Vision and Reading Assistive Technology
description
Transcript of Vision and Reading Assistive Technology
Vision and Reading
Assistive Technology
Leah Noreiga, Cate Dymek, and Patty
Lewis
Low Tech Vision and Reading AT
Eye Glasses
Average Cost: $300-$500 (depending upon brand and insurance)Who Can Use Them?: Children and adultsPositives: •Anyone can use them•help with a variety of eye problems Negatives: •Fragile•Easy to lose•Children may not like wearing them
Low Tech Vision and Reading ATAverage Cost: Varies depending on
bookWho Can Use Them?: Children and adultsPositives: Recreational and Educational usesNegatives:• Textbooks can be expensive and are not easily accessible in public schools difficult to carry•student may have negative attitude towards using large print
Mid-Tech Vision and Reading AT
Average Cost: Available for Free on Windows, $40 for Screen Enlarger
Who Can Use It?: More popular for those with low vision (most often caused by macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa)
Positives: Relatively inexpensiveNegative: No zoom capability—
only one level of magnification for screen
Mid-Tech Vision and Reading AT
Average Cost: Computer Program upwards of $400
Who Can Use It?: More popular for those with low vision (most often caused by macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa)
Positives: Zooms to 36x, font smoothing
Negatives: Font smoothing not as smooth as other programs (ZoomText—more expensive version)
Screen Magnification Software
Mid-Tech Vision and Reading AT
Average Cost: $1,000-$1,400 (depending on licenses needed)
Who Can Use It?: K-12Positives: Reads texts and digital uploads;
support reading fluency, comprehension, and writing; allows for individualized instruction; supports ELL students; developed upon UDL principles
Negatives: Expensive! Scanning is time consuming, training needed, memory needed on computer, doesn’t always read the Web properly
Kurzweil
High Tech Vision and Reading AT
Average Cost of Duxbury Braille Translator: $600 single user; $3000-$4500 for additional licenses
Who Can Use It?: Specifically for blind users
Positives: Sends text directly from computer to embosser without translation
Negatives: Computer support due to connection issues; often need add-on software for math translation; translation needs to be check by someone knowledgeable about Braille
Braille Translation Software
High Tech Visual and Reading AT
Average Cost: $150-$200Who Can Use It?: EveryonePositives: Built-in Apps; can download
additional apps; Voice Guide; large text; different magnification levels; built-in-dictionary; internet access; constant updates available; text-to-speech; optional text-coloring
Negatives: Too expensive to have available to every student; internet access needs filter in school
KINDLE FIRE