Adaptive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities

1
Adaptive Technology for Students with Learning
Disabilities

• Mike Walker, Learning Strategist
• Mark Giddens, Adaptive Technology Technician
• Presented to Faculty of Education LD AQ
  CourseJune 2003

2
Presentation Outcomes

• Create a context for this presentation
• Why need we accommodate?
• Accommodation, Modification Remediation
• a student's experiences as a learner with a LD
• Describe and demonstrate technology to help
  overcome these information processing deficits,
  including
• speech to text, text to speech and OCR
• spelling, editing and math
• organization and creativity
• memory and attention

3
Our Context the Premise

• Our Desire - we want all of our students to be
  able to master the Three Rs and to develop
  normally physically, mentally and emotionally.
• The Reality approximately 9.4 of our
  elementary and secondary students are
  exceptional (MET, 1997).
• The Result - many of our students will not read,
  write or perform other academic tasks
  efficiently, despite our best effort and intense
  remediation.

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Consequently

• In order for many of these exceptional students
  to be successful their
• skills must be remediated and/or
• learning either modified or accommodated
• Remediation may be needed for the student to
• overcome performance deficits (reading, writing,
  speech, motor)
• consolidate skills for future learning
• Modification may be needed for the student to
• experience academic success
• maintain motivation to learn
• Accommodation may be needed for the student to
• maintain grade level standards
• broaden future learning opportunities

5
However

• Modifications are not an option at the
  post-secondary level.
• Therefore, accommodation for severe disabilities
  may become more challenging and solutions, by
  necessity, more sophisticated.
• Technology has provided many new tools which may
  be used to accommodate students with LDs.

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Accommodation in Action

• Putting Technology in Context

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Kristens Story

• Dyslexia dysgraphia
• Reading (decoding) writing (encoding
  spelling, grammar, etc.) sequencing
• Had to read everything 5 times
• 1 hour exam took 3 hours to write
• Always lost full spelling/grammar marks
• Today would not pass Grade 10 literacy test

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Kristen Today

• Has to do her readings once
• Writes exams in same time as other students
• Maintains an 85 average
• Uses technology
• Kurzweil 3000
• textHELP Read Write
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Pocket PC, scanner, scanning pen, speaking spell
  checker

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A Learning Disability is an Information
Processing Deficit

• phonological processing
• memory and attention
• processing speed
• language processing
• perceptual-motor processing
• visual-spatial processing
• executive functions (e.g., planning, monitoring
  and metacognitive abilities)

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As a result, learners with LDs may have

• Difficulty with Alphabet/Penmanship
• Problems Expressing what is Known and Understood
• Problems in Personal Organization
• Difficulty in Copying/Note-Making
• Problems in Arithmetic
• Problems in Reading
• Slow Work Speed
• Problems with Time and Sequence
• Confusion in Spelling

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A Tale from the Trenches

• Adam (grade 4) reading disability (pre. board)
• reading at grade 1 level, highly frustrated
  resistant to learning
• resistant to resource, so accommodated in the
  classroom
• up two levels, completed grade level work,
  independent research project, class leader
• end of the year comment to John
• now in Grade 5 back in resource, same phonics
  workbooks, etc. shut down
• teachers, perhaps afraid of technology, but have
  also bought into the myth that if students learn
  differently, they wont make it in the real
  world

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What Can Students with LDs Expect?

• Typical accommodations available to students with
  learning disabilities at the post-secondary level

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Test/Exam Accommodation

• Common
• extra time
• spell checker
• use of a computer
• distraction-free environment
• leniency towards spelling grammar

• Less Common
• reader
• scribe
• e-reader
• voice dictation

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Classroom/Lecture Accommodation

• Common
• tape recorder
• note-sharer/taker
• use of overheads/ visual organizer
• Alpha-Smart/lap-top computer/Pocket PC

• Less Common
• FM system
• wait time when called upon
• lecture notes on reserve/on web
• lecture outline in advance

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Personal Study Accommodation

• master notebook
• organizer
• talking spell checker
• texts on tape
• tape/digital recorder
• computer
• scanner
• e-reader/e-texts
• voice dictation
• reduced course load

• study buddy
• study carrels
• mentor
• academic skills
• peer tutor
• professional tutor
• technology training
• learning strategy training based on LD assessment

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The Big Three

• Kurzweil 3000
• textHELP Read Write
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking

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Text to Speech Software

• Kurzweil 3000

www.kurzweiledu.com
Also see WYNN 3.1, Premier Programming Scan
Read, TextAloud MP3, ReadPlease 2003
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Text to Speech Definitions

