At for reading
What assistive technology can help with reading?
Students with many different
disabilities may have difficulty with reading. This may involve
having difficulty identifying words in print, understanding printed
text or remembering what is read. It can also involve difficulty
in holding a book or turning pages. There are many assistive technology
tools to help with reading including both hardware and software.
The following lists include possible solutions:
Assistive Technology for Reading
- Standard text at a lower reading level
- Predictable books
- Changes in text size, spacing, color, background color
- Book adapted for page turning (e.g. page fluffers, 3-ring binder)
- Use of pictures or symbols (rebus) with text
- Talking electronic dictionary or computer software to pronounce challenging words
- Single word scanners
- Scanner with Optical Character Reading software (OCR) and talking word processor
- Electronic books
When is it appropriate?
Assistive technology for reading should be used when it is important
that the student be able to get information from the printed word.
Assistive Technology for reading is often used by students in
content intensive classes such as science, literature and social
studies at the same time that they continue to work on basic reading
skills in a separate class time. Students who use assistive technology
for reading rarely use the same solution for all kinds of reading
tasks. They may use an electronic dictionary when they are able
to read most of the words in a passage but switch to a scanner,
OCR software and a talking word processor when the material is
more difficult.
Where can I go for help?
A Special Education Teacher may be the most familiar with tools that help with reading. However, if the IEP team needs assistance, an Assistive Technology Consultant can help determine the appropriate assistive technology for each kind of reading task.
Other Helpful Websites
LD Online
Suggestions on the use of assistive technology for reading
The Project Gutenburg Website
Digitally re-published literature organized into light and heavy
literature and reference materials
Camera Obscura's
meta-index of academic and scholarly resources
Academic and scholarly resources useful to high-school and adults
University of
Calgary Children's Literature Website
The Children's Literature web guide
Internet Public Library Youth
Division
Stories and poems for young readers
The Switch in Time Website
Scan and Read a program and create your own e-books on a Macintosh