Assistive Technology Roundtable

1. Assistive Technology Roundtable January 31, 2014 Writing Solutions Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit

2. Join Me! • Did you get the presentation loaded? • Help me to trust you.

3. What is the AT Roundtable? • Series of 3 workshops • Thursday, October 31, 2013 • Wednesday, April 23, 2014 • 8:30- 3:00; AM refreshments and lunch • Raising awareness, building local capacity • AT content, demos, hands-on • Lots of info, yet informal • Will continue next year with new content focus

4. Today’s Objectives • Awareness of a range of AT solutions for writing for students with varying levels of ability • Demonstrate the use and application of several programs to aid writing

5. Joining Us Today. . . • From Texthelp; 11:00 • Jeff Greaves • jgreaves@texthelp.com • 888-248-0652, ext. 3323

6. Joining Us Today. . . • From Don Johnston; 1:00 • Beth Kalish • bkalish@donjohnston.com • 847-740-0749, ext. 538

7. AT Services “Any services that directly assist in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.” AT Device “Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.” (PL 100-407, Section 3, 1988) Definitions

8. And in English? • Any tool that helps you to accommodate a student’s needs so that: • Curricular demands are met • IEP goals are attained • Communication is aided • Independence is fostered

9. When Should AT Be Considered? • During the IEP/IFSP process • When a disability impacts the performance or potential of a person in any of several areas: • Play • Accessing environments • Communication • Writing • Accessing print and auditory information • When progress is flat or negative in direction • After someone asks “Should we consider AT?”

10. No/Low-Tech Writing Tools • Highlighter tapes & pens • Specialized paper • Specialized pencils/pens • Post-It notes • Pencil grips • Picture/text cards • Signature guides • Graphic organizers • Pencil toppers • Labels

11. Mid-Tech Writing Tools • Portable keyboards • Spell checkers • Scan/Store/Send pens • Label machines

12. High-Tech Writing Tools • Computer software • Word processors • Speech recognition • Word prediction • Scan or scan-and-read • Alternate input devices • Touchscreens • AAC devices • Magnifiers/CCTVs

13. Words of Caution • High-tech is not automatically synonymous with appropriate or useful • Technology does not replace instruction • Assistive technology can’t work if it isn’t used • “Buy-in” is everything • Success is not instantaneous • “One size does not fit all”

14. Try This! Write a paragraph about your family’s holiday traditions, past and/or present. • Use the lined tablet paper. • Cover one eye. • Use your non-dominant hand. • Write legibly. • Spell words correctly. • Use seven words that have five or more syllables. • Be ready to share in 3 minutes.

15. The Challenge • Introduced challenges to the mechanics • Vision, dominant hand, legibility, rate • Introduced challenges to the process • Vocabulary, spelling, audience, speed

16. Why Focus on Writing? • Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening apply to ALL students. • Writing is a means used to measure achievement. • Writing is an important life skill. • Many students struggle with this skill. • Writing is difficult • Writing is a complex process

17. Challenges Teaching Struggling Writers Students with disabilities especially have difficulty in processing and organizing written information • Writing performance is often lower than reading performance • Many have poor selective attention • Many have poor long- and short-term memory • Most don’t use strategies effectively • Many expect to fail • ALL have something to tell (Graham & Harris, 1997; Isaacson, 2006)

18. Who Do We Mean by All? Who are struggling writers • Poor readers? • Poor spellers? • Fine motor problems? • Attention problems? • Students on the Autism Spectrum? • Learners with physical disabilities? • Students who are blind or visually impaired? • Learners who are deaf or hard of hearing?

19. Making Technology Work • Determine the student needs and goals • Investigate application features • Match student needs to AT features

20. Consider Features Needed • Feature matching is the systematic process by which a person’s strengths, abilities and needs are matched to available tools and strategies. (Shane & Costello, 1994) • There is no exhaustive feature list out there! But familiarity with commonly-found features is a good way to approach AT decision-making.

