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Read & Discuss

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Indicator 1: Consideration of AT Needs - Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services

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Quality Indicators for Consideration of Assistive Technology Needs Consideration of the need for AT devices and services is an integral part of the educational process contained in IDEA for referral, evaluation, and IEP development. Although AT is considered at all stages of the process, the Consideration Quality Indictors are specific to the consideration of AT [...]

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Universal Tools, Where does immersive reader fit in?

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Universal Tools, Where does immersive reader fit in?

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Universal Tools for Reading, Writing, and Researching

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Update

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Speech Recognition as AT for Writing: A Guide for K12 Education

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AT Tools for Executive Functioning Challenges

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AT Tools for Executive Functioning Challenges

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New 3-unit online college course:
Assistive Technology for Learning Differences

My Assistive Technology Toolbox
(Last updated 7/17/21)
I use a wide variety of technologies in my practice, both high-tech and low-tech - too numerous to mention here - but I'd like to list the most significant ones that I rely on and include in my trainings.

These are tools that I currently use or have used with clients, and tools that I know are effective based on inputs from colleagues who also employ and teach assistive technology.

Because many technology products and utilities perform multiple functions, it's difficult to list them by categories such as "Technologies for Reading" and "Technologies for Writing" - certain tools would show up in several places - so I've chosen to list them in a more eclectic manner that's still somewhat logical.

Use this information to guide your exploration of potentially helpful technology, and please keep in mind that there are far, more tools out there than are listed below - this is merely the tip of the tip of the assistive technology iceberg. In short, this is my AT Toolbox and meets perhaps 99% of my clients' needs. The contents of your AT Toolbox will likely be different. ;-)
For each product or utility in the tables below, I've listed:

Link to the main website

Availabiity by platform (Windows, Mac, Chrome, iOS/iPadOS, Android, and/or online)

Brief description

Links to additional info about the tools and how to operate them (e.g., instructions and video tutorials).

Other notes:

Most extensions for Chromebooks and the Chrome browser (Mac, WIndows) will also work with the Windows Edge browser (Mac, Windows) as it is based on Chrome.

Amazon Kindle Fire tablets use a proprietary version of the Android operating system; therefore, they will run most, but not all, Android apps.

Please Link - Don't Copy

I hope you find this information both helpful and enlightening. Please feel free to link to this resource page from your own website or presentation. That way, your website visitors and workshop attendees will always have access to the latest version. Use this link: www.TechPotential.net/attoolbox

One request, though: please don't copy and paste the information tables directly into your own works. (Thank you! :-)

Recorded (human-narrated) Audiobooks

Audiobooks are recordings of human narrators reading aloud. ​ Most audiobook apps only work with media acquired from that provider (e.g., audiobooks from Learning Ally can only be used with the Learning Ally Audiobooks app). See the section "Resources for Alternatives to Printed Text - Electronic Text (E-text) and Narrated Audiobooks" (below) for more info about media providers including eligibility requirements and the contents of their media libraries.

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Simple text-to-speech (TTS), E-readers with text-to-speech and other reading tools

Text-to-speech reads aloud selected text with human-sounding synthesized voices. All of these utilities and apps allow the user to choose different reading voices to suit their preferences (male/female voices, adult/child voices, different accents or dialects) and their reading needs (read different languages - e.g., select a Spanish speaking voice to read aloud text in Spanish). For some apps, additional voices can be purchased. All allow the user to adjust reading speed; some apps also provide a pitch adjustment.

Some text-to-speech utilities called screen readers are designed primarily for visually-impaired users. Screen readers not only read aloud text - they also speak descriptive information such as number of rows and columns in a table, format changes, and alternative-text descriptions attached to images, and include features and settings that control how users hear, learn about, and interact with elements on the screen. For users with significant visual impairments, screen readers might be more beneficial than other simple text-to-speech options. In the table below, VoiceOver, Narrator, and ChromeVox are screen readers.

Most of these TTS apps and utilities work with accessible text on devices (e.g., documents, webpages) as well as accessible e-text obtained from e-text sources listed below under "Resources for Alternatives to Printed Text".

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Read, Write & Study Software Suites (also called Literacy & Learning Suites)

Software that bundles multiple supports for reading, writing, and studying.

