Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

Using Assistive Technology - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Microsoft Immersive Reader: Kids can listen to text read aloud in several Microsoft applications. Words are highlighted as they’re read aloud, making it easier for kids to follow along. The line focus option hides all but a few lines of the screen while kids are reading, to reduce distraction. When kids click on a word, they can hear the word read aloud and see a picture of what it means. This is in addition to the standard dictionary and thesaurus tools already in Microsoft Word.
      - Bookshare Web Reader: Kids can listen as Bookshare e-text is read aloud. Words are highlighted as they’re spoken, making it easier for kids to follow along. Kids can control how text is displayed. Text size, font, line spacing, and margins can all be customized. The color of the text and background can also be changed.
      - NaturalReader: Kids can listen to webpages and various documents read aloud by computer voices. Selected text is copied to a separate floating window where it can be reformatted and saved. Kids can scan up to 30 documents for reading. Kids can control how text is displayed in the floating window. Text size, font, line spacing, and margins can all be customized. The color of the text and background can also be changed.
      - Voice Dream Reader: Kids can listen to documents read aloud by computer voices. The words are highlighted as they are read aloud, making it easier for kids to follow along. Documents can be downloaded directly from Bookshare as well as from Google Drive and other sources.
      - Read&Write: Kids can listen to webpages and various documents read aloud. The words are highlighted as they’re spoken, making it easier for kids to follow along.
  - - - Ignite Math: Ignite! Math is a multimedia approach to strengthening crucial math skills like identifying angles and working with fractions. It also helps students develop thinking skills that are applicable outside of math, like the ability to compare and contrast. Ignite! can be used for individual students, small groups, or even whole classes working together.
      - ModuMath: ModuMath’s lesson model is interactive: embedded in each audio-visual lesson are comprehension questions that allow the program to pace itself according to the needs of the individual learner. The program can be used on campus, or the online version can provide for independent study at home.
      - Timez Attack: Timez Attack is a fun game that helps students develop a solid basis of foundational math facts, such as the multiplication tables and addition/subtraction problems. This allows students to move on to higher level topics more easily.
      - To Market, To Market: To Market, To Market provides an engaging environment in which children can capitalize on their intuitive sense of quantity, size, and number and further develop knowledge about the world of numbers. Children don’t have to be able to read well in order to enjoy the program, and an animated signing figure is provided for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
      - GeoGebra: Using digital graph paper, kids can type equations to draw graphs, plot points, and draw lines and curves. Kids can draw objects such as polygons, ellipses, lines, and curves often used in geometry, and then label their drawings.
      - Mathshare: Students are prompted to solve multi-step math problems by breaking the problem into smaller parts. Students can also explain their thinking on each step via typing or dictation. This allows the teacher to see the student’s reasoning and identify which steps the student has and hasn’t mastered.
  - - - Grammarly: Kids can get suggestions on how to fix possible errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
      - Co:Writer: This program reads aloud each word and sentence as it’s typed to provide real-time feedback.
      - Read&Write: As the student types, the program reads aloud individual words and the entire sentence using kids’ TTS voices. Words are also highlighted as they’re spoken.
      - Inspiration: Kids can brainstorm and organize their ideas as an outline, a diagram, or a mind map. Ideas can be represented by text, symbols, and pictures.
      - Kurzweil 3000: As the student types, the program reads aloud individual words and the entire sentence using kids’ TTS voices. Words are also highlighted as they’re spoken. The program predicts words based on frequency of use. It also offers lists to help kids with choosing words. Kids can combine the dictation tool with word prediction when writing. As they speak words to write, the program suggests words for them to use.
- - - - Notability is an assistive technology that allows its users to take notes more effectively. Those suffering from ADD/ADHD may find themselves in a position where they are unable to concentrate which ultimately causes them to take poor notes. This assistive technology is best for those that tend to forget stuff more often along with students, teachers, and office workers. Some of Notability’s key features include combining handwritten notes, photos and typing single notes, exploring ideas with different tools available through the software, finalizing details by zooming on specific areas or combining big pictures etc
    - - The use of notebooks and clipboards can help students to note down what they've learned. It helps them to concentrate in the class. Teaching note-taking skills is also necessary.
    - - Sonocent is an audio and visual tool that breaks up recorded audio of a class into manageable chunks. The student can revise the information by adding their own notes, related PDFs, webpages or other files to chunks of audio. By bringing together information into one place Audio Notetaker also assists in the organisation of information. The student has the opportunity to test their knowledge of information.
    - - The Livescribe Pen captures the audio in the classroom, which can then be uploaded, and shared, online. Students can tap on the notes they took during class and hear the audio recorded at the moment they were writing. The pen is helpful for students who don’t catch the main points during class.
  - - - Educators can stop prompting and issuing reminders to students struggling with a short attention span. Your students can be put in charge of their own reminder with quiet programmable aids like a vibrating watch. On a fixed interval, students can receive simple reminders to refocus on their classwork without letting other students know. This gives students control, takes the pressure away from teachers, and helps them to succeed academically all in one fell swoop.
    - - Time Timer is an assistive technology that is built for those that easily lose track of time or get distracted in what they are doing. Individuals suffering from ADD/ADHD can use this assistive technology to help them keep track of their time. Some of the key features of this assistive technology is its 60 minutes visual timer that includes a re-disk to show exactly how much time is left, it includes no ticking noise like other timers but does include an alert option for those that would like to use it. Time Timer is perfect for students, teachers, and even parents that either suffer from ADD/ADHD or have some close that is suffering. Students can use it when they are working on their homework or doing some other activates so that they can time themselves or practice timing themselves to get certain tasks done. Furthermore, teachers or professors can use it to time themselves or their students in a classroom setting along with parents that can use Time Timer in order to discipline their kids or help them to build a habit of finishing their tasks on time.
    - - Students can hear the timer ticks as time goes by. An alternative is the timer on student iPads. It works for some of my students. The weakness is that it could disrupt the other students.
    - - Isolator is an amazing assistive technology that is made in order for individuals to concentrate on their work. This assistive technology is a perfect tool for those suffering from ADD/ADHD as it allows them to concentrate on their work rather than other things. Isolator is basically a small menu bar application that is turned on when you don’t want to be distracted. It will cover up the desktop and all of the icons on it and others windows of all the other applications that might be open so that the user can concentrate on their work. After the user is done their work, they easily turn the Isolator off.
  - - - Speech synthesizers/screen reader systems can display and read aloud text on a computer screen, including text that has been typed by a student, scanned in from printed pages (books, letters), or material from the Internet.
        Products to consider: Aspire Reader 4.0 (axistive.com), ClassMate Reader (humanware.com), and Read&Write Gold (texthelp.com).
        
