Adaptive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities

1
Adaptive Technology for Students with Learning
Disabilities

• Kristen OHare, Nipissing Student
• Mike Walker, Learning Strategist
• Mark Giddens, Adaptive Technology Technician
• Checkmark 2002
• November 1 2

2
Presentation Outcomes

• Create a context for this presentation
• Why need we accommodate?
• Accommodation, Modification Remediation
• Kristens experiences as a learner with a LD
• Define learning disabilities from an information
  processing perspective
• Definition, diagnosis information processing
• Problems - social/emotional, vocational
  academic
• 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.

4
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

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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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Remediation

• Should
• provide direct intervention and instruction
• build skills in areas of deficit
• teach strategies to cope in areas of deficit
• But may involve
• withdrawl creating gaps in class learning
• constant repetition and extra work leading to
  frustration and fatigue
• low-level material leading to low self-esteem
• stigmatization (retard room) leading to
  emotional and behavioural issues

7
Modifications

• Should
• change curriculum outcomes
• lessen expectations
• make work easier
• shorten assignments
• But
• can lead to learned helplessness
• may be ineligible for high school credits
• do not exist at college/university level

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Accommodations

• Should
• meet learning outcomes/objectives
• keep expectations at grade level
• allow for similar work
• allow for alternative presentation of info,
  assignment completion, test taking
• Can or Are
• build self-esteem
• eligible for high school credits
• available at colleges and universities

9
Accommodation in Action

• Meet Kristen, a Nipissing University student with
  a learning disability.

10
My learning context then

• My high school experience
• How I was perceived
• How I performed
• the exam accommodations
• How I learned
• accommodations at home

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My context then . . .

• Previous accommodation
• progress monitored
• extended time for tests and exams
• alternate forms for texts and exams
• EA/Spec Ed assistance in exams

• Previous assessment (wasnt shared with Kristen)
• weakness in
• letter word identification
• reading comp
• writing skills
• diagnosis - specific learning disability

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Current Accommodations

• Kurzweil 3000 (text to speech)
• Dragon Naturally Speaking (speech to text)
• textHELP Read Write (editing reads back,
  dyslexic spell check, homophones)
• Pocket PC keyboard organization, notes in
  class reading
• Study carrels in library
• Exams above tools and extra time if necessary

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My context now . . .

• My university experience
• Has the perception changed?
• How I perform
• the exam accommodations
• How I learn
• using my learning strengths
• accommodations for learning

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A brief overview . . .

• What is a Learning Disability?
• A new definition
• from the LDAO

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In brief "Learning Disabilities"

• refers to a variety of disorders that affect the
  acquisition, retention, understanding,
  organization or use of verbal and/or non-verbal
  information.

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These disorders

• result from impairments in one or more
  psychological processes related to learning in
  combination with otherwise average abilities
  essential for thinking and reasoning.

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These psychological processes are

• 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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Learning disabilities

• range in severity and invariably interfere with
  the acquisition and use of one or more of the
  following important skills

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These skills are

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

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What a LD is Not!

• IT IS NOT
• low intelligence/an intellectual disability
• mental illness/emotional disturbance
• autism
• visual or auditory acuity problems
• laziness/lack of motivation
• a way to avoid other issues
• a physical handicap
• the result of a poor academic background

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A Learning Disability is a Information Processing
Impairment

• It is like having too many bridges out as well as
  too many overlapping pathways along the
  information highways of the brain.
• Dale R. Jordan
• U. of Arkansas

22
Some Stats . . .

• learning disabilities impact the lives of
  approximately 10 of the population
• approximately 4 of Ontarios school aged
  population is formally identified
• of Ontarios identified exceptional population
• approx. 48 of elementary students are LD
• approx. 54 of secondary students are LD
• 25 to 30 of those with LDs have AD/HD
• 75 to 80 of those with AD/HD have LDs

Sources Weber and Bennett, Special Education in
Ontario Schools, Fourth Edition and LDAC
National, Spring 2000
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Diagnosing a Learning Disability

• What does a LD look like?

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The Criteria

• identification is NOT diagnosis
• diagnosis must be made by a psychologist
• based on a discrepancy between ability (as
  measured by IQ) and academic achievement and/or
  information processing
• students at the post-secondary level MUST have a
  recent assessment with a valid diagnostic
  statement in order to get academic accommodation

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Traditional Aptitude vs. AchievementAverage
Student
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Traditional Aptitude vs. Achievement Student
with a LD
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Aptitude, Achievement, Info Processing Visual
(Dyslexia)
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Aptitude, Achievement, Info Processing Auditory
(CAPD)
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So how might an LD affect a Learner?

