Technology support for students with learning differences

SMU has the following ON CAMPUS to try out and use:


Writing

Read and Write Gold (advanced spell-check, reads text out loud, homophone check) in the L.E.C.
http://www.texthelp.com/page.asp?pg_id=10193

Style Writer (advanced grammar check) in the L.E.C.
http://www.stylewriter-usa.com/

Dragon Naturally Speaking (speech-to-text, write your papers just by saying out loud what you want to write) in Fondren Library
Here is what an SMU graduate says about Dragon "This Program is by far the best program for someone with Dyslexia. There is nothing better you can get!!! And if you are not dyslexic, it is a great program still; it will allow you to write faster than you ever could type."
http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/


Reading

Kurzweill 3000 - watch this video http://www.kurzweiledu.com/v11overviewvideos.aspx
This program not only reads your text aloud, you can highlight sections of it, and transform it into an outline form to print out. It also allows you to write papers, and it reads your writing out loud along with reading the spell check options out loud.
In the Assistive Technology room in Fondren Library

Mac screen reader (free, comes with any Mac)
Use VoiceOver to read anything on your screen: PDF's, websites, emails, etc.

Go to System Preferences
Select Speech
Make sure box is clicked "Speak selected text when key is pressed"
Click Set key
Then actually hold down the keys you want to use for your speech
command. Try Apple/Control/S
Once this is set, you just have to highlight the text to read, then push
your selected command buttons.



You can find these ON-LINE
(some are free and others cost $ to buy)

Writing

ClaroRead - "provides text to speech support tools that allow computer users to read and write independently. By making a computer speak any text with a human voice, text documents can be proofed out loud along with web pages, e-mails and any other text."
http://www.clarosoftware.com/

MacSpeech Dictate -Similar to Dragon Naturally Speaking, but for Mac. Here is what one SMU senior said about MacSpeech: "I didn't see how I could benefit from using a software program, since I have great public speaking skills, and I write a lot for my major. However, what used to take hours to write and edit, now I can just speak and in 45 minutes I have a good 3-4 pages of clear work. It helps me really get my thoughts out, and that does require more editing at the tail end, but getting it out quicker actually saves time overall."

Ginger (www.gingersoftware.com) -advanced spell checker, picks up context in your sentences-way better than Word.

Inspiration - brainstorming program that allows you to create papers in a concept map format first, then turn it directly into outline form, in order to write full paragraphs. Also can use it to outline book chapters or notes. I have this on some computers in the LEC so you can try it out before you buy. http://www.inspiration.com/

Reading

RFB&D (Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic)-audio formatted books, some now are downloadable from the internet, to be played on your computer. Others that you order from RFB&D require one of their players. Talk to Becca Marin for details on a membership. This can change your world!
http://www.inspiration.com/

Bookshare.org-download thousands of books and listen to them on your computer or mp3 player. Membership is free to college students.

Kindle 2 -hand-held, wireless reading device that downloads anything you need to read (newspapers, magazines, books) and the new version can read it out loud to you. It's a thin device, about as big as a 5x7 picture. $359 on Amazon.com


Here is a list of screen readers to assist in text-to-speech conversions for most computers: Universal Reader, Verbose, Text Aloud, Natural Reader, Deskbot, Thunder (version for students who are blind or have low vision), Voiceover (for Mac), Digital Future (for Mac).

Note taking

Record lectures with various methods- use your Mac laptop, switch to outline format to take notes, and click audio to record. This will record exactly what is said and link it up to what you are writing at the exact moment.

Recorder for iPod-record lectures, then download all lectures onto your computer and listen from there.

Livescribe Smartpen records the lecture while you write notes in your notebook (it records as you write on your paper and it syncs the two). Would be great for classes that you can't take notes on a laptop because of the formulas, drawings, etc. you need to recreate. Pretty amazing! Check out the quick demonstration at http://www.livescribe.com/