Assistive Technology for Students with Dyslexia

1. LiveScribe Pen

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The LiveScribe Pen is a type of assistive technology that was designed to help facilitate students in note taking. The pen records the classroom discussion, allowing a student who is Dyslexic, to focus more on the listening and learning, rather than the reading and writing. The LiveScribe pen is also extremely helpful in assisting the students in the completion of their homework. Students are able to listen to the lecture on the pen when they are doing homework, that way they can add to their notes if they wish, or just listen to the lecture for help with questions. The LiveScribe pen helps to reduce the extra amount of homework time a child with Dyslexia might need to take to do their work.

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2. DragonNaturally Speaking

 

This program is used on a PC or Mac. The DragonNaturally Speaking program has a voice recognition mechanism that allows students to articulate their thoughts and ideas, and watch the words pop up on the computer. This tool really helps Dyslexic students with the learning process.  This tool is really helpful for students who struggle with reading and writing. The program eliminates the struggles of writing for the student, while constantly presenting them with the words they spoke. It helps the students familiarize themselves with words they use in their everyday speech.

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3. Apple iPads

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The Apple iPads are an extremely useful assistive technology for students with Dyslexia. There are numerous educational apps and programs that can be downloaded on the iPad to help students with their reading, writing, and speech skills. Some great apps to download on the iPad for a student with Dyslexia include, See.Touch.Learn, Phonics Genius, ABC Writing, and Audio Note. There are millions of applications out there that are designed to help students with disabilities. The iPad is a great tool for a student with Dyslexia because there is so much for them to download that will help to make learning easier for themselves. 

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4. Word Processors

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For students with Dyslexia, the NEO2 Co: Writer has made reading and writing a whole lot easier. This assistive technology helps to eliminate the struggles of spelling. With word predict, this tool helps students to get all of their ideas documented, without the frustration of writing and spelling. When typing, the students type the first letter or so, and the program predicts 6 words that they could be typing. For students who really struggle with reading, there is a text to speech option. The text to speech option reads the students work back to them, so they are able to learn from what they "wrote."

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5. AudioBooks

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AudioBooks are a great form of Assistive Technology to help Dyslexic students that may struggle with reading. An AudioBook allows students to listen to the content on tape. Many students prefer to listen to an AudioBook rather than listening to the synthesized voice of text to speech. Two good sources to retrieve AudioBooks are Audible and Learning Ally. 

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