High-Tech Help
By Guernsey, Lisa; New York Times,Publication Date: January 7, 2010
Article discusses assistive technology for students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Assistive devices are described in the following categories: (1) Text to Speech, including the Intel Reader which plugs into a laptop for reading on screen text and takes snapshots of pages that are then read aloud; the ReadingPen Advanced, a scanner that glides over printed words and pronounces them through a built in speaker; GhostReader for the Macintosh computer; TextHelp Read and Write; and free programs such as TypeIt Read It and Click,Speak; (2) Speech to Text, for students having difficulty organizing thoughts into writing, such as Dragon Dictate for Mac and Dragon NaturallySpeaking for the P.C., both of which are available in an iPhone version for portability; and (3) software for organizing ideas and keeping track of tasks, including Inspiration, which uses colored graphics to help students develop outlines for writing projects; the Kurzweil 3000, similar writing software which also allows the addition of virtual sticky notes and audio recordings to on screen texts; Skoach, an online calendar and planning tool providing visual feedback to warn of impending schedule overloading; and LiveScribe Pulse SmartPen, a pen based device which makes an audio recording of a lecture simultaneously with the student’s pen marks on paper. The article cautions that assistive devices would have to be carefully chosen to accommodate the nature and degree of a student’s learning disability and advises consultation with the professional who evaluated the student.
Assistive Products Discussed: KURZWEIL 3000 FOR MACINTOSH
DRAGON NATURALLYSPEAKING
READINGPEN2
INSPIRATION
KURZWEIL 3000 FOR WINDOWS
TEXTHELP! READ & WRITE
GHOSTREADER
READ & WRITE GOLD, READ & WRITE GOLD FOR MAC, & READ & WRITE GOLD MOBILE
INTEL READER
DRAGON DICTATE FOR MAC
Published by: New York Times Company (Website:http://www.nytco.com)
Link to text: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/education/09tech-t.html
