ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS YOU AT WORK & PLAY

The frustration of not being in control and needing job assistance damages confidence and contributes to negative feelings of self-worth. These assistive devices provide a measure of independence and confidence to individuals with dyslexia by improving the accuracy and speed of their work and minimizing the need to rely on others for assistance.

For more information or help using an assistive device, contact us HERE

Dragon naturally speaking- Dictate documents, send email, search the Web, and more – with simple voice commands.

ClaroRead- A highly effective, multi-sensory software solution for supporting reading and writing

Smart Phones

Smart phones allow you to take verbal notes, add phone numbers you want to save, and make note of information that is important to work as well as life. Use your cell phone to create a recorded "To Do" list of tasks at home and work so you can keep track of what needs to be done. You can also save to the phone all the cheat sheets you have created to spell words, remember frequently called telephone numbers and math formulas you might need on the job. And any other information that makes your life run more smoothly.

For CNET'S review of 2016 phones Click Here

Smart phone examples:

iPhone

Droid

Ghotit Real-Writer Pro for Mac and Windows is a text editor and contextual spell checker geared towards users who have dyslexia, and created by people with dyslexia.

OTHER TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP

Audio Recording

This type of program provides a quick way to take notes, reminders or record phone calls or meetings. A feature of the software is a visual representation of an audio file.

When you are finished recording, this program will show the user the natural pauses in the audio file. This software breaks down the file based on these pauses making it easier for the user to navigate from one section to another or insert text or images in specific parts of the audio file.

Touch Typing Tutors

Dyslexia and writing difficulty are often combined. Touch typing tutors are applications designed to help a user master this skill.

These devices tend to improve the spelling of those with dyslexia because he can associate the spelling of a word with a typing pattern on the keyboard. So when he types an actual document, he can simply recall the specific typing patterns to ensure the correctness of the spelling.

Additionally, touch typing tutors have written and spoken instructions to ensure that users can properly follow the lessons.

Spell Checkers

We’ve all at one time or other have tried using the spell checker feature in our word documents. While this feature can be useful, it can only correct the misspelled word if it is very close to the actual word.

Spell checkers for people with dyslexia can provide suggestions to a misspelled word based on the context of its sentence or the words nearest to it. This type of spell checker can therefore correct a word although it may have been spelled very differently from the actual intended word.

A text to speech feature lets the user hear what is written in the document. This gives the user the opportunity to make further corrections.

Scanning Pens

Portable devices which people with dyslexia can use to assist them in reading text or reading words within the text that they can't figure out. The user simply needs to point the scanning pen on a particular word and the pen’s speech synthesizer speaks it.

Some of these types of devices have built-in dictionaries that can speak the definition of a scanned word. The pen comes with earbuds, but there is a learning curve. One must practice with it to gain mastery. These pens are designed for school age students and adults. When selecting a pen be sure to choose the advanced model.

This device gives people with dyslexia the ability to understand printed text regardless of where they are.

Mind Mapping Software

Mind mapping software allows users to process information by creating images, concepts and diagrams. it is a perfect tool for someone who prefers visual representation of their ideas.

Mind mapping software gives people with dyslexia the ability to identify ideas represented by graphics. This ability helps users to create relationships, using lines or other visual elements, between these ideas to complete the diagram.

This program allows people with dyslexia to not only form concepts, but it frees them from having to write down their ideas making it possible for them to share these ideas with others and visually explain how they work.

Assistive Technology

• Minimize the need to ask for assistance.
• Have a learning curve: it works better as the person using it masters the technology.
• Assist those with dyslexia in work and life endeavors.
• Definitely reduce the enormous stress people with dyslexia feel when confronted with a task that demands fluent reading and quick writing.
• Empower people with dyslexia to develop ways to compensate for slow reading and writing abilities.
• Bolster the self image of a person with dyslexia.

Which Techology Will Help You Do Your Job?

• Which tool addresses your specific need?
• Where will you use it?
• How difficult to learn how to use?
• How successful is the device at helping you do what you want to do?
• Does it work with other technologies?
• Does it provide technical support?
• Can you obtain that support locally?

Finding assistive technology tools that suit you best will require an investment in time to learn how they work and how comfortable you are working with them.

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