• Scan Read Software
• converts printed word to electronic speech
• typically uses a scanner in the process
• Kurzweil 3000, WYNN, Read Write Gold, Premier
  Programming Scan Read
• Reading Software ( screen readers)
• converts e-text to electronic speech
• TextHELP, ReadPlease, TextAloud MP3, WordQ,
  HELPRead

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Kurzweil 3000 - Overview Scan Read (BW or
Colour)/Read Only

• Used for reading, writing, test taking, research
• For individuals with
• learning disabilities
• reading difficulties - print physically
  disabled
• Improves reading speed and comprehension
• Highlights tracks text as it is spoken aloud
• Uses a multisensory approach to reading and
  writing
• at school, at home, at work
• Classic literature CD 1,100 titles!

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Kurzweil 3000

• Scan read print materials
• scan in colour or black white
• scan on flatbed or with ADF (Automatic Document
  Feeder)
• save with page formatting or as text only
• can open many formats (.doc, .rtf, .txt, .pdf,
  .tif)
• Reading toolbar features
• track print visually, on the page or in the
  magnifier box (change colour highlights)
• vary voice, reading speed, reading mode
• speak definitions, provide pronunciation guide
• toolbars are customizable
• Reading the web (integrates with Internet
  Explorer)
• web reading toolbar

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Kurzweil 3000

• study skills toolbar features
• navigate by page or to book mark
• add text notes, sticky note, audio notes
• highlight and extract notes
• test taking features
• scan read
• write or speak responses to document
• integrates with Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• lockout various features, if required, for test
  taking

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Kurzweil 3000

• Writing skills toolbar features
• word processor
• dictionary
• thesaurus (synonyms)
• spell check
• word prediction (create a custom word list)

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Cost of Scan and Read Programs

• Kurzweil 3000
• Scan/Read, Colour
• Scan/Read, Black White
• Read Only
• WYNN
• Wizard
• Reader
• TextHELP Gold
• Premier Prog. Scan Read
• ReadPlease 2003 Plus Read only
• ReadPlease 2003 Read only

Canadian s ? 2895 ? 1695 ? 549 ?
1699 ? 699 ? 680 ? 233 ?
78 FREE
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Read Please 2003www.readplease.com

• Text-to-speech (no scanning feature)
• Developed in Canada
• Free version
• Supports ATT Voices
• Very simple to use

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Comparison

• Kurzweil 3000 ScanRead, Colour
• Sheet-feed Epson Scanner
• ? 3544

• ReadPlease 2003 (free download)
• Canon Flatbed Scanner with OCR
• ? 99

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Reading Writing

• textHELP Read Write

www.texthelp.com
Also see WordQ, Aurora Systems
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textHelp Read Writeoverview

• Reading tools
• Screen Reader
• Read virtually anything on the screen
• Text Reader
• Read e-text
• Read as you type
• Read after you type
• Read the internet

• Writing tools
• Use your word processor
• Word Prediction
• Dyslexic Spell Checker
• Homonym Checker
• Thesaurus
• Word Wizard

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RW Reading Tools

• Read the screen applications (icons, menus)
• Highlight and read e-text (docs html)
• Track words in 4 different ways
• In the document
• Textreader window
• Speech balloon
• One word display
• Change character, voice speed, voice pitch, and
  highlighting colours and size
• Listen to text as you type by letter, word,
  sentence or speak punctuation
• Find and listen to words and definitions in Spell
  Check and Word Wizard

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RW Writing Tools

• Listen to your writing
• Check spelling as you type or after
• Dyslexic (b p q d) and first letter errors -
  filosofy
• Speaks back definition gives examples in context
• By parts of speech noun, verb, adjective,
  adverb
• Keeps spelling log errors and dates
• Check homophones
• Speaks back definition gives examples in context

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RW Writing Tools

• Word Prediction
• Change prediction window size and colours
• Find a word the word starts with an ele
• Expand vocabulary learns as you type or import
  spelling lists
• Personalize - learns your writing style and
  predicts for YOU
• Program phonetic replacements (fone, filosofy)

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RW Writing Tools

• Word Wizard expands vocabulary
• Look for alternative or linking words
• example auto part of speech get a
  definition do a search more things like or
  different kinds of
• For research president

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RW Math Tools

• Calculator listen to your math work
• Talking calculator
• Can change the size and colors
• Can printout an audit trail
• TextHelp Gold also contains a scientific
  calculator

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textHelp - Helps!

