1. Amanda B. Casey
Enhancing Writing Skills Using Assistive Technology

2. Writing
30% -60% of school time is devoted to writing assignments (Hetzroni & Shrieber, 2004)
Students with disabilities perform more poorly
than their non-disabled peers on nearly every
area of writing including text length, quality
and organization, and mechanical and grammatical errors.
(Collings, Englert, Wolbers, & Zhao, 2007)
Improvement in writing skills offer students with disabilities more successful academic inclusion, transfer of improved literacy skills, and greater pass rates on high stakes academic testing.
(Hetzroni & Shrieber, 2004)

3. It is important to consider alternative to traditional paper, pencil approach to writing.
Assistive Technology

4. Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology is any tool or device that makes a task easier.
Writing Assistive technology we all use:
Highlighters
Editing Devices
Post-It Notes

5. Assistive Technology
When developing assistive technology for a student, it is important to follow the low tech to high tech continuum to determine appropriate devices/strategies for a particular student.

6. Low Tech Tools
Picture Supports- Implement a visual support
for the student to use when completing
a writing activity
Pictures With Words- Students identify
words using the picture tag instead of
searching for the correct word
Boardmaker, Pix Writer,
Writing with Symbols
What happened today?
http://www.wati.org/

7. Low Tech Tools
Word Wall/Word Bank- Provide examples of
words that students might need to use during
an activity.
Word Templates and Guides- Allow students to fill in words or phrases to complete sentences.
http://www.wati.org/

8. Low Tech Tools
Portable Talking Dictionaries/Spell Check- Tools that can help a poor speller select appropriate words and correct spelling errors when complete writing task.
www.dictonary.com , www.visuwords.com
Word Processing Software- Allows for the student to easily access, develop, record, edits, publish, and share writing with others.
http://www.wati.org/

9. High Tech Tools
Word Prediction Software- Reduces the time, effort, and frustration with spelling difficulties by providing a listing of possible words to use in a writing piece.
Co- Writer Read and Write Gold
http://www.wati.org/

10. High Tech Tools
Digital Templates- Interactive prompted
writing guides that assist writers through
the correct writing process.
Draft: Builder
Abbreviation Expansion- Create abbreviated forms for frequently used words or phrases for slower writer and poor spellers.
Co-Writer
http://www.wati.org/

11. High Tech Tools
Word Processing with Digital Supports- Students can be provided with digital support features to access with their digital writing.
Highlighters- decrease copying time
Graphic Organizers- chunk information
Text-to-Speech- Hearing words as they are written
Word Prediction
Abbreviation Expansion
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Grammar Check
http://www.wati.org/

12. High Tech Tools
Talking Word Processor- Provides verbal
feedback to the student while they write.
Write Out Loud, Word Q,
Read and Write Gold
Multimedia Software for Alternative Expression of Ideas- Providing access to multimedia
Software that matches the students
motivation and ability
PowerPoint, SMART Notebook,
Videos, Inspiration,
Comic Book Creator
http://www.wati.org/

13. High Tech Tools
Speech-To-Text Software- Voice Recognition Software will provide the student with a voice to produce written pieces.
Word Q, ,Dragon Speak
Read and Write Gold,
Speak Q
http://www.wati.org/

14. References
Collings. N., Englert, C., K., & ZhaoY. (2007). "Scaffolding the Writing of Students with Disabilities through Procedural Facilitation: Using an Internet-Based Technology to Improve Performance." Learning Disability Quarterly30, 9-29.
Hetzroni, O., & Shrieber, B. (2004). Word Processing as an Assistive Technology Tool for Enhancing Academic Outcomes of Students with Writing Disabilities in the General Classroom. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 37(2), 143-154.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. WATI.org : Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative. retrieved from: http://www.wati.org/?pageLoad=content/supports/free/index.php.