Departments

Assistive Technology

Writing Tools

Writing involves the physical ability to produce written language (mechanics) and the cognitive ability to put words together to create written expression (composing).

The Occupational Therapist is often the most knowledgeable service provider for the mechanics of writing. The Special Education Teacher and Speech/Language Pathologist may be the most helpful in the area of composition.

Abbreviation Expansion

• Microsoft Office Word 2003 - Tools menu, Record new macro
• Abbreviation Expansion program comparison

Adapted Paper

• Raised line paper
• Highlighted line paper
  

Alternative Keyboards

• Kinderboard
  
• IntelliTools IntelliKeys keyboard
  
• Magic Wand Keyboard

Computer Access

• Microsoft Windows accessibility features – (Pointer Schemes, Pointer Speed & Acceleration, Pointer Visibility, Click Lock, SnapTo, Cursor Width Control, Personalized appearance, Cursor Blink Rate)

Electronic (talking) dictionary/thesaurus/spell checker

On Screen Keyboards

• Gus On Screen Keyboard
• Microsoft Windows On-Screen Keyboard
• OnScreen

Organization and Planning

• Draft:Builder (Don Johnston) - for 3rd - 12^th grade skills
• Inspiration (Inspiration Software, Inc.) - for 6^th – 12^th grade skills
• Kidspiration – for K-5^th grade skills

Pencil Grip

Portable Word Processors

• AlphaSmart Products: Neo, Dana
  
• Writer Learning Systems Products: Fusion

Slant Boards

• Therapro slant board

Talking Word Processors

• IntelliTools Classroom Suite (IntelliTalk)
• textHELP Read & Write Gold
• Write:Outloud ( Don Johnston)
• Writing with Symbols 2000

Voice Recognition

• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• textHELP Read & Write Gold
  
• Microsoft Word 2003

Word cards/word book/word wall

Word Prediction Software 

• Co-Writer
• Gus Word Prediction
• IntelliTools Classroom Suite (IntelliTalk)
• textHELP Read & Write Gold

Word processor with spell checker/grammar checker/writing support

Writing Templates