Implementing Communication, Reading and Writing Software in Special Education

Saundra Love-Kandravi

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Introduction

• Specialized instruction goes much further than simple accommodations within the classroom.

• Specialized instruction specifically in the areas of communication, reading and writing can focus on the technological materials that can be used to aid the districts curriculum or even IEP goals.

Results of My Research

Daily Communication Software:

“My Time” and “Boardmaker”

“My Time”

• visual planning and scheduling program for students with special needs.

• utilizes everyday situations• aids in assisting the students to plan their

independent schedules• develop skills in recall, prediction,

memory, decision-making, planning, listening and sequencing

• website address: http://www.edbydesign.com/ebdsw/mt.html

Results cont.

Daily Communication Software: “My Time” and “Boardmaker”

“Boardmaker”

• incredibly powerful and flexible software • program that provides endless possibilities

for creating communication displays and educational materials in minutes

• allows the children to communicate their needs and desires with others

• feel the accomplishment of success in getting the communication across to others.

• website address: http://www.dynavoxsys.com/Default.aspx?tabid=188

Results cont.

Reading Software:“Help Read” and “Talking Words”

“Help Read”• free software

• reads along with the individual while they do the reading. 

• designed to assist to help individuals read fluently as well as

comprehend what it is that they are reading. • website address: http://helpread.net/

Results cont.

Reading Software:“Help Read” and “Talking Words”

“Talking Words”• Students can practice with the program

online • the teacher can track and record each

individual student’s progress and keep the information in the program’s databases

• teacher can go into the databases and print out reports on specific skills

• teachers can report the progress to the parents.

• website address: http://www.talkingwords.com/talkingwordshome.html

Results cont.

Writing Software:“Clicker” and “Word Q”

“Clicker”• a tool for students to use to help improve

while assisting with their writing skills • it is talking word processor• students type into the program with the

keyboard, or they can click on items in the Clicker Grid to send them into Clicker Writer

• allows the students to hear words in the Clicker Grid before they write

• students can also hear what they have written

• website address: http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials/clicker4/index.php

Results cont.

Writing Software:“Clicker” and “Word Q”

“Word Q”• a software tool used along with standard

writing software• provides spoken feedback to help you find

mistakes• is not only limited to the elementary or the

special education area• everyone who experiences problems with

writing and editing can use this program and benefit from it.

• website address: http://www.wordq.com

Results cont.

Example of a scanned document:

Click here for an example of an OCR document

Conclusion

Even though there are many different programs out there to help assist students with special needs in the areas of communication, reading, and writing, not all of the programs are designed to work for each individual child

Before a teacher purchases a specific software program it is best to sample it first

It is rather silly and a waste of all the individuals time especially the child’s time to buy a program that is not going to fully fit the needs for that particular child

Closing Remarks

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