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Introduction to Assistive Technology 3_2019

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Helpful AT resources and links to organizations

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Helpful AT resources and links to organizations

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Quality Indicators in Assistive Technology Services (QIAT) Transition is one of the eight areas of QIAT and the transition indicators provide guiding principles about how teams plan for the use of AT devices and services to transfer from one setting to another.

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Discover websites, blog posts, articles, and videos related to understanding, selecting, and assessing assistive technology.

Getting Started

Whether low-tech, high-tech, or somewhere in between, assistive technology and related services play an important role in reducing barriers to learning for students with a variety of special needs and challenges. Before exploring the resources below, watch VideoAmy's " Five-Minute Film Festival: The Power of Assistive Technology," to better understand how technology can empower kids and help them build independence.

For Educators

Assistive Technology Module: To review the basics, check out this great overview of assistive technology for classroom teachers. (IRIS Center/Vanderbilt University)

Assistive Technology: Find general information on assistive technology and accessible educational materials, including relevant federal laws. Assistive Technology Resources is a comprehensive list of national organizations, conferences, state resources, and transition resources. (National Center on Accessible Educational Materials)

AEM Navigator: Explore a decision-making tool -- designed for use by Individualized Education Program teams -- that can help determine the need, selection, acquisition, and use of accessible educational materials. (National Center on Accessible Educational Materials)

For Parents

Finding Assistive Technology

Explore the following websites for information about specific technologies and guidance on finding appropriate tools.

For Educators

TechMatrix: Search a database of over 400 assistive and educational technology tools and resources. The products are searchable by content area, grade level, IDEA disability category, and type of instructional support. (U.S Department of Education/American Institutes for Research)

Consumer Guide for School Administrators: Download TechMatrix's useful consumer guide for guidance on technology purchases. Also available are research articles on the theory and practice of using technology to improve student learning. (National Center for Technology Innovation and the Center for Implementing Technology in Education)

For Parents

Tips and Tools

Social-Emotional Apps for Special Ed: Find apps to help students of all ages build emotional literacy, learn self-regulation, and focus on problem solving and task planning. (Edutopia, 2015)

Apps to Support Diverse Learners in the Classroom: Find apps to help diverse learners gamify tasks, learn social cues, prioritize, strengthen math skills, and sharpen language abilities. (Edutopia, 2015)

It's a Snap! 4 Ways to Use Music With Special Needs Students: Discover ways to supplement visuals with music, teach through students' favorite songs, emphasize rhythm, and generalize lessons into non-musical settings. (Edutopia, 2014)

Creating a "Least Restrictive Environment" with Mobile Devices: See how mobile devices can help create a "least restrictive environment," not only for students with disabilities, but for everyone else as well. (Edutopia, 2013)

Dictation Technology Will Change Writing Instruction: Consider this thoughtful examination of how dictation technology is likely to change the future of writing instruction. (Edutopia, 2013)

Resources to Address Specific Challenges

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

What is UDL?: Understand the basics of universal design for learning. (National Center of Universal Design for Learning)

UDL and Technology: Read about the relationship between UDL and technology. UDL strategies do not replace the need for AT, but UDL and AT can be complementary. (National Center of Universal Design for Learning)

Universal Design for Learning: What It Is and How It Works: Explore key takeaways for parents, including information about advocating for children. (Understood.org)

Was this page helpful? Are you familiar with other useful resources? Please share your feedback in the comments, and let us know if you'd like to see other types of resources included on this page.

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Discover websites, blog posts, articles, and videos related to understanding, selecting, and assessing assistive technology.

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You may have heard that assistive technology (AT) can help your child with learning and thinking differences. However, AT like computer software and apps can cost money. The good news is there are many free online tools your child can try.

To use web-based AT tools, your child will need a computer or a tablet, an internet connection, and a web browser like Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Internet Explorer. (These tools can typically be used on smartphones, too, but they may not function the same as they do on a computer or tablet.)

If you don't own a computer or tablet, your child may be able to use one at school. A local library or a community center may also have computers available.

Here are some free online AT tools that can help kids (and adults) with reading, writing, organization, and math issues. Keep in mind that these tools may not work perfectly all the time.

Bookshare is the largest online library of accessible books in the world. All of its books are digital and can be read aloud with text-to-speech (TTS). Kids can read and listen to them online with the Bookshare Web Reader. Bookshare has a huge selection of titles, from the latest popular books and magazines to textbooks and classics. Bookshare is a program ofBenetech, an Understood founding partner. To qualify for Bookshare, your child must have a documented print disability. If your child has a learning difference like dyslexia, your child may qualify. Nonstudents may also be able to access Bookshare for free through a local public library.

