Adaptive Technology

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Adaptive Technology Adult Literacy
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Thank you to

• Assistive Technology Centre
• Nova Scotia Community College

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Through no fault of their own, they are the
owners of brains that somehow dont mesh with the
demands they come up against

• Dr. Mel Levine
• A Mind at a Time

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Introduction

• Jennifer Hunt, Adaptive Technology Project
  Co-ordinator
• Action Read Community Literacy Centre
• Located in Guelph, Ontario
• Community-Based Literacy Program

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Adaptive Technology used in a Literacy program
promotes

• Access to information
• Access at all levels of education
• Employment, further training and independence

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Learner Profiles

• Educationally disadvantaged
• Unemployed
• Self-employed
• Underprivileged
• 60 receiving ODSP
• 2/3 are at a grade 8 academic level

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Variety of challenges for learning

• Learning disabilities
• Visual impairments
• Hearing impairments
• Physical disabilities
• Emotional problems
• Mobility issues

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Generously Funded by

• Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and
  Universities
• National Literacy Secretariat

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Phase One

• Literacy Adaptive Technology
• Overview
• Use of text-readers
• Group of 13 individuals
• Variety of learning needs

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Rationale

• Learning needs were not previously being met

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Assessment

• Literacy and Basic Skills Learning Outcomes
  Matrix
• Baseline

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Text-Reading software used

• Kurzweil 3000
• WriteOutloud
• CoWriter
• Read Write (TextHelp)
• ReadPlease

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Outcomes

• Improvement of 1 2 LBS levels
• Those individuals who used the software the most,
  continue to use it as an accommodation

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Phase Two Adaptive Technology Expressive
Writing

• Overview
• Field test AT software that assists with writing
• Help bridge the learning barrier specifically
  focusing on writing

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Rationale

• Learner criteria
• Learners who may have a learning disability,
  cognitive delay or physical impairment that
  limits them form having success with expressive
  writing
• Dysgraphia

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Assessment

• TOWL-3
• Pre - (handwritten format)
• Post (use adaptive technology as an
  accommodation)

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Writing software used

• Kurzweil 3000
• Read Write
• WriteOutloud
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Co-Writer

• Word Q
• Inspiration
• DraftBuilder
• ZoomText
• WebTalkster
• ReadPlease

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Outcomes

• Released on our website in August 2003
• www.home.golden.net/actionr
• Observations

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Access to Information
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Reasons why some individuals dont have access to
information

• Socio-economic factors
• Social isolation
• Limited education

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I just want to be able to write something on my
own that people understand.
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Adaptive Technology should be available to
individuals at

• ALL LEVELS

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According to the Ontarians with Disabilities Act

• Persons with disabilities face numerous barriers
  in gaining access to and fully participating in
  society

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According to EQAO

• Students taking the Grade 10 Literacy Test in
  Ontario have the right to the following
  accommodation
• Technology uses such as the Kurzweil reader

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Adaptive Technology promotes

• Further training
• Employment
• Independence

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Ontario Human Rights Commission

• Duty to Accommodate Section 4.4.4
• Tax deduction for accommodations in the workplace

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Success

• Increased independence
• Multi-sensory approach to learning

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Thank you!

• When you getGIVE
• When you learnTEACH
• Maya Angelou