writing without a pen: exploring some assistive
TRANSCRIPT
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Writing Without a Pen:
Exploring Some Assistive
Technologies with Writing
Solutions
Carolyn Phillips and Martha Rust
Tools for Life
www.gatfl.org LDA of IN
November 2013
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Agenda
• Tools for Life Overview
• A look at Writing Software
• A look at a few Apps for Writing
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AMAC
AMAC Accessibility is a social change organization on a mission to create affordable services for governmental, private and non-profits organization working with individuals with disabilities. Services include e-text, braille, captioning, assistive technology, office management software and consulting.
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Accessibility Made Smart
AMAC creates practical solutions that work, with a focus on utility, ease of use, and high quality. • Accessibility Consulting focuses on organizational accessibility needs with
evaluation, technical assistance, customer support, and website accessibility solutions.
• Braille Services produces customized projects from both print materials and electronic text including partial books and chapters or graphics only using cutting-edge technology.
• Captioning Services makes classrooms, meetings, labs and other audio environments fully accessible for deaf or hard-of-hearing.
• Professional E-Text Producers provide high-quality e-text in many formats such as PDF, DOC, DAISY, and HTML.
• Certified Assistive Technology team provides on-site and remote assessments, demonstrations, training and technical assistance for education, work, and daily living environments.
For more information, please visit our website at www.amacusg.org
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Tools for Life Mission
We’re here to help Georgians
with disabilities gain access to
and acquisition of assistive
technology devices and assistive
technology services so they can
live, learn, work, and play
independently in the
communities of their choice.
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• TFL developed Georgia’s Plan for AT
• We serve individuals of all ages & all disabilities in Georgia
• Over 50,000 thru various activities throughout the year
• TFL Network
• Assistive Technology Resource Centers
• Lending Libraries
• Training and Demonstrations
• AT Reuse
• AT Funding Education/Assistance and Resources
• Online Resources
• www.gatfl.org - 12,000 unique visitors a month
Tools for Life
Georgia’s Federal AT Act Program
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Indiana Assistive Technology Act project
(INDATA)
Address: Easter Seals Crossroads
4740 Kingsway Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Email:
http://www.eastersealstech.com
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Learning Disabilities
• 1 in 5 people in the United States have a
learning disability
• 1/3 of children receiving special education
have a learning disability
• Many have a difficulty when it comes to
writing and written expression
Twenty-Ninth Annual Report to Congress, U.S.Department of Education, 2010
Picture used by Permission
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Learning Disabilities and
Writing
• Dysgraphia- affects writing, which requires a complex set
of motor and information processing skills
– Poor Handwriting
– Spelling
– Organizing Thoughts
• Dyslexia- language processing disorder can hinder
reading, writing, spelling and sometimes even speaking
• Executive Functioning- governs the ability to plan,
organize and manage details
• Auditory processing disorder can cause difficulty in
distinguishing the difference between similar sounds
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Kevin
• Has Cerebral Palsy
• In 2nd Grade
• Dysgraphia
• Used a laptop
• Used a
Communication
Device
• Heavy!
• Lots to carry!
Picture used by permission
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Low Tech Solutions
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Low Tech Solutions
• Built up grips
– Variety
– Create your own using tennis balls
• Larger / thicker pencils
• Electronic Spellers
– Franklin Spellers
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Low Tech Solutions
Writing Solutions: – “The Penagain takes a novel ergonomic approach to ink
pen design. The body of the pen is shaped like a "Y"
creating a cradle for the index finger to rest in.”
http://ergonomics.about.com/od/buyingguide/fr/frpenagai
n.htm
– Wide barrel pens can make it easier for some people to
write due to their contoured shape. With a Fat Ergonomic
Pen there’s more surface area to grip which makes it
easier to write.
