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Assistive Technology Tools

Many students are suffering from disabilities that can be physical, mental, mobility and others. Others have exceptionalities and special needs. All those students need assistance, adaptive devices, tools, or other learning accommodations to compensate for their disabilities weaknesses (Assistive technology devices and services, 2010). Accommodations and assistive tools help students to learn equally, effectively and to be independent through technology (TeachThought Staff, n.d.). Universal Design Learning (UDL) allows for students to get the help they need and differentiation within in the classroom. Assistive technology is defined in the law and needs to be considered in every individualized and differentiated education program. Educative Assistant technology (AT) is a piece of equipment, device, digital tool, or services that will maintain, increase the functional capabilities of students with disabilities and will help them improve their learning process.

These helpful tools can be low-tech and simple as a foam grip that helps student grasp a crayon, as common as glasses that make possible to kids to see clearly and read or sophisticated as a software that converts a spoken word into typed text (TeachThought Staff, n.d.). AT can support and benefit students with exceptionalities. It provides students solutions that reduce their reliance on caregivers, make them more independent, increase their self-confidence and improve their learning skills and their social lives.

District IEP teams evaluate the unique needs of students with disabilities and exceptionalities. They need first, to define the student’s need, difficulties, or disability (difficulty in math, reading, writing… Are they hearing, visual impaired? (Assistive technology devices and services, 2010). In a next step, they need to collect relevant data related to their weaknesses, learning barriers and performance (Haven, n.d.). Based on the evaluation, collected information and data, the IEP team try to find a solution, by creating strategies for accessibility. They determine which assistive technology device, tool, or service the students need to maximize their accessibility (Assistive technology devices and services, 2010).

Many classroom teachers still need help to know which appropriate assistive technology they need to use in their classroom to instruct and assess individuals. Most of them are unaware of the assistive abilities built in digital tools they are using in daily basis in their teaching process. The infographic below is a quick reference of three virtual tools within assistive abilities and what are the specific steps that teachers need to do to enable these capabilities, and help their students learn independently and equally.

Tools teachers can use to promote learning & UDL

1. Substital for Chrome Browser

“Substital is Chrome Extension feature. It automatically adds subtitles and closed captions to online videos like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos” (14 Chrome extensions to support students with learning challenges, 2017). To enable it, just go to Substital.com, press “Get for Chrome” then press “Add to Chrome”. It will be installed. Pin its icon on the toolbar.

https://substital.com/

2. Snap&Read in Chrome

Snap&Read Chrome extension gives flexible tools that address diverse reading needs. Snap&Read is available in the Google Chrome toolbar. Students can use it on websites, Google Drive, PDFs (14 Chrome extensions to support students with learning challenges, 2017). Students hear text read aloud when they click on the Snap&Read icon in the toolbar, then on the world they want it to be read. It also works with inaccessible text like text embedded in images.

https://snapandread.com/

3. Text-to-Speech

Text-to-speech (TTS) is a high-tech assistive technology that help students that have visual impairment, blindness, dyslexia, or any other reading disability TeachThought Staff. (n.d.). TTS tool is a software that scan and read aloud words with a computer-generated synthesized voice, sentences or any digital texts and content (Understood Team, n.d.).

4. Immersive Reader in Microsoft

In Microsoft, TTS is the immersive reader tool. Immersive reader is a free application included in Office 365 for education (Microsoft). It is becoming more widely available since it is now available to use in a variety of different EdTech tools like Minecraft for education, Flipgrid, Pear Deck, Canvas, Nearpod, Buncee and others. It offers a very customizable experience for students with disabilities.

Immersive reader can read what is written for students. Students or teachers can use the voice option to change the speed like make the reading faster or slower. They can also choose a female or male voice. In addition to reading, Immersive reader can simplify the page and remove all kind of distraction. It has text preferences. It makes the text bigger and can change the background color. It can widen the text spacing to reduce visual crowding. It also has a line focus option, where students can only focus on reading a simple line. By using grammar tools included in Immersive Reader, students can break the words into syllables with a single click, can highlight the parts of speech (verbs, adjectives, adverbs) and turn on labels.

To enable the immersive reader in any web page, double click on any word to select, and with right mouse click, choose “Read aloud from here” option. The immersive start by highlighting and reading fluently the words using high quality voice. In Microsoft Word, the desktop application, we click on “View” option. In the “View” menu, we find the immersive reader icon (an open book with a sound icon).

