By Nicole Feeney, M. ED. , Assistive Technology Specialist

New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Resource & Education Center at Oak Hill

 Writing is a crucial piece to the education puzzle for students of all abilities. When individuals struggle with any aspect of the writing process, assistive technology (AT) can be a valuable, if not essential part to the writing task. AT is often only considered for students with disabilities but there are many students across the regular education curriculum that could benefit from writing supports and tools. Some may struggle with the organization of thoughts and ideas while others may find the task of computation laborious. Still there are students whose handwriting is illegible or they find it truly painful to grip a pen for any period of time. However, all of these problems have a direct effect on a student’s motivation to write and the production of written language expected in the classroom. There are no simple solutions, only ways to design a more comfortable, adaptable environment using an assortment of technology tools in which students can become confident, flourishing writers.

It is critical that the appropriate technology tools to support writing needs are selected and provided to the students when necessary. Teachers and parents should consider and assess the following: the individual’s willingness, abilities, concerns, and needs; the goals and objectives of the lessons presented; the method of instructional procedures and how students are asked to express their thoughts through writing; and how progress and success will be determined.

Assistive technology tools can play an important role in offering many students the much-needed support desired and required to express their personal ideas and produce written language that will give them a sense of pride.   Take a look around your classroom for several creative and inexpensive, low-tech tools that can be used to support students on a daily basis.  Here are some wonderful ideas to add to your bag-of-techs:

•  Use homemade play dough or store-bought clay to create a customized writing grip.  Put the clay around the pencil, have the student hold to make an impression, and then let dry.
• Instead of writing their answers allow students to highlight or use removable highlighting tape.  Highlighters can also be used to help kids write within the lines (or highlighted area). 
• Magnetic letters on a cookie sheet or rubber stamps to compensate for pencil-tasks.
• Position a 3-inch binder side-ways and glue a snack-bag clip on the top of the slope.  You can use this as a slant board.  You may also want to glue a piece of cabinet liner to the bottom so that it will not slide around.
• Use puff paint to create raised lines on writing paper.
• Allow kids to write with funny-looking pens, markers that smell or other utensils that will keep them motivated.
• Index cards can be used to guide students while reading.  If you cut a hole in the center of the index card it can be used to isolate letters, words, or sentences in a textbook.  Index cards can be bought in many different colors.

Make sure all of these tools are well situated so that they are accessible to ALL of your students!  This will make a tremendous difference between requiring your assistance and working independently.

The computer is becoming a very popular if not required tool for writing assignments in all subject areas and grades.  Why don’t we allow all students access to the assistive technology tools that can help them become enthusiastic, self-assured writers?  Some of the most famous writers have struggled with a writing disability and by finding an easier, more productive way to release their thoughts have become immensely successful in their dreams, lives, and careers.  As a result of Agatha Christie’s determination to overcome her learning disability, she dictated all of her thoughts and stories to a transcriptionist.  She is so beautifully quoted as stating, “I, myself, was always recognized . . . as the “slow one” in the family. It was quite true, and I knew it and accepted it. Writing and spelling were always terribly difficult for me. My letters were without originality. I was . . . an extraordinarily bad speller and have remained so until this day.”  With that being said Agatha Christie is one of the best-selling authors of all time.  Her writing has extended over more than half a century and she has sold over two billion books worldwide.  Inspirational people like Agatha Christie, should motivate teachers as well students to strive for their dreams no matter their ability or disability.  Assistive technology can certainly aid individuals in conquering all sorts of complicated tasks or obstacles.  Today, Agatha Christie should have used voice recognition software to independently scribe her thoughts.  Spell and grammar check would have also been great tools for her.      

The following are some of my favorite FREE assistive technology tools for the writing process.

• Using the computer, students can personalize font choices, text size, and the color of the background and/or text.  Before they print their work they can change back to teacher expectations.
• Students can edit their work by listening to what they have written.
• Mac — go to System Preferences > Speech > Text-to-speech > Speak Selected Text when the key is pressed > Command + R.  Whenever text is highlighted and Command + R is selected on the keyboard, the text will be read aloud.  You can change the key combination if desired.
• PC — WordTalk is a free, text-to-speech program that can be downloaded to work within Microsoft Word and Outlook.  It highlights each word as it is read aloud. It also includes a talking spell checker and a talking thesaurus.  The link is http://www.wordtalk.org.uk/Home.
• http://www.readwritethink.org  – K-12 classroom resources and interactive tools that can be used to supplement a variety of lessons and offer an opportunity for students to use technology while developing their literacy skills.
• http://www.paperrater.com – Online tool which analyzes writing across five distinct categories: Plagiarism detection, Spell Check, Grammar Check, Word Choice, Style, and Vocabulary Builder.
• http://ghotit.com  - Online context spell checker service.  The downloadable Ghotit version provides text-to-speech within the correction window.
• http://www/writingfun.com  – Interactive, online writing tool to help elementary age students write descriptions, narratives, poetry, explanations, procedures, etc.
• http://www.mindomo.com -  This is an interactive graphic organizing software that will help students visualize their ideas and plan their projects.  It is free but you must sign up!
• http://www.wordcounter.com -Wordcounter ranks the most frequently used words in any given body of text.
• http://www.bibme.org  -  BibMe allows students to cite sources and create bibliographies in a snap. This free bibliography maker auto-fills information for you in MLA, APA, Chicago, or Turabian formats.

About Nicole & NEAT:

As an Assistive Technology Specialist at the NEAT Center at Oak Hill in Hartford, CT., Nicole provides professional development, training, technical assistance, and consultation on the continuum of assistive technology devices and services to families, educators, therapists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals; she provides AT consultations and evaluations to people with disabilities of all ages; and offers AT demonstrations to promote community awareness.  Nicole comes to us from Foundation High School in Milford, CT, where she taught students with special needs in the classroom as well as helped them to develop and improve their skills through the use of assistive technology.  She has provided ongoing support, mentoring, and guidance to her students while promoting innovative approaches for their employment, independent living and community needs.  A Master’s Degree in Assistive Technology from Southern CT State University has also allowed her to offer professional development and assistance to educators in K-12 settings. Nicole can be contacted at (860) 286-3101 or feeneyn@ciboakhill.org .

The New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center at Oak Hill (www.neatmarketplace.org ) enriches lives by enhancing independence and quality of life for people with disabilities including visual impairments. It sets the standard in providing innovative solutions, program excellence, services and advocacy for people with disabilities. The NEAT Center at Oak Hill is a place to learn about products, equipment and services that assist people with day-to-day activities that they have trouble doing themselves, either because of a disability or the effects of aging. It is also a place to donate or buy durable medical equipment. The NEAT Center is a program of Oak Hill.