Assistive Technology that supports Composing Written Material
Students with learning disabilities typically have a difficult time using the five steps of the writing process: Pre-writing, Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Publishing. Most students who find these steps complicated will often say that they hate writing because it is too hard. A student who has a learning disability's writing will seem jumbled, chaotic, and disorganized. The student will attempt to skip steps in the writing process and immediately begin writing because they see that as easier. Once the student has finished writing, their work will most likely have many spelling and grammar mistakes.
Low tech devices: Weighted pencils
Weighted pencils help students who are unable to hold a pencil correctly. If the student uses the weight it strengthens the wrist of the student. It also forces the students handwriting to become darker. By using a weighted pencil the student's penmanship becomes stronger and more legible.
Low tech devices: Rubber Stamps
Rubber stamps can be used to practice spelling. Teachers can simply use regular pads of ink to practice spelling or they can use shaving cream on tables. The teacher can spray shaving cream on a table or working area and let the students use the stamps to spell out a word. The shaving be wiped away or spread around when the teacher is ready to ask the students to spell a new word. Using stamps and shaving cream is a fun and memorable way for the students to practice spelling.
High tech devices: Kidspiration
Kidspiration is a software program that allows a student who has difficulty completing the five steps of the writing process an outlet to complete the task in an easy and fun way. Students are able to create things like a word web or a venn diagram to organize their thoughts and ideas before beginning the writing process.
High tech devices: AlphaSmart
AlphaSmart is a word processor that can be connected to a computer and the data that the student typed can be transferred to a Word document. The information that the student typed on the AlphaSmart can be printed out and used as notes in the future. If the student is beginning the Five Steps of the Writing Process they can start their first draft using AlphaSmart and continue typing by syncing their work with a computer.
(Dell, Assistive technology in the classroom: enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities, 2012)
Images found using the search engine Google.