The immersive reader menu opens, we can find page color option to change the background color if it is too bright for some readers. The line focus highlights lines as the text is being read. The syllables option displays syllables and break up the words into syllables. The “read aloud” button read ant text starting by the word where the mouse cursor is placed. To get out of immersive reader, just click the “close” button in the menu.  In the Microsoft Office 365 online version applications, we can click on the immersive reader icon on the upper right of the screen. It also translates if the reader doesn’t understand the language.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/learning-tools

5. Text to Speech in Google Docs

To enable text-to-speech in Google Doc, click the red icon down in the Chromebook corner, go the setting gear icon in the menu, scroll all the way to “Advanced” option. Keep scrolling down to get to “Menage Accessibility Features”. Turn on “Enable Select-to-Speak” or use the keyboard shortcut: “Search + S”. Go to Google Doc, select any sentence, press the “search + s”. a computer-generated voice will read aloud the sentence for you.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/read-aloud-a-text-to-spee/hdhinadidafjejdhmfkjgnolgimiaplp?hl=en

6. Voice to Text

Voice to text or dictation technology is powerful assistive tool that can help students that have writing issues (Martin, n.d.). Students can speak aloud to the computer using microphone, they can dictate the computer what they need to write (Martin, n.d.). They use their voices to write, edit and revise instead of using their hands. Voice to text can be used by students struggling with spelling, suffering from writing disabilities like dysgraphia (Martin, n.d.) or students with motor skills issues or mobility needs (if they can’t use their hands or have no hands).

Nowadays, a lot of devices and software have already dictation technology built in (Windows, Android, Chrome…). Dictation applications can also be downloaded if using smart phones or tablets. Users must enable the use of their computers or devices microphone. They should also pronounce clearly when using dictate tool, they should dictate the words and the punctuation.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/voice-to-text/jdcdafhjjjfnkoeilnjmnadadaoehgdc?hl=en

7. Dictate in Microsoft

Dictate or Speech-to-Text tool in Microsoft Word allows users to voice type. in the “Home menu”, on the right-hand side, there is a dictate button with a microphone icon. Once clicked, we hear a little noise that indicates that Dictate have started. As user is talking, we can see the dictate tool writing on the screen. A dictation toolbar will show on the word page. It can be moved anywhere to keep it out of the way. In “Settings” option in the Dictate toolbar, you can change the language and automatically punctuate. You can also customize by adding voice commands like formatting commands (delete, bold and underline words or the entire sentence) , or creating lists with bullets and numbers, adding comments just by using your voice.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dictate-your-documents-in-word-3876e05f-3fcc-418f-b8ab-db7ce0d11d3c

8. Voice Typing in Google Docs

In Google Docs instead of writing using hands and keyboard, students can use their voice. they can just talk and have Google transcribe the words for them. To use this feature in Google Docs, click on “Tools” in the menu bar, and choose “Voice Typing” from the scrolling menu. A box with microphone icon appears with a selected language. Students can click on the chosen language to change it and use another one. To start recording, click on the microphone icon, and if a pop-up appears, click “allow”. Start dictating, Google Docs will start writing. To turn the voice typing off, just click another time on the microphone icon or just say “stop listening”. Google Docs underline in gray the words that it’s not sure about, that will be easier for the user to spot any errors and correct the mistakes. Same as Dictate in Microsoft Word, users can use voice commands to edit the written sentences.

https://support.google.com/docs/answer/4492226?hl=en

9. Voice in Voice Typing in Chrome

Voice in voice typing is a Chrome extension used as note-taking tool (14 Chrome extensions to support students with learning challenges, 2017). To enable this extension, go to Chrome Web Store, and press “Add to Chrome” to install it. In a second step, allow permission to use the microphone then select your country. Go to the Puzzle piece icon in the toolbar for extension buttons, scroll down, find the microphone logo and pin it to the toolbar. To use it, just press on the microphone icon in the right top corner, then start talking. This feature will start writing what you are dictating. When you finish, turn off the microphone. Voice in voice typing will underline the errors and gives you option for correction.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/voice-in-voice-typing/pjnefijmagpdjfhhkpljicbbpicelgko?hl=en

