Writing
What are Assistive Technology Tools for Writing?
There is a wide range of assistive technology (AT) tools available to help students who struggle with writing. Some of these tools help students circumvent the actual physical task of writing, while others facilitate proper spelling, punctuation, grammar, word usage, and organization.
A variety of low-tech tools should first be considered when supporting students with writing disabilities, possibilities that may help a student with writing difficulties may include:
Short Pencil Stub
Pencil Grips
Adapted Pencils
Word Spacers
Talking Dictionary
Graphic Organizers
Slanted Writing Boards/Surfaces
Tactile Letters
Sentence Strips
Wrist Weight/s
Raised Lines
Information taken from Reading Rockets and Parents, Let's Unite for Our Kids, 08/2017
High-Tech Tools
Chromebook Accessibility provides a wonderful way to customize your Chromebook with a variety of tools to aid writing and written expression.
Co:Writer Universal for Google Chrome uses grammar- and vocabulary-smart word prediction to help students better express their ideas in writing across devices.
Claro Speak: A simple text-to-speech reader with editing, proofing, speaking dictionary, color changing and word prediction.
Clicker is a child-friendly writing tool that enables students of all abilities to significantly develop their literacy skills. You can now choose eye gaze within Clicker 8 as your student's input method and give your eye gaze users access to personalized literacy support across the curriculum.
Popplet is a tool that allows users to visualize ideas. Teachers and students can create graphic organizers, timelines, and many other forms of visual organization and as a collaborative brainstorming tool.
With SnapType, students can take a picture of their worksheets, or import worksheets from anywhere on their device. They can then use their iOS device keyboard to add text to these documents and print, email, or share their creations.
Graphic Organizers: A graphic organizer is a tool that shares information, explains a concept, or illustrates a relationship using elements including images, shapes, text, colors, and connecting lines.
Helpful Websites & Resources
Electronic Graphic Organizers
Here are a variety of electronic graphic organizers available for teacher/student use.
Add information to the gray boxes and compose written responses all within the convenience of a Google Doc!
Click on an organizer to make your own copy!
Topic, Details, Conclusion
Hamburger - style organizer
Venn Diagram
Fact or Opinion?
More to add? Please email us!
Tools to Improve the Final Product
Google Docs - Now offers the option to check your spelling and grammar, then accept or ignore the corrections.
LanguageTool offers both spelling and grammar checking via a number of electronic options as a website, a Google Chrome extension, a Google Doc add-on, a Firefox add-on, or as a desktop application.
