Using Computers to Enhance Written Communication Sarah Crosbie, MS.Ed, OTR/L

There is a wide range of assistive technology (AT) tools available to help students who struggle with writing. There is a wide range of assistive technology (AT) tools available to help students who struggle with writing. Some of these tools help students circumvent the actual physical task of writing, while others facilitate proper spelling, punctuation, grammar, word usage, and organization. Some of these tools help students circumvent the actual physical task of writing, while others facilitate proper spelling, punctuation, grammar, word usage, and organization.

Standard Keyboard Adaptations Keyboard stand Keyboard stand Wrist rest Wrist rest Large print key labels Large print key labels Color coding labels Color coding labels Keyboard protector/ Moisture guard Keyboard protector/ Moisture guard Keyguard Keyguard

Easy Access/ Accessibility Features Sticky Keys: Eliminates need to press keys simultaneously (Control Panel →Accessibility Options) Repeat/Slow Keys: Changes the speed of key repeat function or turns it off (Control Panel →Ease of Access) Mouse Keys: Allows mouse to be controlled from the keyboard (Control Panel →Ease of Access)

Alternative Keyboards Reduces input choices Reduces input choices Groups keys by color/location Groups keys by color/location Adds graphics to aid comprehension Adds graphics to aid comprehension  Intellikeys  Keys-U-See  Kinderboard

Talking Word Processor/ Text-To-Speech Write: Out Loud (Don Johnston) WordTalk - free program for the PC that works within WORD and Outlook and highlights each word that is read. Includes a talking spell checker and a talking thesaurus WordTalk Natural Reader - free software program which converts any written text to speech (Word, pdf, websites, s) Natural Reader Click,Speak - a free Firefox extension that reads the Internet and highlights phrases and sentences as it reads Click,Speak PowerTalk - free text-to-speech for PowerPoint presentations PowerTalk TypeIt-ReadIt- free Built into Office 2003 for Windows,VISTA, VoiceOver in Macs

Speech Recognition Built into Windows Vista Built into Windows Vista Dragon Naturally Speaking (MAC/PC) Dragon Naturally Speaking (MAC/PC) IBM ViaVoice (MAC/PC) IBM ViaVoice (MAC/PC) MacSpeech Dictate MacSpeech Dictate SpeakQ (PC) works with WordQ SpeakQ (PC) works with WordQ

Word Prediction  Co:Writer  Co:Writer SOLO (Don Johnston)  Classroom Suite (Intellitools)  WordQ (Quillsoft)  Read&Write 9 GOLD (textHELP)

Alternative Input Intellikeys Onscreen keyboard BAT keyboard

Track ball Touch window Joystick switch