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Resources for Alternatives to Printed Text - Electronic Text (E-text) and Narrated Audiobooks ​

Eligibility: Accessible versions of copyrighted books provided by Accessible Media Producers (AMPs) are generally only available to individuals who have qualifying "print disabilities". AMPs are non-profit or governmental entities authorized to produce and distribute accessible materials to eligible people. The following page on the Bookshare website explains more:
https://www.bookshare.org/cms/bookshare-me/who-qualifies

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Graphic Organizers and "Idea Processors" - Outliner, Mind Map, and Table Software

Outlining, mapping, and table software can help students organize ideas for writing, take notes while reading, break a large project into smaller individual tasks, understand broad concepts or complex processes - any information that benefits from a structured framework and clarifying the relationship between the whole and its parts. As such, I often refer to such tools as "idea processors" to help students externalize the ideas in their working memory and move them on-screen where they can be more easily manipulated. Some of these programs, apps, and web tools also include ready-made templates (and allow creation of custom templates) to scaffold a student's thinking and learning.

Many of the tools listed below work primarily as visual mind maps and graphic organizers; they allow the user to export their creations as linear text outlines, but don't allow them to work in a separate "outline mode". I've noted those that can switch between visual graphic and text outline modes (changes made in one mode are immediately reflected in the other).

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Speech recognition (speech-to-text)

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Assorted Reading Supports

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Assorted Writing Supports

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Taking Notes & Organizing Knowledge ​

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Math & Science Notation, Graphing, and Drawing ​

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Math Concepts

​Apps and resources to help understand abstract math concepts with visual manipulatives.

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Math Problem Solving and Processes

Apps and resources to help understand and practice multistep problem solving and sequencing steps.​

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Assorted Aids for Managing Digital Distractions​

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Assorted Aids for Attention and Executive Functioning ​

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Assorted Aids to Support Mental Health and Wellness

Many kids with learning and attention challenges also deal with psychological and emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. These might be separate conditions, or they might be a product of having to cope with their learning and attention challenges. The following are a sampling of apps and online tools to help students with sleep, exercise, social connections, managing stress, and balancing their life. Many of these have been evaluated and recommended by students who found that they improve emotional well-being and resilience. ​

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Assistive Technology Tools for Learning Differences, ADHD, and Executive Function Challenges

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New 3-unit online college course: Assistive Technology for Learning Differences (Last updated 7/17/21) I use a wide variety of technologies in my practice, both high-tech and low-tech - too numerous to mention here - but I'd like to list the most significant ones that I rely on and include in my trainings.

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What to do with all of those election signs!

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Built in Speech to Text in Google

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Cost: Free with your Gmail account | Platforms: Desktop and Laptop.

Your Gmail account does a lot more than just emails. If you explore 'Google Drive' with your Gmail account, you will find 'Doc's' (Google Docs) which is very similar to Word. Docs can be used to write essays and assignments. You can also write your assignments with your voice here in Docs.

Most useful for: people who may find they have slow typing skills and need an alternative way to typing.

How you find the 'Voice Typing' tool:

In Docs, look at the Tool Bar on the top and select the options called 'Tools'.

A menu will appear and there will be an option called 'Voice Typing'.

Select 'Voice Typing', and a microphone icon will appear on the screen.

Select the microphone icon and the colour of the microphone will change to red (if it doesn't change colour then this may mean you need to insert a microphone into your laptop - some headsets have a microphone so just insert it into your computer). Also to note that Google Tools work best in the Chrome browser if there is a problem with the Voice Typing tool.

Now you can speak and type with your voice.

Its key features are:

Speak and Google does the typing. It may be faster to type your essay than hand type it.

If you find it a challenge to articulate your ideas then try speaking out your ideas.

You can use these phrases to add punctuation to your text. These include: Period, Comma, Exclamation point, Question mark, New line and New paragraph.

Our Top Tips:

The first time you try typing with your voice it is perfectly usual to be self-conscious. It can be a good idea to read out text you are familiar with when you try using this 'Voice Typing' tool. Try to read full paragraphs and review the paragraph.

To get the best experience use a microphone as this picks up your voice better and take your time reading/speaking out loud.

1. If you handwrite your first version of your essay, try using the 'Voice Typing' tool to create your typed-up document which you can then start to proof read.

2. Please remember that Google tools and applications work best in the Chrome Browser.

Similar Tools:

Demo of Voice Typing in Action

Video source: AppsEvents YouTube channel

Go to the Google Website>

GEt more Advice:

If you are a Student in the FET/ETB then it may be possible to speak to an Educational Needs Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Student Access Officer, Student Support Coordinator or a Disability Support Officer for more information about assistive technology.

If you are an Employee and are interested in this technology then speak to your Disability Liaison Officer (public service) or your Line Manager to start the conversation.

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Cost: Free with your Gmail account | Platforms: Desktop and Laptop. Your Gmail account does a lot more than just emails. If you explore 'Google Drive' with your Gmail account, you will find 'Doc's' (Google Docs) which is very similar to Word. Docs can be used to write essays and assignments.

