Summing Up!!!

Hello everyone!

Just a quick note...

I hope you are finding this blog relevant and interesting. I have loved reading all of your comments and I hope my feedback has been useful in assisting you to meet the needs of children with writing difficulties.

Remember, it is important to thoroughly research all avenues before choosing the right assistive technology for you. Without your support and guidance these students might not have high success with writing. Simply providing your child with an assistive technology is not enough - we must train them in how to use it. 

I am off now to the Lawn Bowl Championships - I think I am in with a good chance! Wish me luck and talk to you all in a few weeks!!!!

Ciao
Miss Assistive Technology


Photo Source: http://i.ehow.com/images/a06/09/qh/assistive-technology-written-expression-disorder-200X200.jpg

Factors to Consider when Choosing an Assistive Technology

When choosing the best possible assistive technology for your child, it is important to understand your child's strengths and weaknesses as well as their likes and dislikes. A child's assistive technology needs will change depending on their environment such as home, school etc. So, from this, the perspectives of family members and teachers, as well as the child, should all be taken into consideration. 

The following questions should be considered in determining which assistive technology best suits your child:

• What does your child need to do but is unable to do because of his/her disability?
  Make sure to consider these 5 areas of functioning: physical, communication, cognitive, social/emotional, academic.
• What are your child’s customary environments? 
  (Classroom, playground, bus, gym, school cafeteria)
• What are your child’s biggest educational challenges
  (Communication, mobility, reading, writing, behavior)
• What assistive technology tools are available to help your child overcome these challenges? 
  Make sure to consider both high-tech and low-tech options.
• What criteria will be used to later determine if the AT has been successful in helping your child in his/her educational program?
• What are your child’s preferences in areas such as color and style? 
  A child may resist using a piece of equipment that he/she thinks is “nerdy” and sets him apart from the rest of the class. A device that is less conspicuous may be preferred by the child in order to better “fit-in.”

(Family Centre on Technology and Disability, 2010)

From these questions, the parent and teacher should be able to list all of the possible assistive technologies that could help and assist the child. It is usually best to try many different options before choosing an appropriate one. 

Remember that as a parent/teacher you are the child's most effective advocate. It is crucial that the parents and teacher have a collaborative relationship in order to share information about the most effective assistive technologies. Assisitve technology can be an invaluable component in your child’s daily life. They can allow children to participate more fully with their peers and increase their functionality. It is important to research and determine which assistive technology would be most beneficial to the child to ensure that he/she has every opportunity to reach their full potential (Family Centre on Technology and Disability, 2010).

Hopefully this helps you when deciding which assistive technology to use!!

Ciao 

MIss Assistive Technology

Family Centre on Technology and Disability. (2010). Family Information Guide to Assistive Technology. Retrieved 2 October, 2010 from http://www.fctd.info/resources/fig/Sec2.htm#d

Organisation Software

Students experiencing writing difficulties often have problems with the mechanics of writing, for example handwriting and spelling. Focusing on these issues sometimes inteferes with a student's ability to engage in higher order thinking processes such writing organisation.


Organisational software such as Inspiration or Spark-Space helps students to organise information and ideas through a variety of webs or concept maps on the computer screen. Inspiration includes clip art and can be used to make graphic organisers (Gunning, 2010).


Using these programs, students can enter brainstormed ideas as visual organisers which can then be used as outlines for the students to follow whilst writing. This type of software can be used to gather information before writing. Students can add new information which is automatically rearranged to present the information in a logical way. This is a motivating tool to use for the students as information can be in the form of text, images or Internet hyperlinks. This type of software can also be used to help students summarise information they have read.


Kidspiration is another program that is suitable and easy for children to use. Kidspiration is a visual means of understanding words and concepts for those students who struggle with printed text. The program aims to develop critical thinking and literacy skills as well as visual learning principles. It can strengthen the comprehension and written expression skills of the students in a fun, engaging and easy to use way. Furthermore, Kidspiration teaches students skills in clarifying their thinking as well as how to organise and priortise new information.

I hope this information is of some assistance to you. I strongly recommend you purchase organisation software as it can have such a positive influence on the childrens writing.


Source: http://hileryjane.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/kidspiratoion.jpg


Ciao
Miss Assistive Technology

Gunning, T.G. (2010). Assessing and correcting reading and writing difficulties (4^th ed). MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Word Prediction Tools

Among the things you can have never have enough of is information and resources on assistive technologies.

What is Word Prediction?

Word prediction is a great tool for struggling writers. It increases writing efficiency by helping a student during word processing by "predicting" a word he or she intends to type. Predictions are based on spelling, syntax and frequent use of word. This program prompts students with writing to use proper spelling, grammar and word choices (Stanberry & Raskind, 2009).

