 free full-featured demonstrations of technology that are available for trial. There are 13 different groups of devices and software including the following; AAC Support, Cursors, Graphic organizers, Keyboarding, Math Support, On-Screen Keyboards, Reading/Writing Support, Special Needs Curriculum Support, Switch Support, Text-To-Speech, Tools, Vision Support and Word Prediction. For each of these subjects one or ...
Published: 2006 by Glenda Hampton Anderson , Reviewed: February 27, 2007
Options: Turn Them On for Learning
This article addresses many common types of technology that are often overlooked when looking for ways to help children with a disability that impacts the ability to read and write. A variety of options found in software and on various operating systems are presented, with suggestions for incorporating them into classroom curricula. The four options discussed are Text to Speech, Speech Recognition, Graphic Organizers, and Visual Representations and Resources. Text ...
Published: 2006 , Reviewed: December 30, 2008
Audio Textbooks Help Students with Reading Problems Access Curriculum
In this article, John Kelly, the President and CEO of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic is interviewed with simple questions that educate readers about the organization, how to apply for membership, and what services are offered. The article provides statistics about reading disabilities and discusses reading accomodations that may be provided. The improved identification of reading disabilities and the availability of books on CD/MP3 has benefitted over 150,000 individuals ...
Published: 2006 by John Kelly , Reviewed: November 18, 2008
Askability
Askability was created when a disability-related computer company recognized that children did not fully understand current events such as the war in Iraq. This group worked together with a software development firm and created the Askability website. The site offers current news in a picture symbol format. There is national and international political news as well as news from the world of show business and sports. There is a section ...
Published: 2006 by Askability , Reviewed: November 18, 2008
Technology Helps Special Needs Kids Pass Key Test
This article highlights the advantages of using technology to provide alternative testing solutions that can be used to assess the educational progress of students with disabilities. Traditional accommodations strategies such as more time, additional breaks between questions or having test questions read aloud have been shown to be inefficient, unavailable or underutilized by the students who could benefit from these accommodations.Forward thinkers are using text-to-speech software and other software solutions ...
Published: 2005 by Corey Murray , Reviewed: December 16, 2008
Alternate Access Technology Overview
This is a website devoted to teaching about various assistive technology devices. There are demos for alternate keyboards, switches and scanning, pointers, software, and onscreen accessibility features. There is a resource guide which can be downloaded. The demos provide an overview of alternate access technology for students with disabilities. Considerations for matching technology to student needs, abilities, goals, and expectations are discussed. Webcasts allow the viewer to hear from professionals ...
Published: 2005 by SET-BC , Reviewed: June 25, 2006
Sights and Sounds Software
Sights and Sounds is a software program for use with children of all ages who have short attention spans or visual impairments. It can be used with a mouse or through switch access. Images are presented through simple, bold graphics on a plain, contrasting background. Sound effects are then generated to help teach a child to attend to sounds and images. The sounds are common to everyday situations and include: ...
Published: 2005 by ASTECH , Reviewed: March 05, 2009
Dyslexia My Life - Help for Dyslexia, Dyslexia Treatment, Dyslexia Tips, LD ...
This compendium of tips, aids and helpful lists is compiled by Girard Sagmiller, actor, professional model, motivational speaker, author of "Dyslexia My Life" -- and a dyslexic. Sagmiller reminds readers that dyslexia means "poor language" in Greek and that "it is not a disease." The assistance and advice he offers is packaged in a reader-friendly format that is eye-catching and clear. Contents are aimed not only at dyslexics but also ...
Published: 2003 by Girard Sagmiller , Reviewed: April 10, 2004