Assistive Technology
Writng Resources
ClaroSpeak Software is a great resource for reading and writing. This software provides high-quality format controls, text-to-speech, different fonts, and font styles. ClaroSpeak is also great for highlighting while the words are being spoken. This software also provides word prediction for writing, along with proofreading through listening and creating audio files. This software helps students learn new words with the Word Prediciton lists, helps them with spelling with autocorrect, and helps change the font and layout to make writing easier for the student. This software is very easy to download and use!
Voice Dream is one of the best resources when helping students writing. This resource speaks to you as you type. When you type the word, it says it out-loud to help you understand more of what you are typing and that it makes sense. This is great for students who may not be able to hold a pencil to write on paper. They can use an iPad and touch the keys to make the words, Voice Dream will then take those words and have them spoken out-loud as you type. This resource is also great for proofreading, formatting, outlines, word finder, helps minimize distraction, and helps motivate the students when typing. This app will give the student the confidence they need to write that paper/assignment!
This amazing resource helps each student reach their full potential when writing. This resource is useful in each subject and offers support with tasks in reading and writing. There are a wide variety of tools for the student to use when writing. Some of these tools include proofreading and researching for assignments. This is also a great way for students to gain the independence they need. It helps build the student's vocabulary, voice notes, every student in the classroom can use it, and gives more of a persionalized instruction expereince.
Reading Resources
Bookshare is such an awesome resource! It allows reading to be so much easier for students with disabilities. This resource customizes your own learning preferences to suit your learning style. It allows you use almost every book they need for school or for casual reading and turn it into an audio book. This is great for students with dyslexia, blindness, cerebal palsy, and others who may have barrieres when it comes to reading out of a book. Bookshare has audio books, one of the largest libraries for books, allows you to read anywhere, and is free for Students and schools! It is easy to use and helps students maximize their learning experience!
Learning Ally is a great audio book resource! Students all over the world use this resource to help better their reading experience. Learning Ally makes reading enjoyable for students with disabilites that may make it harder for them to read. Learning Ally has a wide variety of books from text books, literature, fiction, and non fiction. Learning Ally also has tools and resources/tips to help educators who may be distributing this resource in class. It helps customize launch plans and engagement managers to maxamize your students learning! Learning Ally also tracks the student's progress to see if they are improving or need more help in certain areas. This is a ll around great and easy resource to use!
iSPeech is used for audio books, voice recordings, text-to-speech tools, and different languages. The audio books can be read in a human voice, robotic voice, or in a different language. This is great for students whose first language may not be english. The text to speech tool allows you to convert your written text into speech. This can be used for both reading and writing. iSpeech uses high quality audio to give the best sound possible for students. iSpeech also has three different reading speeds to meat the needs of students. There are also options for male/female voices, which ever the student may prever. iSpeech allows you to take your downloaded PDFs, E-Books, Plain Text and transform it into voice audio.
Organization Resources
OneNote is a microsoft software to help students stay organized in the classroom. OneNote sorts your content across different online notebooks, sections, and pages. OneNote allows you to highlight important notes and attach 'to-do' tags for things you don't want to forget! There is also a place for you to draw your ideas and notes by using a stylus pen or your finger. This technology software allows students to record their notes, insert videos into their notes, add different files, and share with their peers or educator! This software is very diverse and tries to meet the needs for each student by having a variety of ways for taking notes, having reminders, and sharing your ideas.
Memo to Me is a simple app, but yet so useful. This app helps remind you of important assignments that you may have or a meeting/appointment. Memo to Me also allows for indepence with students with disabilites. They have to make their own memo to help organize and manage their time throughout the day. This also helps them udnerstand the importance of due dates and time management. Memo Reminders work with your computer, iPad, and cellphone which will make it easy for students to use in and outside of the school setting. This app is simple and easy to use.
Any Do is the best and easiest way to organize your everyday life! This app has an easy to use calendar where you can put important events/assignments that are coming up. Any Do also allows you to organize with others around you wherever you are. This app is synced on all of your own devices to make it easy to keep track of things. This app also has reminders that can be created to help remember important things throughout time. Within each day is a daily planner to help students stay on task and know what homework they have to do for tomorrow. This will help keep students focused and organized and gives them independence in filling out their own planner/reminders.