• Assists and motivates
• Accommodates reading and writing difficulties
• Helps build reading and writing skills
• Probably the best all round LD tool for the money

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RW targets skill deficits

• Directly
• reading (e.g., decoding, comprehension)
• written language (spelling, written expression)
• mathematics (e.g., computation, problem solving)
• To a lesser degree
• oral language (listening, speaking,
  understanding)
• organizational skills
• social interaction
• social perception

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RW aids processing deficits

• Directly
• phonological processing
• language processing
• visual-spatial processing
• To a lesser degree
• memory and attention (engages students)
• perceptual-motor (keyboard/prediction)
• executive functions (planning, monitoring and
  metacognitive abilities) (elaborating, editing)
• processing speed

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Read Write GOLD

• All of Read Writes features plus
• Scanning
• Speech input (speech to text XP engine)
• Research tools gather, organize, annotate info
• Simple scientific talking calculator
• Teacher Toolkit manage spelling and activity
  logs and student access

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Voice Recognition Software

• Dragon NaturallySpeaking

http//www.dragonsys.com
Also see IBMs ViaVoice, Microsoft Office XP
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Dragon NaturallySpeaking

• Benefits people
• Physical disabilities
• Fine motor problems
• LDs who can verbalize but not write
• Writing tool
• Get the ideas down
• Worry about grammar and sentence structure
  afterwards

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Dragon NaturallySpeaking

• Dictate directly into the computer
• 5 to 15-minute training session
• Patience!
• Works with MS Word, WordPerfect, almost all
  Windows programs

• Allows hands-free use of the computer
• Have to memorize commands
• Voice file is transferable
• Reads back what you say
• Beware the voice!

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Dragon NaturallySpeaking

• Dictation
• Make corrections
• Training note (for reading disabilities)
• Test taking alone or in combination with
  Kurzweil or textHELP Read Write
• Read back two modes
• Newer version 7.0 claims 99 accuracy

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Other Technology

• More Technology for Students with Information
  Processing and Other Disabilities

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Technology for Young Learners

• WordQ (simpler tool similar to textHELP!)
• www.wordq.com
• Kidspiration
• www.inspiration.com
• IntelliTools Inc. (www.intellitools.com)
• IntelliTalk II
• IntelliMathics
• IntelliPics Studio
• MathPad
• Accessibility Tools (for physical disabilities)

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Premier Assistive Technologywww.readingmadeeasy.c
om
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Premier Assistive TechnologyAccessibility Suite

• Products to assist people with Low Vision
• Scan and Read Lite
• Scan and View
• Products for Everyone
• Text to Audio
• Talking Calculator
• Universal Reader

• Products to assist the Blind
• Text Cloner
• Complete Reading System
• Products to assist people with LDs
• Talking Word Processor
• Scan And Read Pro
• Talking Web Browser

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Premier Assistive Technology

• Benefits
• much more inexpensive than name-brand products
• school can apply for a grant to get the
  software suite for free
• 200 yearly maintenance fee on grant

• Drawbacks
• software isnt as efficient as name-brand
  alternatives
• some of the programs functions still a bit
  quirky
• however, they are upgrading regularly and adding
  new features

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Creativity software

• Inspiration Software
• www.inspiration.com

MindManager www.mindjet.com
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Inspiration MindManager

• Features include
• Integrated diagramming and outlining environments
  
• Many pre-designed templates
• 1,250 symbols
• Create hyperlinks directly to the web

• Useful for
• Idea gathering
• Brainstorming
• Planning
• Organization
• Sharing Ideas

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Inspiration
Demo
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MindManager
Demo
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Kidspiration
Demo
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Pocket PCs

• Runs on Windows
• platform
• Includes Microsoft
• Word, Excel
• Windows Media
• Player (textbooks)
• Note taker (keyboards)
• Organizer
• http//www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/learnmore
  /hardware/americas.asp

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Palm Pilots

• Original PDA
• (Personal Digital Assistant)
• Palm OS
• Organizer
• Good for note taking
• 1000s of applications
• http//www.palm.com/us/

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TextAloud MP3http//www.nextup.com/TextAloud/inde
x.html

• Another Text to Speech Program
• Inexpensive
• Reads text aloud or
• Converts e-text to an audio file (MP3, .wav)
• Listen to textbook or study notes on PocketPC,
  MP3 player, in the car, on a Discman, etc.
• Adjustable voices speed and volume
• ATT voices

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TextAloud MP3
ATT
Crystal
Mike
Regular
Jane
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Portable Note TakersAlphaSmart or Quickpad

• Simple
• Low cost
• Extraordinary Battery LifeCan run over 700 hours
  on3 AA alkaline batteries.
• A great investmentFar less expensive than a PC.
• Lightweight, Rugged, Ergonomic DesignWeighing
  less than 2 lbs. and virtually indestructible,
  it's an indispensable tool in and out of the
  classroom.
• www.alphasmart.com/ www.quickpad.com

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Spell CheckersFranklin MWD-1450

• Over 100,000 words, 500,000 synonyms
• Full Merriam-Webster definitions
• Instant phonetic spell correction
• Learning exercises / vocabulary builders
• Book card slot for additional Franklin titles.