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Writing Solutions:
– “Stabilo’s goal is to make writing and drawing easier, so they
work closely with ergonomic and fine motor specialists to
achieve the optimum ergonomics results. Their products low
weight and ergonomic shape, the hand muscles do not tire too
quickly, as only a light pressure is required, eliminating the
pain of hand cramps. Their pen and pencils even encourage
good posture, which can improve academic performance in
children and students.” https://www.thewritingpenstore.com/c-
307-easyergo-s-move-easy.aspx
– The Free Ride's vibrant and sleek metal frame is perfectly
balanced with the neutral hand placement
grips. https://www.thewritingpenstore.com/c-295-free-ride-
ergonomic-pens.aspx
Low Tech Solutions
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Tilt Desks
• Positioning the work
closer the student can
improve visual access
• Promote upright trunk
posture
• Improve head posture
Desktopdesk.com; $375
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Software
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Live Scribe Pen
• Records what it hears and what you write
• Uses specific paper for playback
• Connects to computer by USB for saving
• Tap on note and playback from there
• Jump forward and back in notes
• Dictionary
• Translation Apps
• Purchase Apps online
• Demo
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Speech Recognition Software
• Turn spoken words into text
• Connect with the timing of your thoughts
• Dictation speed 70 to 100 words per minute
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Word Q/ Speech Q
• Software that has
built-in word
prediction
• Suggests words
• Spoken feedback to
hear what was written
• Speech Q is a plugin
for Speech
Recognition
• 30 day free trial
http://www.goqsoftware.
com/trial/
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Texthelp
Read and Write Gold
• Available for desktop,
cloud, and iPad
• Built-in dictionary
• Built-in Picture
dictionary
• Word prediction
• Learns the way you
write
• Now available on
Google Chrome
• Free downloadable
demo
• Study Features
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WYNN
• Freedom Scientific
• Icon Friendly
• New feature:
Notecards and
Writing templates
– Supports Common
Core
• Study features
• Save as Mp3 files
• Send to Word
• Built-in Dictionaries,
Thesaurus, Word
Prediction, Voice
Notes, Highlighters
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Kurzweil 3000
• Text-to-Speech
software
• Helps improve
reading speed and
comprehension
• Note taking
capabilities
– Different color
highlighters
• firefly
– Access many features
of Kurzweil through
the internet
– firefly demo
• Free download trial
– www.kurzweiledu.com
– Kurzweil 3000 Demo
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Ginger
• Online grammar and
spell checker
• Can see corrections
as you type or use
Ginger Proofreader to
scan the entire
document for
mistakes
• Will read corrections
out loud
• Has an mobile
Android app
• Works inside Word
and emails
• Text to Speech
– Read emails and docs
– Can choose voice and
accent
• Ginger Demo
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Premier Software • www.readingmadeeZ.com
• Read documents in standard file formats such as Microsoft Word, Rich Text, text file format, HTML, and PDF
• Converted to audio files for use on a CD or MP3 player
• Scan and read documents
• Look up a word or definition in the integrated dictionary
• Create study notes and much more!
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Premier Features
• PDF Equalizer
• E-Text Reader
• Universal Reader
Plus
• Scan and Read
Pro
• Talking Word
Processor
• PDF Magic Pro
• Text-to-Audio
• Ultimate Talking
Dictionary
• Talking Calculator
• Premier Predictor
Pro
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Worksheet Wizard by
Premier
• http://www.readingmadeez.com/video/train
ing/worksheet%20wizard/index.html
• Converts worksheets into electronic text
• Can write, draw, straighten, and delete on
page
• Download Free Trial
www.readingmadeez.com
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Mobile Tablets
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Microsoft Surface
• Windows 8
• Slim and has a USB port
• Moveable Tiles
• Built-in Accessibility
– Speech-to-text
– Narrator
• Thin pressure sensitive
cover that doubles as a
keyboard
• Starts at $349
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 3
• Android System
• 7, 8, or 10 in screen
• Camera
• Micro card
• Wi-Fi
• USB for computer
• Some built-in
accessibility app
– Download others
• Starts at $199.99
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Apple iPad/mini/ Touch
Multi - touch screen