        WizCom Tech Pen is an assistive technology that is built for those individuals that need help with tough words or vocabulary. Individuals suffering from ADD/ADHD can sue this assistive technology to improve on their vocab, especially students and teachers who may need it for themselves for others as they interact in a classroom setting. Some of the key features of WizCom Tech Pen is that it allows its users to scan the word or line of text and then reads it out to them, helps in reading fluency and comprehension, speaks and shows letter by spelling, synonyms and definition of scanned words or line of text, includes translation of English to Spanish and much more.
    - - Portable word processors are lightweight devices that look like a computer keyboard with a screen. They can be helpful to children with ADHD who have trouble with handwriting. These battery-powered machines can be brought to school for note-taking and writing assignments. At home, files can be transferred to a PC or Mac. Some portable word processors come pre-loaded with word prediction and text-to-speech software.
        Products to consider: AlphaSmart Writer Learning Neo (renlearn.com).
    - - Word-prediction software “predicts” the word the user intends to type, expanding his vocabulary and improving written expression. These programs can assist students with ADHD in producing grammatically correct and topic-specific sentences and paragraphs on a word processor.
        Products to consider: Co:Writer (donjohnston.com), EZ Keys (words-plus.com), and WordQ (wordq.com).
        
        WordQ aids with typing and proofreading by providing such features as word prediction, highlighting, and auditory feedback. The program reads text aloud as the user types. Students are less likely to miss errors in their work if they hear their writing spoken aloud. If they get stuck on spelling, WordQ provides help.
    - - Speech-recognition programs allow a student to read aloud into a microphone and see his words appear on a computer screen. The software is especially helpful for students whose oral language skills are superior to their writing skills.
        Products to consider: Dragon NaturallySpeaking (nuance.com), Simply Speaking (simplyspeakinginc.com), and ViaVoice
- - - - For children who struggle to communicate verbally, there are different types of technology that can provide them with their own voice:
        
        Apps for tablets that 'speak' words a child selects on the screen
        
        iLearn, iPlay, iGrow
        
        www.abcya.com
        
        iSpeech, Web Reader HD, Voice Dream Reader
        
        A single-message device, consisting of a simple button with a built-in system. It records a message to help the child communicate with others.
  - - - MOBILITY AIDS
- - - - speech to text
        
        About the App
        Speech to text is an voice recognition technology that recognises the speech, it allows speech as the main means of communication between the human and computer
        Speech to text software transcribes spoken word into computer text allowing student to bypass the demand of writing and handwriting
        Speech to text provides an alternative access to computer for individuals with physical impairment.
        
        Who can use speech to text
        Students who have
        • Learning disabilities, including dyslexia and dysgraphia
        • Repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
        • Poor or limited motor skills
        • Vision impairments
        • Physical disabilities
        • Limited English Language
        
        Benefits of Speech to Text
        
        Improved access
        Students who have motor skills limitation, physical disabilities, low incidence disability( blindness/low ) find it easy to write and navigate the computer and it helps them gain access to learning.
        
