Overview of AT Tools and Software (commercial)

One might need many tools in the toolbox

“Everyone needs a pencil” Patty King Debaun

…we just have to figure out which ones will work, be innovative and let them be creative, find something that motivates and engages them

My dad had to have many different pencils in

his toolbox • Mouth stick and felt tipped pen• Mouth stick & keyboard with word prediction

& a talking word processor• Letter board with eye blinks (or nods) & eye

gaze• Dictates as someone scribes • Voice recognition (Dragon Naturally Speaking and Dragon Dictate)

Start with the Low Tech move to High Tech

Writing ProcessWriting is one of the most complex activities

expected of a student.

• Getting the idea• Formulating it into words• Mechanics of writing• Fine motor activity - holding and moving the

pencil• Letter formation• Sound - letter association • Spelling / letter order• Grammar / word order/ punctuation• Spatial organization/ spacing/ left to right/ top

to bottom• Edit/ drafts

Use of a keyboard eliminates or reduces effort involved in the

deleted areas.• Getting the idea• Formulating it into words• Mechanics of writing• Fine motor activity - holding and moving the pencil• Letter formation• Sound letter association • Spelling / letter order• Grammar / word order/ punctuation• Spatial organization/ spacing/ left to right/ top to

bottom• Edit/ drafts

Sometimes alternate access to the computer needs to be

considered..

Alternate miceAlternate mice

Alternate keyboardsAlternate keyboards

Voice Output Communication Aids/ Voice Output Communication Aids/ Speech Generating DeviceSpeech Generating Device

Alternate Mice • Mousekeys• Touch Screens• Trackballs• Joysticks• Head Mouse

Penny and Giles joystick and 2 jelly bean

switches with holder writing response in

Clicker

• Mini Keyboards

• Onscreen keyboards

• Keyboard with keyguard

• Programmable keyboards

• Expanded Keyboards

Alternate Keyboards

IntelliKeys for writing journal

Onscreen keyboard example with an Alphabetical Layout

Classroom suite (IntelliTools)•Free… Click and Type http://www.lakefolks.org/cnt/

•Windows Accessibility features

Windows Accessibility featureFree ON SCREEN KEYBOARD

Vanguard connected with Serial Keys and

cable to the computer and Writing with

Symbols

* choice of Minspeak or PCS

symbols

Using a Speech Generating Device can Using a Speech Generating Device can enhance computer useenhance computer use

Journal

Integrated Computer and Communication System Eco 14 (PRC) or a

V or V Max (Dynavox)

SGD/ VOCA emulation with Kurzweil

PRC (Prentke Romich/ Minspeak page on an ECO

Technology/ software/ or low tech ideas that are available to assist and enhance in the remaining

areas.• Getting the idea• Formulating it into words• Mechanics of writing• Fine motor activity - holding and moving the

pencil• Letter formation• Sound letter association • Spelling / letter order• Grammar / word order/ punctuation• Spatial organization/ spacing/ left to right/

top to bottom• Edit/ drafts

Writing ProcessThe following technology is available to help in these

areas:• Getting the Idea – Kidspiration, Inspiration, Read Write and Think, Graphic Organizers, Clicker 5, Clicker Paint, Tux Paint, Photos, CS4,

• Formulating it into words/ story – Clicker 5 , Writing with Symbols, Classroom suite, Kurzweil 3000, Cloze Pro

• Sound Letter Association – Earobics, Simon Sounds it out, Essential Skills, Clicker 5 Wordmaker, Balanced Literacy (IntelliTools) CS4

• Spelling / Letter order - Co:Writer , Spell checkers, Kurzweil 3000 , Word Q (word prediction), Clicker 5, CS4

• Grammar / Word order - Co:writer, WriteOutLoud, Kurzweil 3000, Word processor with grammar and spellchecker, Word Q, Word Talk, Cloze Pro

• Inspiration/ Kidspiration Video• Word Prediction (Word Q/ Co:writer 6)

• Cloze Pro• Dragon Naturally Speaking/ Speak Q

 

Writing Software DemoWriting Software Demo

Reading Software• Simon Sounds It Out / Stages 1 and 2 PSAP• Essential Skills• Balanced Literacy PSAP• Word Maker PSAP• Start To Finish Books PSAP• Balanced Literacy • Classroom Suite 4• Clicker 5• Cloze Pro• Earobics• Kurzweil PSAP

Balanced Literacy by IntelliTools

* Ready Made Primary Writing Activities CD

Simon Sounds it Out and Word Maker software

Math Software• Math Pad and Math Pad plus (fractions and decimals)

(Intellitools) *• Scientific Note Book *• Number Concepts 1 and 2 (Intellitools) PSAP• Millie’s Math House • Zoo Zillions Math• Money Skills (Marble Soft) PSAP• Time Scales PSAP• Attainment Money Series

* SET-BC software School District own copies of these and you an borrow them from Student Services Departments

Using Single Switch Hardware

• Hardware required – Switch (one or two)

• Jelly bean

• Leaf switch

• String switch

• Pillow switch

• Lever switch

– Switch interface• Switch hopper

• Don Johnson switch interface

*SET-BC provides these

Single Switch Software• Soft Touch *

– Switch Basics– Teen Tunes– Concepts on the move– Songs I sing

• RJ Cooper *– 101 animations– Teen switch progressions– Early and advanced switch games– 2+2

• Marblesoft – Money skills– Early Learning suite

• SimTech – Switch wars, arcade, kids

• Inclusive Technology– Switch it maker– Choose it maker

• Mayer Johnson– Animals galore– Food for thought

Vision Hardware and Software • Braille Hardware

– Pac Mate– Braille Note– Mount Baton Brailler– Romeo Braille Printer

• Vision Software - Jaws (Screen Reader)- Magic (Screen Enlargement)- Duxbury (Braille Translator)

* SET-BC Provides all of these

MountBatten Brailler