Most word prediction programs can be used with any word processor tool. As the student types, word prediction software begins predicting the word the student is trying to type and provides a list from which a correct word can be selected. The student can select the goal word by either clicking on it with the mouse or by typing the number of the corresponding word. If the correct word is not in the list, the student continues to type and the list of predicted words changes accordingly (Tumlin & Heller, n.a).


What are the benefits and limitations of word processors?

Word prediction software can be beneficial for students with fine motor problems or who have difficulty with handwriting and spelling. As stated by MacArthur (2000, as cited in Tumlin & Heller, n.a) he suggested that word prediction could be an option for students who could not read their own handwriting or for students whose spelling was so poor that a spell checker could not offer usable suggestions.

However, on the other hand, it is important to also acknowledge the limitations of the word prediction software. Limitations include the student needing to type the initial letter of the word correctly. Also, if the word prediction software incorrectly predicts the student's intended word, it may take longer and require more key strokes to finally have the word displayed.

From this, I feel that word prediction software can be an excellent tool to use in the classroom and at home when used correctly. It can help motivate struggling writers and provide them with the opportunity to become successful writers.

Ciao
Miss Assistive Technology

Stanberry, K. & Raskind, M. (2009). Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An overview. Retrieved 20^th September 2010 from: http://www.orpti.org/documents/Understanding%20Dyslexia_Ramsey_Betsy_asstech.pdf

Tumlin, J. & Heller,  K. (2004). Using Word Prediction Software to Increase Typing Fluency with Students with Physical Disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology, v19 n3 p5-14

Handheld Pen Scanners!

Hi all!

I've been looking at some research articles about the use of the handheld pen scanner to assist students with special needs.

What is a handheld pen scanner?

A handheld pen scanner is a type of technology that enables you to store and transfer your printed text and images onto the computer. According to Riley, Beard & Strain (2004) handheld pen scanners assist students who have minor reading and writing disabilities. The scanner is particularly beneficial for students who require assistance with reading as well as writing, as many pens have the added function of reading the word aloud to the student, and if required, reading a definition of the word (Riley et al., 2004).

How do they work?
Handheld scanners are used in a similar way to highlighters. Students simply drag the pen scanner across the text on their page and the text will be stored and available for upload on their computer, at home, school or another destination.

Pen scanners have the ability to store up to 1000 words per minute. There are different types of handheld pen scanners available in the market, each with their own functions and capabilities. In general however, handheld scanners work with a range of text, including magazines, newspapers and general classroom bookwork.

In the classroom
These scanners are particularly beneficial in the classroom. If used effectively, these scanners have the ability to reduce the cognitive load for students and allow them more time to focus on the message within the text they are focusing on, as opposed to spending significant time writing. Further, students can scan the text they are reading and upload it in a size and font best suited to their ability. However, it must be assured that students use the pen for the right reasons and familiar with how to edit the information once it is uploaded onto the computer.

Products to consider
Quicktionary
Notetaker
Iris Pen

Hope you have found this information useful and interesting! Let me know if you have used this product to assist students with special needs as I would love to hear from you!


Source: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Iu5fDLK4aLo/0.jpg

Ciao!
Miss Assistive Technology

Riley, G., Beard, L. & Strain, J. (2004). Assistive Technology at Use in the Teacher Education Programs at JacksonVille State University. Tech trends: linking research and practice to improve learning, 48 (6) 47-49.

Low-Tech Options

I have been focusing a lot on the use of high-tech assistive technologies to assist students with special needs. However, it must be noted that there are a range of low-tech options also available on the market, for use both in the classroom and at home.

As you would have seen in the video I posted in my previous blog, there are numerous types of pens, pencils and paper you can use to support your child. For example, simple adaptations like smooth writing pens that are comfortable to hold can make the difference between needing physical assistance and working independently.

Many children will benefit from special pens and pencils that are easier to hold than a standard pencil or pencil. Examples include:

• 
  
  Pen again
• 
  
  C.L.A.W
• 
  
  Ez Grip
• 
  
  Wanchick Hand-Based Writer
• 
  
  Pen and pencil weights
• 
  
  Slant boards
• 
  
  Wiki Sticks

Many students do not have the strength or coordination to hold a pen or pencil. These products therefore assist these students as they require less hand strength and the students are more easily able to control the writing implement.

Please watch the video in my previous blog and consider some of the options I have listed above. Often, a small accomodation will make a huge difference!

Before you go, check out my 'word cloud'. I created this cloud using Wordle as I thought it would be a beneficial way to represent some of the low-tech options discussed.

Ciao

Miss Assistive Technology

Video - Low Tech Options for Assistive Technologies

Last night I was searching youtube and found this really insightful and engaging video on low-tech options for assistive technologies. It clearly provides a wide variety of low-tech options such as adaptive pens, pencils and paper, that can be used to help and assist struggling writers.




Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojuwycONC_4


Happy Watching!!!


Ciao
Miss Assistive Technology