21. Feature Terminology is Powerful • Knowing the product name you want only answers “What AT?” • Knowing the features - and seeking data on the effectiveness of features in overcoming barriers – answers “Why this AT?” or “Why not?” • The research on AT and AAC provided evidence of effective features, not effective products. • Data collection from AT trials does the same.

22. The BIG Disclaimers • What you see is NOT all you can get • Other products include features that will: • Do some things in a better way • Do some things in the same way • Do some things in a worse way • Do some totally different things • This is NOT a list of recommendations or a shopping list

23. Tools of The Trade Writing Solutions

24. Papers • LoTTIE Special Papers Kit • Grid/graph paper • Raised line paper • Colored paper • Highlighted paper • Templates/guides • Carbonless notebook • Label makers

25. Features Varying widths and styles Use color to provide visual cue Static and passive (non-fading) Horizontal and vertical options Tactile cues possible with raised lines Considerations Type/amount of writing will influence which paper or orientation to use Papers

26. Labels and Labeling Systems • Features • Can be pre-printed for common terms • Clear labels allow for easier use with published documents • Labeling systems are portable • Considerations • Fine motor limitation (or opportunity?) • Cost of label rolls • Preparation may be required • Spelling skill of user

27. Tri-Write Triangular pencils Ring pen Evo Pen HandiWriter Grips Large-diameter pens Sensory pens Pencil toppers School Fonts software Startwrite 6 worksheet wizard Writing Implements

28. Writing Implements • Features • Fit a variety of handshapes • Readily available • Wide variety of designs • Considerations • Age appropriateness • Integrated vs. removable

29. Alternative Writing Implements • Tablets, PDAs and portable keyboards • Video pens (digitizes handwriting and records audio) • LivescribeSmartpens • Scanning pens (to capture typeset text) • C-Pen • IrisPen Express 7 • Image capture pen • Notemark

30. Keyboards Keytop Overlays Touchscreens Alternative keyboards Onscreen keyboards Reach, Keystrokes, Wivik, Windows/MS Word Portable word processors Zooming user interface Typing methods Keyboarding and Input Devices

31. Considerations Large size Keyguards Customization demands on time/labor Features Large-format keyboard Pre-formatted overlays Compatible with IntelliTools Classroom Suite Custom overlays with Overlay Maker Activity-based Color coding Key appearance can differ from contents IntelliKeys & Overlay Maker

32. Features Keyboard and text are on the same plane Ability to change layout Alternate input Mouse – click or dwell Switch Touchscreen Integrated word prediction and abbreviation expansion Considerations Loss of “real estate” Fatigue and repetitive stress May require assistance with programming/set-up Onscreen Keyboards

33. Portable Standard word processors Stripped-down word processors Write Room, Mac only Text-to-speech word processors Write OutLoud, Natural Reader Cloze-style word processors Cloze Pro Symbol/Grid-based word processors Clicker 6, Writing with Symbols Online word processors WriteOnline, Google Docs Useful Features Highlighting Auto correction Spell check Grammar check Word completion Word prediction Abbreviation expansion Drawing Scanning Word Processors

34. Features Mini -full-size keyboards Work on Windows and Mac platforms Battery operated USB or Bluetooth transfer Word processing only Spell check Word prediction File saving Keyboarding instruction Considerations Screen size Computer/printer access Writing task/formats Portable Word Processors

35. Portable Word Processors • Writer, Fusion, Forte • Dana • iPad apps • Pages $9.99 • Notability $2.99 • iReadWrite $19.99 • Co:Writer $17.99 • Clicker Docs $30.99

36. Microsoft Word • Features • Tables and clip art for grid creation • Adding comments to documents • Highlighting key concepts • Creating locked worksheets and quizzes • Summarize lengthy text • Automatically replace text • Considerations • Readily available • Same tool being used by peers and teachers • Tools are accessed differently in Word 2003 and Word 2007