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Color overlay for dyslexia

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Cost: Free | Platforms: Desktop and Laptop, Add-on for Chrome Browser from Chrome Webstore.

'Color Overlay' is a screen masking tool that adds a colour tint to your laptop/desktop screen to create a better reading experience. For some people reading black text on a white background can be challenging so using screen masking tools may help to create not only a better but longer reading experience.

Most useful for: Reading online can be a challenge for some so these online colour overlays can aid this reading experience.

Where do I go to add an extension to my Chrome browser?

If you use the Chrome Browser then you can avail of an app store like site called Chrome Web Store that has a variety of Chrome browser apps that you can add to your browser. These apps will appear in the top right corner of your browser as you add them to Chrome.

Its key features are:

It creates a better reader experience for the person.

It allows you to choose a wide range of colours and the density of the colour so the colour can be tailored to your specific needs.

It is very easy to use and once your colour has been chosen you simple click the 'Color Overlay' button, in the top right of your Chrome browser, to switch the tool on and off.

You can also save up to 6 colours in the 6 square slots - select a colour and then select the empty box. Double click the coloured square then to activate the colour (as seen below in the image).

Our Top Tips:

Learn more about colour filters for your devices>

For More Advice:

If you are a student in Higher Education, speak to your Assistive Technology Officer or Disability Officer /Learning Support Officer.

If you are a Student in the FET/ETB then it may be possible to speak to an Educational Needs Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Student Access Officer, Student Support Coordinator or a Disability Support Officer for more information about assistive technology.

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Color Overlay - Reading Online Support (Chrome Webstore) - AHEAD

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Cost: Free | Platforms: Desktop and Laptop, Add-on for Chrome Browser from Chrome Webstore. 'Color Overlay' is a screen masking tool that adds a colour tint to your laptop/desktop screen to create a better reading experience.

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Using extensions for accessibility

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Cost: Free | Platforms: Desktop and Laptop, Add-on for Chrome Browser from the Chrome Webstore.

'Accessibility - Your Powerful Web Assistant' is a Chrome extension that can help you to read webpages more effectively in many ways.

Most useful for: Reading online can be a challenge for some so this browser add on has a number of useful reading tools.

Where do I go to add an extension to my Chrome browser?

If you use the Chrome Browser then you can avail of an app store like site called Chrome Web Store that has a variety of Chrome browser apps that you can add to your browser. These apps will appear in the top right corner of your browser as you add them to Chrome.

When you go to the Chrome Web Store you just search for ' Accessibility - Your Powerful Web Assistant '.

Select the 'Add to Chrome' Button. (At some stage you may be asked to sign into your Chrome Browser using your Gmail address).

Its key features are visible when you click on the icon in the top right of your browser:

Text: You can change the font style on a webpage and choose a font that you find easier to read.

Text to Speech: This option allows you to have text read out loud in a webpage. Select the text and then click the 'Text to Speech' button.

Zoom: Increase or decrease the size of the font to make it easier for you to read.

Mouse: change the size and colour of your mouse.

Contrast: Sometimes it can be easier to view or read content when the contrast is increased.

Dyslexia Ruler: This is a great tool for creating a horizontal line so you can read each line more effectively.

Screen Tint: Add a colour tint to your screen - explore changing different colours like blue or beige, to help you read longer and reduce eye strain.

Animations: Removes animation from the screen if you find these distracting.

Images: This feature hides images if you want a simplified and low distraction webpage for reading.

Our Top Tips:

Explore the tools - there are a lot of them so take your time to try each one.

Turn off the features you don't need.

Remember to Refresh your Screen if the features don't seem to work - this is done by selecting the circular arrow in the top left of the Chrome Browser screen.

Chrome Browser Tip: At times, Chrome browser add-ons have to be refreshed so just select the circular arrow in the top left corner of your browser.

Demonstration of 'Accessibility - Your Powerful Web Assistant' in Action

Video source: Ryan Kelly YouTube channel

Go to the Thinkasend Website for information and videos about this add-on>

For More Advice:

If you are a Student in the FET/ETB then it may be possible to speak to an Educational Needs Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Student Access Officer, Student Support Coordinator or a Disability Support Officer for more information about assistive technology.

If you are an Employee and are interested in this technology then speak to your Disability Liaison Officer (public service) or your Line Manager to start the conversation.

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Accessibility: Your Powerful Web Assistant for Chrome - AHEAD

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Cost: Free | Platforms: Desktop and Laptop, Add-on for Chrome Browser from the Chrome Webstore. 'Accessibility - Your Powerful Web Assistant' is a Chrome extension that can help you to read webpages more effectively in many ways. Most useful for: Reading online can be a challenge for some so this browser add on has a number of useful reading tools.