• A Couple of Examples . . .

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Cant you read this?

• Myle arn in gdisa bi LI tyma kesit dif Ficu
  ltform eto re Adi tslo wsm edo wnwh eniha veto re
  AdmYte xtbo Ok sbu twhe nius Eboo kso Nta peo rco
  mpu Teri zedsc ree nrea Din gsof twa Reto lis
  tent Om yte xtbo ok sith elp sal Ot.

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Cant you see this?

• Cant you see the Dalmatian?

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A Simple Model of Learning Information
Processing

• Attention
• Sensory Input
• Decoding
• Processing
• May include Storage
• and/or Retrieval processes
• Encoding
• Physical Output

Source Introducing Learning Disabilities to
Postsecondary Educators
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Where can IP break down? Dr. Allyson G.
Harrison, Queens University

• 1. Frontal lobe functioning deficits
• - abstract and conceptual thinking
• 2. Memory impairment
• - Short term memory
• - Working memory- mental blackboard dynamic
  process
• - Long term memory
• - Storage vs retrieval issues
• 3. Sequencing deficits (visual or auditory)

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Breakdown continues Dr. Allyson G. Harrison,
Queens University

• 4. Speed of information processing
• 5. Attention
• - Selective (cannot choose/focus)
• - Sustained (cannot maintain)
• - Divided (cannot shift/hyperfocus)
• 6. Narrow processing style - cant simultaneously
  attend to process multiple aspects of a
  stimulus field

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Still breaking down Dr. Allyson G. Harrison,
Queens University

• 7. Poor scanning resolution-miss relevant data
• 8. Right hemisphere dysfunction good at details
  but not global picture. Gets lost in details,
  easily overloaded. Cant make sense of
  holistically presented information. Poor ability
  to interpret visual cues.
• 9. Faulty output mechanism - interferes with
  demonstration of adequate information processing.

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Social Emotional Aspects of a Learning
Disability

• From Introducing Learning Disabilities to
  Postsecondary Educators
• The Meighen Centre for Learning Assistance and
  Research, Mount Allison University

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What does a Learning Disability feel like?

• Ask someone who has one!

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Tough Facts from LDAC

• 35 of students identified with learning
  disabilities drop out of high school.
• 50 of adolescent suicides had previously been
  diagnosed as having learning problems.
• Volumes of research have shown that 30 to 70 of
  young offenders have experienced learning
  problems.

Statistics on Learning Disabilities. LDAC,
October 2001. Source Online http//www.ldac-taac
.ca/english/indepth/bkground/stats01.htm
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Possible Academic Problems

• silent reading/reading aloud
• writing/spelling
• learning languages/math
• expressing what is known and understood
• having to re-do school work at home
• having no time off since everything takes longer
• dropping out

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Possible Social/Emotional Problems

• feeling dumb, stupid, embarrassed, frustrated,
  anxious, lonely, isolated
• being called stupid, lazy being put down by
  teachers, friends, and even parents
• feeling nobody understands
• feeling need of help
• fearing rejection failure
• always having to cover up, act a role

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Possible Career/Vocational Problems

• lack of basic skills
• lack of social skills
• Its never cured, It never goes away
• having to cover up
• never feeling adequate
• low expectations
• jobs dont last

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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 and
Read, TextAloud MP3, ReadPlease 2003
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Kurzweil 3000 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

? 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 and 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 speech balloons or
• Track highlighted text in TextReader
• 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, Thesaurus 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
• Use the Thesaurus another word for big
• Synonyms antonyms

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RW Writing Tools

• Word Prediction
• Change prediction window size and colours
• Find a word the word starts with an ele
• Use a hyphen - to extend the list
• 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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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)
• To a lesser degree
• oral language (listening, speaking,
  understanding)
• organizational skills
• social interaction
• mathematics (e.g., computation, problem solving)
• 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 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
• 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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(No Transcript)
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Dragon NaturallySpeaking

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

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Other Technology

• More Technology for Students with Information
  Processing and Other Disabilities

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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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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
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MindManager
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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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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!