        Increased independence
        Students with physical disabilities, poor motor skills and learning disability more than often would need support in writing. Text to speech gives them the independence to do it themselves. The text to speech has an extension of speech to text. Students can hear what they have written and then make the necessary changes themselves. It makes learner more independent.
        
        Writing production
        Speech to text help students especially with dysgraphia a better way to express his thoughts and ideas. It helps students with learning disability to complete longer task as they are just focused on one task of processing thought
        
        Mechanics of writing
        Speech to text works with word processor’s abilities and as a result it helps reduce the difficulties that student face with writing especially spelling errors, illegible handwriting, and grammatical errors of like skipping over words and helping student focus without thinking about other technical writing components
        
        Decreased anxiety
        Often student with learning disability have anxiety/ low self-esteem about their ability to write or create any work. Speech to text helps students by removing the barrier editing as the word recognition and text to speech helps them in both the area.
        
        Improvements in core reading and writing abilities
        Speech to text often serves as a remedial function in areas of reading and writing. Seeing the words as they dictate helps student gain insight into important elements of phonemic awareness, such a sound- symbol correspondence. It shows a direct relationship between sound and the word.
        
        Availability of the App
        Speech to text can be found in Google chrome extension and windows extension.once added it can be used in all the programs.
    - - Assistive Technology for Hearing Impaired
        
        Types of hearing technology
        There are three types of technologies that can aid students living with hearing loss in the classroom: assistive listening devices, augmentative and alternative communication devices and alerting devices.
        
        Assistive Listening Devices
        “Assistive learning devices help amplify the sounds you want to hear, especially where there’s a lot of background noise,”
        
        Types of assistive listening device
        
        Audio induction or hearing loop
        Transmits sound via a microphone, an amplifier and wiring that encircles the seating (or listening!) area. It can also be used at counters and other smaller spaces to improve one-on-one communication.
        Loops work by eliminating background noise, allowing the listener to hear the speaker's voice clearly.
        
        FM system
        Transmits sound wirelessly via radio waves.
        The speaker wears a compact transmitter and microphone and the listener wears a portable receiver.
        The receiver may have a headphone, neck loop or other accessories.
        Commonly used for group meetings, church settings, conferences and classes. It may be used both indoors and outdoors
        
        Infrared system
        Transmits sound wirelessly via invisible light beams.
        The receiver must be in direct line of sight of the light beam from the transmitter.
        
        Personal amplified system
        A portable device that transmits sound via a microphone and transmitter to headphones, an earphone or a neck loop.
        Useful for one-on-one conversations or TV listening.
        
        Bluetooth system
        Transmits sound via Wi-Fi.
        Works directly with hearing aids that have Bluetooth.
        Individuals with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids can use a smartphone or tablet with earphones to connect to the wirelessly transmitted sound.
        
        Benefits
        Improved “signal to noise ratio”: These systems make it easier to hear the person who is talking
        over all of the background noise
        Personal systems reduce the distance sound has to travel to get to students’ ears to just the distance between the mouth of the person talking and the microphone.
        
        When should HATs be used?
        Any time a student is supposed to tune in to one speaker
        Younger classes: circle time, story time
        Older classes: lectures, class discussions
        
        When should HAT NOT be used?
        Any time there is not one clear speaker who all students need to listen to
        Younger classes: Center time and free play
        Older classes: Independent work time when teachers circulate and provide help to all
    - - what is wiggly seat?
        Wobble cushions, wiggle seats, fidget seat, and balance discs are the same thing. It is an inflated disk, often covered in a bumpy texture, which is put on the chair to sit on
        
        Who can use the wiggly seat
        Wiggle seats have long been used with kids that have known sensory issues or difficulties, which often includes kids with Autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). As all of those groups may have difficulty sitting still, attention challenges, low core strength, and difficulty balancing.
        
        How wiggly seats help
        
        ENCOURAGE FOCUS FOR LONGER STRETCHES
        The wiggle seat provides sensory simulation and helps moderate the wiggles. Wiggly cushion allows discreet movement for students who have trouble sitting, the need for movement is met. once the sensory need of movement is met the student is able to focus for longer time.
        
        Reduces distraction
        Wobble cushions give just enough wobble and wiggle to keep kids moving without being distracting to other’s around them. That movement actually gives vestibular input, as well as proprioceptive input.
        
        ENHANCE POSTURE:
        • The wiggly cushion tilts the pelvis and spine upwards, the Spiky Tactile Cushion demands constant wiggling . This engages the muscles of the stomach and back nearly constantly, this helps students to develop a better posture and core strength. Wiggly cushions also helps in developing the body balance.
        
        When to use Wiggly seat
        At their desk or table at school
        Story time at the library
        Completing homework
        Working on arts and crafts projects
        Playing board games
        Building puzzles
        Anytime, simply for sensory stimulation or as part of your child’s sensory need
        
        Limitation
        The wiggly seats best with younger students especially in elementary. with high needs in middle school. In high school wiggly seat is very rarely used