10. Narrator Reader for Microsoft

Narrator in Microsoft and surface computers can read out content and controls. To start or stop Narrator press “Ctrl +Windows + Enter”. To silence Narrator at any point, press Ctrl. To go to Narrator settings, press “Ctrl + Win + N”. Use Caps Lock and the left or right arrows to navigate items, more through buttons, links, and headings. Narrator can read aloud what you are doing, describes events, notifications, and calendar appointments. It can be used by blind students or vision impaired ones.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/complete-guide-to-narrator-e4397a0d-ef4f-b386-d8ae-c172f109bdb1

11. Live Caption in Chrome Browser

Live caption for any video using Chrome browser can be used by deaf, hearing-impaired students, or in classroom where students need to watch muted video. To enable this feature, open the settings by going to the top right corner and press the three dots to open the menu, scroll down and select “settings”. Go to the left side bar in settings, select “Advanced”, then “Accessibility”. The first option in “Accessibility” is “Live Caption”. Toggle it on, and it will start working for you. To change the font, color, and caption size, go to “Caption Preferences”.  

https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/9350862?hl=en

Visit this infographic for more information:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEv8hQoSJc/PUdGp375fmPX4SuYO2989g/view?utm_content=DAEv8hQoSJc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Reference section

1. TeachThought Staff. (n.d.). 15 assistive technology tools & resources for students with disabilities,”. TeachThought website.
2. Assistive technology devices and services,". (2010, June 30). Wrightslaw website. https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm
3. TeachThought Staff. (n.d.). 15 assistive technology tools & resources for students with disabilities,”. TeachThought website.
4. Assistive technology devices and services,". (2010, June 30). Wrightslaw website. https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm
5. Haven, S. (n.d.). Assistive technology assessment – Find the right tools. Technology to Unlock Potential website. http://www.techpotential.net/assessment
6. Assistive technology devices and services,". (2010, June 30). Wrightslaw website. https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm
7. Martin, J. (n.d.). Dictation (speech-to-text) technology: What it is and how it works. Understood. https://www.understood.org/articles/en/dictation-speech-to-text-technology-what-it-is-and-how-it-works
8. Martin, J. (n.d.). Dictation (speech-to-text) technology: What it is and how it works. Understood. https://www.understood.org/articles/en/dictation-speech-to-text-technology-what-it-is-and-how-it-works
9. Martin, J. (n.d.). Dictation (speech-to-text) technology: What it is and how it works. Understood. https://www.understood.org/articles/en/dictation-speech-to-text-technology-what-it-is-and-how-it-works

References for this page & infographic

14 Chrome extensions to support students with learning challenges. (2017, October 21). Education, technology, and everything in between. Understood Team https://behindmytechiewall.wordpress.com/

Assistive technology devices and services,". (2010, June 30). Wrightslaw website. https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm

Assistive technology and universal design for learning. (2021). Parkland School District. Retrieved on November 15, 2021 from https://www.parklandsd.org/departments/technology/assistive-technology-and-universal-design-for-learning

Cohen, R. (2017, October 24). 14 chrome extensions to support students with learning challenges. https://behindmytechiewall.wordpress.com/2017/10/21/14-chrome-extensions-to-support-students-with-learning-challenges/

Haven, S. (n.d.). Assistive technology assessment – Find the right tools. Technology to Unlock Potential website. http://www.techpotential.net/assessment

Martin, J. (n.d.). Dictation (speech-to-text) technology: What it is and how it works. Understood. https://www.understood.org/articles/en/dictation-speech-to-text-technology-what-it-is-and-how-it-works

Morin, A. (2021, April 20). 8 examples of assistive technology and Adaptive Tools. Understood. https://www.understood.org/articles/en/8-examples-of-assistive-technology-adaptive-tools.

Rose, D. (2018). 24 assistive technology and universal design for learning. Pressbooks. https://techandcurriculum.pressbooks.com/chapter/assistive-tech-and-udl/

Rose, D.H., Hasselbring, T.S., Stahl, S., and Zabala, J. (2021). Assistive technology and universal design for learning: Two sides of the same coin. http://smcmtechintheclassroom.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/86565400/AT_UDL.pdf

TeachThought Staff. (n.d.). 15 assistive technology tools & resources for students with disabilities,”. TeachThought website. https://www.teachthought.com/technology/15-assistive-technology-tools-resources-for-students-with-disabilities

Understood Team. (n.d.). Assistive technology for reading. Understood. https://www.understood.org/articles/en/assistive-technology-for-reading

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