Aligning Assistive Technology :Aligning Assistive Technology strategies resourcestools


Slide 2:matched device Common Instruction Challenges Experienced by Students with Mild Disabilities


Slide 4:Reading Poor decoding/fluency Interferes with Comprehensions with


Slide 5:Matched Device ReadPlease http://www.readplease.com (Free software, teaches to copy and paste text so then can listen) Key to Access http://www.premier-programming.com (Accessibility software on a pocket-size USB DRIVE goes everywhere) Kurzweil 3000 http://www.kurzweiledu.com (A scan/read system:converts printed text into digital text) Read and Write Gold http://www.texthelp.com (A software suite designed to support struggling reader/writer) Solo http://www.donjohnston.com A software suite designed to support struggling reader/writer)


Slide 6:Difficulty reading grade level curriculum materials Windows to the Universe http://www.windows.ucar.edu/ (Features multi-level reading material on space) StarChild http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html (Features multi-level reading material and audio version of level 1) Ben's Guide to US Government http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ (Features multi-grade level reading material on government)


Slide 7:Spark Notes http://www.sparknotes.com (A collection of notes, resources, summaries, and study aides) Cognitive Rescaling http://www.uwm.edu~edyburn/Cognitiverscaling.pdf (A how-to-document on making summaries with Microsoft Word) Difficulty with the volume of reading demands


Poor Vocabulary Makes it difficult to access ideas :Poor Vocabulary Makes it difficult to access ideas Voycabulary http://www.voycabulary.com (Converts any web page into clickable text to access definitions) Merriam-Webster Toolbar http://www.mw.com/tools/toobar (Adds a dictionary to your web browser) Visual Thesaurus http://www.visualthesaurus.com Software and web site to graphically display synonyms and more)


Slide 9:Recognize the need to intervene when performance remains low Motivate yourself and your student by referring websites available first hand in all IEP meetings to help: ENHANCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE EMPOWER STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE


Slide 10:Current Events Low reading level makes it difficult to access current events - News 2 You http: / / www.news-2-you.com (A subscription service that provides a weekly newsletter with symbols) 9 http://9.yahoo.com (A free 4 minute daily video of what's new and noteworthy)


Slide 11:More on current events Newsmap http://wwvv.marumushi.com/apps/newsmap/newsmap.cfm (Access news via a color coded map) Ten by Ten http: / / www.tenbyten.org/ (Access news via a 10x10 grid of photos that represent the news story)


WRITING :WRITING Difficulty planning / organizing the tasks associated with a research project Assignment Calculator http: / / www.lib.umn.edu / help / calculator/ (An innovative tool to break a large project into manageable daily tasks) So You Have to... http://www.ri.net/schools/East_Greenwich/research.html (A teacher created web site with step by step guidance and resources)


Difficulty getting ideas on paper to get started :Difficulty getting ideas on paper to get started Inspiration, Kidspiration http://www.inspiration.com (Graphic organizers provide a great way to brainstorm and organize) Graphic organizers http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ (Ready to reproduce graphic organizers)


Difficulty in the process of composing written work :Difficulty in the process of composing written work PixWriter http://www.slatersoftvvare.com/pixwriter. (A word processor designed for emerging readers and writers) Scholastic Keys http://www.tomsnyder.com (Provides developmental and cognitive access to Microsoft Word) Co: Writer http: / / www.donjohnston.com (A predictive word processor) iDictate http: / / www.idictate.com (A dictation service; dictate over the phone, receive draft via email)


MATH :MATH Difficulty with computations WebMath http://www.webmath.com (Free calculating tool that supports math from grade to graduate school Difficulty with math concepts Interactive Math http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/vlibrary.html (Free online virtual math manipulatives, makes the abstract concrete)


Slide 16:Reference: Special Education Technology Practice September/October 2006