What Assistive Technology Do I Need and What Is It?

Information

              **Assistive Technology?**

**What does the term assistive technology mean? “Assistive technology is any device that helps a person with a disability complete an everyday task” (PBS, 2016).

Humankind has been utilizing the resources around them for millenniums. People have been using fire to heat sustenance and stones to hunt. Pencil and paper can also be considered an assistive technology. However, it would be a low tech; nevertheless, a technology. When people hear the word's assistive technology, they often think of a computer. They would be right; this is referred to as high tech.**

References: PBS. (2016). Assistive technology. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/strategies-for-learning-disabilities/assistive-technology/

                LOW TECH:

Using a rubber band to position a hand to write properly

Using a stand to hold a book

Calendar

Pen and Paper

               HIGH TECH:

Computer

Software

Tablet

Hand-held dictionary/spellers

If it uses electricity, or a battery it is usually considered a high tech item

          In the high tech category, you have two sections:

Software: Microsoft Office and OpenOffice

Hardware: Kindle Fire Tablet, Apple Mac Book

 When it comes to assistive tech for dyslexia, seven types are commonly seen.

Text-to-speech: “Speech synthesis, commonly known as text-to-speech (TTS), is the artificial production of human speech. Nowadays you can find a number of apps and programs that use a speech synthesizer to provide a text-to-speech service” (Mitzner, 2014). A great website, which goes into more detail about text-to-speech: http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/software-assistive-technology/text-to-speech-readers . An (OCR) program is used with text-to-speech. You scan images with your phone, or scanner and the (OCR) takes the words out of the image. Then you can take those words and put them into your text-to-speech program.
References: Mitzner, D. (2014). Text-To-Speech apps aid students with dyslexia. Retrieved from http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile-and-wireless/text-to-speech-apps-aid-students-with-dyslexia/a/d-id/1315720
University of Michigan. (2016). 10 helpful text-to-speech readers. Retrieved from http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/software-assistive-technology/text-to-speech-readers
Speech Recognition (speech-to-text) This is a software program that converts voice symbols into written text: Dragon NaturallySpeaking. You might hear someone, or a website use the term voice dictation; they are usually referring to speech recognition. Websites that have a list of available speech recognition programs: http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/software-assistive-technology and http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/2016/09/88-assistive-technology-tools-for.html
Grammar & Spelling This type of software helps support spelling and grammar in written text; it often shows corrections to the user: Ghotit Real Writer & Reader, VeritySpell and Co:Writer. Word Prediction is often placed into its own category, but it is frequently used in many grammar and spelling applications: WordQ. Websites that have a list of available grammar and spelling programs: http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/software-assistive-technology and http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/2016/09/88-assistive-technology-tools-for.html
Productivity, Organizers and Note taking This can be a note taking application: Xmind, Evernote, Super Note and Freemind. It can also be an organizer, that allows you to store information: Microsoft OneDrive and DropBox. There are even applications, which remind the user of something and gives them specific types of notifications. A website that has a list of available applications: http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/software-assistive-technology and http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/2016/09/88-assistive-technology-tools-for.html
Calculators These types of applications will read the math problem, show step-by-step instruction, or answer the problem for you: ModMath and PhotoMath. A website that has a list of available applications: http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/software-assistive-technology and http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/2016/09/88-assistive-technology-tools-for.html
Recorders This can be hardware, or an application on a smart phone. It simply records sound, and/or video. There are also smart pens that records what you write. A website that has a list of available applications: http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/software-assistive-technology and http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/2016/09/88-assistive-technology-tools-for.html
Visual Aides (overlays, dyslexic fonts, and contrast software) This can be many things, but it usually deals with changing the appearance of your screen: It could change a websites font, or change the background color of your computer.

References:

The University of Michigan. (2016). Software & assistive technology. Retrieved from http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/tools/software-assistive-technology

Warren, E. (2016). 88 assistive technology tools for struggling learners. Retrieved from http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/2016/09/88-assistive-technology-tools-for.html

 There are packages that sell software in bundles: Don Johnston Inc and Kurzweil 3000.

However, these are usually expensive. These can commonly be seen in certain schools and occupations. I do predict that this will become more common and less expensive in the future. Please, check the price of something, and think about the hardware you have: Apple or Microsoft. There are applications, which are only for certain operating systems. Unfortunately, few applications are designed for Linux. I have researched thousands of websites; the resources I posted are some of the most detailed and comprehensive:

Alternative To http://alternativeto.net/

BDA tech.org https://bdatech.org/what-technology/

Understood https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics and https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics/assistive-technology-platforms-what-you-need-to-know

Dyslexia Reading Well http://www.dyslexia-reading-well.com/assistive-technology.html

MITS Freedom Stick http://mits.cenmi.org/Resources/MITSFreedomStick.aspx

Tech Potential Toolbox http://www.techpotential.net/attoolbox

The Dyslexic Codpast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvB8vaotT5xD9OmovdrvIdA

Crossbow Education http://www.crossboweducation.us/

Dyslexic.com http://www.dyslexic.com/

Dyslexic Kids http://www.dyslexickids.net/_Assistive_tech_.html

Abilitynet https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk/

KNFB Reading Technology http://beta.knfbreader.com/index.php

Therapy shoppe https://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/1676-reading-writing-tools-special-needs-kids-students-ot

Speech Recognition as AT for Writing Consider it, try it, assess it, Implement it guide http://pub.lucidpress.com/2f091482-82da-44a9-b8da-0f9c52f81482/#kDXU0y0swYzB

Posted Nov 7, 2016, 8:19 AM UTC · edited