NaturalReader offers free TTS. Kids can paste text or import documents into the tool, press play, then listen and read along as the text is read aloud. They can choose different voices and speed up or slow down the reading speed. NaturalReader also offers many free e-books with TTS.

Online OCR converts text in image files into digital text files using optical character recognition (OCR). Kids just have to upload a file, enter a Captcha code, and press "convert." Once converted, the files can be read aloud with TTS. The tool will convert up to 15 images per hour for free. When they register as users, kids can purchase additional images at 100 pages for $7.95.

Rewordify simplifies text to make it easier to understand. Kids paste text or a web page address into the tool. Rewordify then replaces the difficult words in the text or web page with simpler words or definitions. In the tool's settings, kids can choose their reading level. They can also choose how the simplified text is displayed. Rewordify has a library of classic literature and historical documents with simplified text. Some kids may find it easier to understand the Rewordify version of certain texts, like Shakespeare's plays or the Declaration of Independence.

Quizlet is a study tool that lets students create electronic flashcards. Lots of kids may enjoy Quizlet, but it has features that are especially helpful for kids with reading issues. The flashcards can have images and audio recordings. They can also be read aloud with TTS. Quizlet offers activities and games to help with studying, too, and syncs to a mobile app for studying on the go.

TalkTyper is a simple online dictation tool. When kids speak into their computer mic, the tool types out what they're saying. The dictated words and sentences are collected in a basic word processor and can be edited with a keyboard. The finished writing can then be printed, emailed, or copied and pasted elsewhere. Two other online dictation options are Dictation and Speechnotes. All three of these tools work only in the Chrome web browser.

EasyBib creates citations for books, videos, websites, and other sources. So when kids are writing research reports, creating a bibliography, or listing their sources, EasyBib makes it easier. Kids just need to input basic information about the source, like a book title or a web address. Then EasyBib automatically fills in the details and provides a citation in the correct format. EasyBib also puts citations into alphabetical order. Kids can download, copy and paste, or print the completed list. The free version of EasyBib creates citations in the common MLA format. There's also a version that costs $9.95 per month, which can create citations in other formats.

Grammarly is an online proofreader. It's more advanced than typical proofreaders found in word processing programs like Word and Pages. The tool finds possible mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and suggests corrections. It also gives explanations so kids can learn from their mistakes. Kids can paste text right into the tool, or upload documents from a hard drive. The free version has basic spelling and grammar checking. The premium version makes vocabulary suggestions, checks for plagiarism, and allows kids to use the tool directly in Microsoft Office programs (Windows only). The price of the premium version starts at $30 per month.

Scrible allows kids to take notes on internet articles as they research online. Kids can use highlighters, sticky notes, and other tools to mark key information. All of their work is saved in an online account. Scrible automatically creates citations for articles and puts them into a bibliography, too. The free version of Scrible has all of the basic note-taking tools. The Pro student version ($35 per year) has more storage space and more functions, like .

MindMeister is a digital graphic organizer. It's a helpful organization tool, as kids can use it to organize ideas with visual mind maps, diagrams, and pictures. It also helps with taking notes, outlining the main ideas in a book, or getting started writing an essay. The tool comes with several built-in templates. Kids can also create their own diagrams from scratch. The free version of MindMeister lets kids work on three projects at a time. There's also a version that costs $4.99 per month, which allows unlimited projects and has advanced features, like saving to different file types. Another digital graphic organizer tool to check out isMindomo.

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is a large library of math manipulatives. These are virtual objects like number lines and blocks that let kids solve math problems in different ways. The library is broken down by grade and by topic. For instance, if kids pick grades 3-5 and numbers, they'll find objects like a virtual abacus, pie charts, and Venn diagrams.

Geogebra is an online drawing and graphing tool. Kids can type in an equation and the tool graphs it on virtual graph paper. If kids draw a shape or line on the virtual graph paper, Geogebra will translate it into an equation. For instance, draw a circle, and the tool will give the equation for that circle. Graphs and equations can be saved or printed. The tool has a calculator function, too.

WebMath is an online calculator and problem solver. It has templates for many different math problems, like counting coins, calculating area, and even solving calculus equations. The templates are divided into categories like Algebra and K-8 Math. Kids choose a template and fill in the numbers and symbols. WebMath gives the answer, along with a step-by-step explanation for how it's solved. Some of these free tools, like MindMeister, can also be helpful for kids who struggle with organization. Another organization tool isGoogle Keep, which lets kids create digital sticky notes, arrange them on a blank screen, and set reminders for each note. It also syncs with mobile apps for iOS and Android and Chrome tools.

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You may have heard that assistive technology (AT) can help your child with learning and thinking differences. However, AT like computer software and apps can cost money. The good news is there are many free online tools your child can try.

