Josh Anderson Manager of Clinical Assistive Technology Assistive Technology for Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities June 15th, 2018 Josh Anderson Manager of Clinical Assistive Technology www.eastersealstech.com

What are we going to talk about today? Tools to Assist with Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities Stand Alone Items Computer Programs, Apps, Plug-ins and Add-ons Tablet and Phone Apps Others (if time allows) Things to consider and resources Questions Answers (if time allows)

What are we going to talk about today? Reading Writing MindMapping Notetaking Others?

What are we going to talk about today? Reading: Sometimes the issue can be the amount of text and information on the screen. It can be difficult to discern where I am reading and what I am reading. The entirety of the text can become overwhelming! It may be important to just focus on different parts of the text in order to cut down on the distractions. Tools are available that can read text or focus the reader’s attention on one line at a time. Programs can alter the way that information is displayed to aid in both comprehension and reading. We will take a look at apps, add-ins, programs and stand alone devices that can assist with reading text on the computer and in paper form. Writing: Getting one’s thoughts out on the page is difficult for anyone. Add in a print disability and the problems can be compounded. All of the rules of spelling, grammar and parts of speech can slow the process of writing to a halt. Dictation and word prediction can not only aid in the process but can assist in getting thoughts from our minds to the computer with ease. This allows the user to type as fast as they can think, or at least close to it. MindMapping: Planning for large projects, papers and presentations can be a daunting task. It takes a lot of information to make an easy to understand outline to aid in these tasks creation. Mindmapping is an effective way of getting information out of your brain and into an easy to understand and follow picture. It is a “road map” to what you are planning to do. The user starts with a main idea and then branches off from there with supporting ideas. Today we will go over different programs and apps that will assist in making mindmaps to aid with assignments. Note Taking: Trying to capture information from a lecture, class or rocking presentation such as this one can be difficult. The student or listener wants to pay attention to what is going on in the room, but also capture effective notes. Add a print disability to the mix, and the student may spend all of their time making sure that they are writing notes correctly and miss much of the pertinent information. We will look at different devices and apps that can assist with note taking so that students are free to learn and study at their own pace.

Important things to remember….. Every student and person learns differently regardless of disability or barrier What works for one, may become an added barrier for another Best to try different solutions to find the one that fits the student’s unique needs Ways to accomplish this: Use free programs or trial versions when available Talk with the teacher or school to see what is available Borrow from the INDATA loan library Full Assistive Technology evaluation if necessary

Stand Alone Items No Computer Necessary

C-Pen Stand-alone, pen shaped device that reads printed text as the user skims across it: www.readerpen.com Can store information and contains a dictionary Testing version available that only reads Approx $250 per pen with bundle discounts available

Livescribe Pen Pen that records while you write: www.livescribe.com Links notes to recorded speech Can be downloaded onto computer Assists with notetaking as the user does not need to write all that is said Can focus on paying attention and not capturing information Different versions with different features Requires special notebooks and paper

Low-Tech and No-Tech Devices Reading Guides Magnifying Bars Rulers Markers Highlighters

Computer programs, apps, add-ins and plug ins

Computer programs Mac and Windows Versions Built In Downloads and Paid Programs

Mac Dictation

Mac Text to Speech

Windows Speech Recognition Enable through Ease of Access Center Talk to the computer and have the information appear on the screen Control some programs Works best in Microsoft Programs

Programs for Text to Speech Kurzweil 3000 Fully immersive learning software program Offers Text to Speech, Scan and Read (OCR), MindMapping, Outlines, and other powerful study tools Subscription and license pricing (can be a little expensive) Read & Write Gold Text to Speech, Scan and Read (OCR), some study tools Subscription and license pricing ClaroRead Software Text to Speech, OCR, Word Prediction, Dragon Integration, Visual Changes Standard, Plus and Pro versions available Lots of Others

Programs to Help with Writing Word Prediction Lightkey: www.lightkey.io Uses AI to guess which word comes next Learns from the user Becomes more productive with time Free to download and use Works in all programs (Word, PowerPoint, Chrome, Edge, etc.) CoWriter: www.learningtools.donjohnston.com/product/cowriter/ Same as above but also features dictation and stronger word prediction $4.99/month Works with Google programs online, iPad, iPhone

Programs to Help with Writing Dragon Naturally Speaking Powerful speech recognition software Learns from the user and becomes more effective with each use Allows for dictation and full control of the computer with voice commands Variable pricing depending on version Newer versions are more accurate Microphone is very important!!! Whenever using dictation, always proofread your documents!!!