37. Features Fully-functioning word processor Easy-to-use toggle buttons on the toolbar Speaking dictionary and spell check Supports PCT, JPEG, and BMP graphics Speech settings can be easily changed Integrates with other Solo products Considerations Standalone or suite use Classroom environment Distractibility Student Peers and Professionals Ability to access computer speech External speakers Headphones Differences in speech engines and platforms Write:Outloud

38. Writing With Symbols • Features • Symbol Processor • Word Processor • Grids for Printing • Grids for Writing • Can be used as a teacher or student tool • Considerations • Grids for writing can be challenging to configure

39. Features Good option for students comfortable with devices or communication boards Develop writing skills in “non writers” Allows for high level of structure Option for textless composition Universal Design employed New cell building wizard to make your own activities Considerations Time to construct grids Switch interface limited to Crick USB Switch Box Learning Grids World Clicker 6

40. WriteOnline • Features • Selectable word banks • Word prediction • Grid-based writing • Text-to-speech • Considerations • School building licenses • Access anywhere • Learning Grids World

41. Features Increase the rate of output Improve legibility Reduce fatigue Ease frustration in writing Assist students with limited skills in spelling, vocabulary, word choice, and grammar Considerations Integrated or adjunctive Spelling/typing errors Frequent transpositions Phonetic Need for specialized lists Always on vs. on demand Word Prediction

42. Features Intelligent word prediction Flexible spelling Collected words Predict Ahead eWord Banks Basic, personal, and topic dictionaries Text-to-speech Neo version available Adjunctive word prediction (may be used with a wide range of applications) Considerations Platform Standalone Network Portable Co:Writer7

43. WordQ • Features • Text-to-speech • Adjunctive word prediction • Usage examples for confusing words • Accomodates phonetic spelling attempts • Great for elementary • Considerations • Offers the option of speech recognition via SpeakQ

44. Purposes Provide bi-modal access to materials used in a district’s curriculum Promote independence in reading, writing, and study skills Provide a plethora of reading and writing supports to perform a wide variety of tasks Scan and Read Titles Kurzweil 3000 WYNN Test Talker Read & Write Gold Scan-and-Read Software

45. Features Recursive American Heritage dictionary Text-to-speech output Variety of writing, studying, extraction, and notetaking tools Multiple scanning engines Imports files from TIF, PDF, DOC, etc. Type onto document images Audio file creation Web reading Considerations Cost and configurations Proprietary format Production demands Platform differences Kurzweil 3000

46. Features Simple, rotating toolbars Two working views Text view Exact view Text-to-speech output Variety of writing, studying, extraction, and notetaking tools Multiple scanning engines Imports files from TIF, PDF, DOC, etc. Type onto document images Audio file creation Web reading and highlighting Considerations Cost and configurations Proprietary format Production demands Windows only No option to type in Exact view WYNN

47. Features Text-to-speech output Variety of writing, studying, extraction, and notetaking tools Multiple scanning engines Imports files from TIF, PDF, DOC, etc. Type onto document images Audio file creation Web reading Works as an adjunct to other software applications Show Sound-Alikes and Homophones (MS Word) Considerations Cost and configurations Production demands Platform differences Read and Write Gold

48. Alternatives to Scan-and-Read • Adobe Acrobat Pro XI • PaperPortPro 14 • Microsoft Word • Drawing and paint programs

49. Speech Recognition • Utilizes a microphone to input text • Requires adequate speech skills • Requires significant executive functions to maintain a topic and perform corrections/training • May allow for reduced use of the hands when controlling the computer

50. Features Continuous recognition Allows for keyboard-free text input Support for adult and teen voices Analyzes existing documents for vocabulary and style Skip Training option Accuracy tool set Works in an adjunct capacity to other software Considerations Articulation Environment and task User cognition Dragon Naturally Speaking