Tier 1 Writing AT & UDL
Components of Written Output
Accessible Technology that is designed with a wide range of users in mind including built in accessibility options.
UDL and AT perspective Kirk Behnke and Joy Zabala, Sept. 29, 2018
Assistive Technology relates to individual needs and has a legal definition that specifically connects it to disability and relates to individual needs.
Accessible Technology can be used by anyone and has design features that expand use to people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities
Accessible Technology is directly usable without assistive technology or is made through interoperability with assistive technology
Formulating ideas:
Offer images, video
Sentence starters
Drawing
Brainstorming App (Inspiration, Kidspiration, MindMap Extension, iBrainstorm App iOS)
Free writing (with or without technology)
Listing key words
Mind maps/graphic organizers/cluster mapping
Flow charts
KWL charts
Write About App
Voice Note Annotation
Visualizing: creating a mental picture, which is critical for processing and absorbing information
Drawing pen and paper
Utilize tablet with touch screen and Apple pencil
Camera app
Pic Collage EDU app
Kidspiration/Inspiration (bring in a picture)
Brainstorming
Group brainstorming
Flow charts
Mind maps
Google Drive collaborative brainstorming
Background information
Graphic Organizers
WH questions
Highlighting/Extracting/Note making/Generate vocabulary lists (R&W4G extension)
Flipped Classrooms
ReadWriteThink website
Youtube EDU
Kahoot!
Fine/Motor
Slantboard / or 4" binders
Offer different sized pens, various pencil grips, markers, crayons
Offer lined paper or graph paper to enhance motor output while writing
Standing, sitting options while writing
Offer options to write at a desk while seated, standing at the white board, using a slant board or clipboard
Offer activities that engage all the senses while writing (write in sand, on handheld chalkboard)
Typing (direct selection) in to a tablet, laptop or chromebook using Google docs, other word processing
Provide copy of notes, digital copies uploaded to content management system (e.g. Google Classroom or Showbie)
Offer accessibility options in a Universally Designed device including speech to text, word completion, text enhancement, sticky keys, key repeat rates that enhance output
Spelling
Word walls
Use spell check on tablet, laptop or chromebook
Word completion on a tablet, laptop or chromebook
Editing
Drafts created on tablet, laptop or chromebook (not retyping from a handwritten draft page, generate and complete the draft with technology)
Offer read aloud of the digital text to aid in editing
Take advantage of spell check and built in thesaurus, dictionaries etc
Explicit teaching in copying/pasting, formatting, with or without model documents or templates
Offer development of drafts/final documents in a collaborative interface where teacher can offer input and feedback remotely (with voice notes, text notes etc)
Development of documents in Google Drive (for example ) allows automatic saving which enhances completion and ability to locate and revise documents easily
Organization
Use graphic organizers (hard copy or digital)
Sentence starters
Templates / exemplars of quality documents to follow format
Digital brainstorming tools offer ability to generate ideas randomly then collect and organize thought bubbles to develop into text