1. Students can highlight, comment, and annotate accessible articles and PDFs.

2. Useful for marking main ideas and evidence directly on a source before writing.

1. Students can use text-to-speech for reading research sources aloud, which helps with decoding and comprehension.

2. Dictation tools support students who struggle with typing or spelling.

1. Students can create visually supported research posters or infographics instead of traditional essays.

2. Use graphic templates to help students structure their ideas in a non-linear, accessible format.

1. Students create visual brainstorms of what they already know or want to learn about their topic.

2. Can be used for group brainstorming to support collaborative thinking before outlining.

1. Students record one fact at a time, cite the source, and paraphrase in their own words.

2. Helps students organize information clearly and reduces overwhelm during research.

This toolkit is designed for students in grades 7–12 receiving special education services to use during a research writing unit. Each tool provides support for planning, organizing, or composing research writing in accessible and student-friendly ways.

1. Students record one fact at a time, cite the source, and paraphrase in their own words.

2. Helps students organize information clearly and reduces overwhelm during research.