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Video tutorials for Microsoft Accessibility

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Video tutorials for Microsoft Accessibility

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Accessibility tools: Meeting the needs of diverse learners

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Office 365 provides best-in-class apps and powerful cloud services that are accessible by design.

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Crash Course is one of the best ways to educate yourself, your classmates, and your family on YouTube!

From courses like Astronomy to US History and Anatomy & Physiology it's got you covered with an awesome variety of AP high school curriculum topics. With various witty hosts at your service, you won't even notice you're getting smarter.

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Crash Course is one of the best ways to educate yourself, your classmates, and your family on YouTube!

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Free Text to Speech Reader

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Dyslexia and other reading-based learning disabilities are most common among students. NaturalReader text-to-speech makes learning more accessible by assisting with any reading, taking tests and promoting independence.

Students can have any text they need to read, read aloud to them so they can read along. Having the text provided both visually and auditory, allows the student to focus less on the act of reading, and more on the comprehension of the content. Other features like dyslexia font, flexible reading speeds, and highlighted text also ease the task of finishing readings.

For most students, learning does not stop when school ends. NaturalReader EDU enables students to be more independent and assists with learning at home. Whether they're doing homework, reading at home, or just surfing the web, our Chrome Extension and Mobile Application are always available.

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NaturalReader: Free Text to Speech for Online, Mobile App, Commercial license and Education with AI voices.

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The mission of the new Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative Development Team is to assist early intervention agencies, school districts, and their partners to provide assistive technology by making training and technical assistance available through our development of new and updated materials related to the provision of assistive technology tools, and services.

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Innovative Practices + Assistive Tools = Successful Students

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The mission of the new Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative Development Team is to assist early intervention agencies, school districts, and their partners to provide assistive technology by making training and technical assistance available through our development of new and updated materials related to the provision of assistive technology tools, and services.

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Assistive technology is any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around their challenges.

Some examples of assistive technology are text-to-speech and word prediction.

Assistive technology includes low-tech tools, too, like pencil grips.

Technology is everywhere these days. But did you know that there are specific tech tools that can help people who learn and think differently? These tools-called assistive technology, or AT-are often inexpensive and easy to use.

What is assistive technology? How can kids and adults benefit from these tools, and where do you start? Read on to learn more.

Assistive technology basics

AT is any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around challenges so they can learn, communicate, and function better. A wheelchair is an example of AT. So is software that reads aloud text from a computer. Or a keyboard for someone struggling with handwriting.

These tools can help people work around their challenges, while also playing to their strengths. This is especially important for kids who struggle with learning-whether in reading, writing, math, or another subject. AT can help these kids thrive in school and in life. And that can help grow their confidence and independence.

There are lots of myths about AT. Some wrongly believe that using AT is "cheating." Others worry that kids who use AT may become too reliant on it.

While AT has many benefits, keep in mind that it can't "cure" things like dyslexia or ADHD. It can't replace good teaching and instruction, either.

Examples of assistive technology tools

Despite the word "technology," not all AT tools are high-tech. AT includes many simple adaptive tools , like highlighters and organizers. A great example of low-tech AT is a pencil grip .

Many AT tools are high-tech, though. And because of advances in technology, tools are now available on a variety of platforms :

Desktop and laptop computers

Mobile devices (includes smartphones and tablets)

Chromebooks (and the Chrome browser used on any device)

How to find the right assistive technology tool

With so many AT tools available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. One good approach is to choose AT that targets a specific struggle . For example, if a child struggles with writing, try dictation technology. As the child speaks, words appear on the screen.

People with access to a mobile device, like a smartphone or a digital tablet, can add AT tools to it with apps. Explore these ideas:

If you don't know what to use first, text-to-speech is a good place to start . Text-to-speech converts electronic text to spoken words, so people can listen to digital text. It can make a big difference for people who have trouble with reading or focus.

There are many free AT tools, and some are built into mobile devices.

A good way to choose an AT tool is to start with a specific learning struggle or need.

Text-to-speech is often a good first AT to try.

About the Author

About the Author

Understood Team is made up of passionate writers and editors. Many of them have kids who learn and think differently.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Jamie Martin is an assistive technology specialist at the New England Assistive Technology Center (NEAT) in Hartford, Connecticut.

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Assistive technology for learning: What you need to know

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Assistive technology is any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around their challenges. Some examples of assistive technology are text-to-speech and word prediction. Assistive technology includes low-tech tools, too, like pencil grips. Technology is everywhere these days. But did you know that there are specific tech tools that can help people who learn and think differently?

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Assistive Technology Internet Modules | Welcome

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As a university instructor for both undergraduate and graduate courses for special education teachers, I find that the ATIM modules are invaluable in helping my students get the information that they need about assistive technology. The modules can be used individually in courses that address topics such as academic instruction, life skills development strategies, and transiton planning.