MindMapping Software Mindview: www.matchware.com/mind-mapping-software Available for PC, Mac and Online Integrates with Microsoft Office programs Easy to use and familiar ribbon (MS Office Style) $379 for PC/Mac versions $15/month for online version with less features

Note Taking Software Sonocent: www.sonocent.com Capture full recordings of lectures Attach notes, PowerPoint presentations and pictures Transcribe recordings using Dragon Naturally Speaking Companion App available Approx $250 perpetual license, $99 1-year license AudioNote: www.luminantsoftware.com/ Record lectures and link to typed notes Attach pictures and other Media Available on Windows, iOS, Mac and Android (different features) Free - $20 (varies by platform)

Google chrome extensions Available on the Chrome browser on Windows PCs, Macs and Chromebooks

A lot of Helpful Tools Available Tools that change the way words are displayed BeeLine Reader – Free Version Available Open Dyslexic – Free Mercury Reader - Free Tools to read text ClaroRead Chrome – Free Version Available Read Aloud – Free Read & Write for Chrome – Free Version Available Tools for writing Grammerly – Free Version Available

Microsoft office add-ins Add-ins for Word, OneNote and other Office Programs

OneNote OneNote A robust and simple to use productivity program Organizes notes into Notebooks, sections and pages Can import documents, presentations and pictures Can scan in documents using Office Lens App Links across devices

Immersive Reader Add-in program for OneNote Allows for many helpful tools for reading and comprehension Change colors and spacing Text to Speech (OCR) Separate words by syllables Identify parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives) Can read almost anything that you can put into OneNote Available for download: www.onenote.com/learningtools OneNote, Office Lens App and Immersive Reader are all FREE!!

Microsoft Word Add-ins Dictation for Word Allows the user to dictate directly into Word and have the text appear Punctuation does not need to be dictated by user Just for dictation, no controls Also works in PowerPoint and Outlook Available for download: www.microsoft.com/en-us/garage/profiles/dictate/ Uses Cortana – Requires Windows 10 Text to speech in Word and Power Point Reads Word documents to the user No download required Just needs to be enabled

Online tools MindMapping, Simplification, and other tools

ReWordify Website based: https://rewordify.com/ Changes reading level of text Makes hard to understand literature easier to read

Grammar Checkers Grammar Check: www.grammarcheck.net/editor/ Import text for full grammar check Free version will complete simple check Can buy paid version of Grammarly for deeper check of text. Scribens: www.scribens.com Offers grammar check and dictionary Identifies parts of speech Offers add-ins for Google Chrome and Office (2016 only) Very comprehensive website Other free sites are out there

Online MindMapping Tools MindMup Bubbl.us Many others out there

iOS and Android apps Phone or Tablet Required

Built Ins and Apps Built In Speech Dictation Reader View Apps KNFB Reader Seeing AI ClaroPDF Pro and ClaroPen Voice Dream Noteability Others if time allows

In Conclusion …..thank goodness, I thought he would never shut up!!

Lots of Choices… There is a myriad of choices for reading, writing and other accommodations All different features and prices From free to thousands of dollars No “Magic Bullet” to fix everything May take a combination of things to help overcome barriers Everyone learns differently and has different needs What works for some will only impair others Ensure that you are using a trampoline and not a net

Try Before You Buy Most programs with a fee attached offer a trial or free version to try out Can test out to see what works best for the student If they do not like it, they will not use it! Can then purchase full version if necessary or move on to something else INDATA Loan Library Thousands of devices available for 30 day loan Try out equipment and see what will work best for individualized needs Justin Amber – jamber@eastersealscrossroads.org

“If you have built your castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” -Henry David Thoreau -Walden

Questions?

Thank you all for your time. Have a great day and a wonderful weekend! Josh Anderson Manager of Clinical Assistive Technology janderson@eastersealscrossroads.org 317-466-2001 x2524 www.eastersealstech.com