Assistive Technology at the OCDSB
Throughout the OCDSB we are using Google products as a primary source of assistive technology, communications, and collaborative online activity. This includes Google Chrome, Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Read & Write among others. At Glebe Collegiate all of our Chromebooks offer these Google options, as well as a range of other helpful apps and extensions. This allows students to read and write with text-to-speech and speech-to-text capability. Students can hear text as they read it and/or as it is typed or have their computer automatically read an entire sentence as soon as they finish writing it. Google Read & Write also comes with predictive texting (just like cell phones), as well as an integrated dictionary, picture dictionary, translator and a fact finder that links your text to online resources to assist with research.
How can I support my student's Reading and Writing, using Assistive Technology?
Developing keyboarding skills is an essential step. There are a number of webpages that offer free instruction and games to develop these skills.
If you would like free online Assistive Technology Resources and Support for OCDSB students, families and volunteers, please visit the Ontario Network for Education (ONFE) for links, training, videos and much more.
Report abuse