• Newer Models Have
• Organizer with telephone book and world clock.
• Calculator and Metric/Currency Converter for
  quick math
• Download eBooks and eNews from the Internet.

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Talking Spell CheckersFranklin LM-6000B

• Speaking Language Master
• 130,000 words
• 300,000 definitions
• 500,000 thesaurus entries
• 8-line display
• AC adapter jack
• Contrast control
• Adjustable font size
• Phonetic Spell Correction
• Grammar Guide
• 12 word games

www.franklin.com
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Handheld Scanners

• IrisPen
• Easy to use
• Faster than manual retyping
• Easy transfer to computer
• Reads 6 to 22 points size
• Recognizes up to 56 languages
• Recognizes up to 1000 characters per second
• Reads wavy and distorted characters
• Reads text, numbers, and bar codes
• http//www.irispen.com/

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Handheld Scanners

• Quicktionary Reading Pens
• Various versions available
• Scanning dictionary that reads definitions
• Scan up to 1000 pages of text
• Translate different languages
• http//www.wizcomtech.com/index.php3

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Tape Recorders Digital Cameras

• Tape recorder
• Record lecture notes
• Relatively inexpensive
• Pop-up microphone
• Counter for note taking
• Auditory learners

• Digital Camera
• Take photos of boards, overheads,
  slides, etc.
• Transfer to notes
• Use with PocketPC
• Visual learners

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FM System
Auditory Processing Attention

• Wireless transmission from teacher to student
  within the classroom
• Focus on the teachers voice
• Background noise is minimized
• Lightweight
• Student controls volume
• Integrates with hearing devices

http//www.phonicear.com/
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Organization WatchMinder

• Reminder training modes
• 75 pre-programmed messages
• 16 daily alarms
• Also silent vibration alerts
• Invented by a child psychologist
• ADD/ADHD chronically disorganized
• People with chronic diseases
• LD's, memory disorders, brain injury, and stroke

• www.watchminder.com

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Free Software

• Screen Magnifier (Lens Magnifier)
• http//www.markuswelz.de/freeware/index.html
• Talking Calculator (P.P. Talking Calculator)
• http//www.premier-programming.com/downloads.htm
• Talking Web Browser (Simply Web 2000)
• http//www.econointl.com/sw/
• Text Reader (ReadPlease 2003)
• www.readplease.com
• Screen Reader (textHELP Screen Reader v4)
• http//www.simtel.net/pub/pd/15213.shtml

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Other Technology for LDs

• Web tech for people with disabilities
• Great accessibility tool
• Brings world into the home
• communication
• learning
• research
• resources
• advocacy information
• Project Gutenberg free books online
• http//promo.net/pg/

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A Bit About Computers

• The basics
• Multimedia system
• Lots of RAM is good
• Monitor LCD is best for disabled students
• CDRW (burner)
• Scanner (sheet feed is nice) with OCR
• Keyboard mouse

• Other input devices
• Microphone
• Track ball
• Touch screen
• Writing tablet
• Scanner
• Digital camera
• Bliss Board

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More Info . . .

• On learning disabilities
• www.schwablearning.org
• www.ldonline.org
• www.ldpride.net
• www.ldao.on.ca
• www.ldrc.ca
• http//specialed.about.com/cs/learningdisabled
• Nipissing University ESP site
• www.nipissingu.ca/documents.cfm?smocid1352
• Mikes Learning Resources Page
• www.nipissingu.ca/faculty/mikew/resource

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Demo CDs

• Kurzweil 3000
• http//www.kurzweiledu.com/products_k3000win_demo.
  asp
• TextHELP Demo
• http//www.texthelp.com/interactivedemo.asp
• TextAloud MP3
• http//nextup.com/TextAloud/download.html
• Premier Programming
• http//www.premier-programming.com/content/Downloa
  ds/Downloads.html
• Other
• http//www.thecanadianteacher.com/links/CDs/

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Questions?

• . . . We thank you for this opportunity!