New iOS 7
Millions of apps
Surf web
iTunes
Videos
Organization
Accessibility
Books
Photos
Speakers
5.0 megapixel camera
Height: 7.87 in
Width: 5.3 in
Depth: 0.28 in
Weight: 0.68 lb
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Comparing Tablets
Property Android iOS MS Windows Amazon Kindle Barnes and Noble
Nook
Number and
variety of Tablets
Over 11,000 iPad and iPad mini Several Kindle Fire and Fire
HD
Nook HD
Operating System Android (Jelly
bean)
ios7 (Sept 18,
2013)
Microsoft Windows
8
Modified version of
Android ICS
Modified version of
Android- Microsoft
bought 2013
Apps 860,815
(AppBrain.com
updated 9/13/13)
900,000 with
375,00 optimized
for iPad/mini
(mobileburn.com
updated June
2013)
104,917
(winbeta.org
updated July 4,
2013)
50,000 in Amazon
App store also shop
in Google Play
Store
(theverge.com
updated August
2013)
10,000 in Barnes
and Noble and
have access to
Google Play store
(barnesandnoble.co
m updated August
2013)
Software Updates As it becomes
available on Google
Apple releases
updates
MS releases
updates
Amazon releases
updates
Barnes and Noble
releases updates
Interface As designed by
manufacturer
Icons and widgets
designed by Apple
Metro style
designed by
Microsoft
Modified version of
regular Android
Modified version of
regular Android
www.bluebugle.org updated by TFL 2013
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TFL AppFinder
Search by:
App Name
Categories – Book
– Education
– Environmental Adaptations
– Hearing
– Cognition, Learning,
Developmental
– Navigation
– Personal Care and Safety
– Productivity
– Communication
– Therapeutic Aids
– Vision
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Apps for Writing
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Reminders
• Built-in App
• Works with VoiceOver
• Organize your reminders
• Siri if have iPhone 4s or 5
• The new iPad
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Catch Notes
• Free
• Capture ideas instantly
with voice, photo, and
text notes
• Use online AND offline on
your mobile phone or
tablet
• Share checklists to
collaborate on to-do lists
• Set reminders
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iWordQ
• App version of Word
Q software
• Not available with
SpeechQ right now
• In context word
prediciton
• Dictionary
• Text-to-Speech
• Dropbox
• Saves documents
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Say it & Mail it Pro
• Email voice
memos
• Attach pictures
• Set preference to
start recording as
soon as app opens
• Add location
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Ginger App
• Free
• Grammar and Spell
checker
• Personal Assistant
• Use it to correct text
messages, Whatsapp
messages, Gmail and
Outlook emails, and
even social media apps
such as Facebook
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Brevity
• Word Completion App
• Automatically add words if not in list
• Remembers how often you use words and offers the most frequently chosen options to you first
• E-mail Support - Send e-mails from directly within the application
• Text Message Support
• Remove misspelled or unwanted words
• Set prediction font size and window transparency
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SwipeIt and Swype
• Swipe across the keyboard to
type words instead of tapping
each key
• Free .99
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Dragon Dictation
Voice Recognition
Free
Dictate notes, emails,
Twitter, and Facebook
Supports many
languages
Cut, Copy, Paste
Android
Dragon Go!
Dragon Hands Free
Assistant
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iWriteRead
• TextHelp
• No internet needed to use
• Text-to-speech
• Word Prediction
• Phonetic Spell Checker
• Homophone and Confusables
Checker
• Dictionary
• Picture Dictionary
• Customizable Background and
Text Colors
• Choice of Voices and Fonts
• Importing and Sharing
documents
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Story Patch
• Create your own
picture book
• Hundreds of included
images
• Ability to import
pictures
• Easy to use
• $2.99
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Premier Talking Reader
• PTR reads selected
text aloud with the
added benefit of
note extraction
• Dropbox integration
• Email files
• Sync files through
iTunes
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What are Your
Favorite Apps?
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Our Question to You:
What have You Learned today?
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Contact
Carolyn Phillips
Director of Tools for Life
Martha Rust
AT Specialist
Disclaimer
This presentation is produced by Tools for Life which is a result of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended in 2004. It is a
program of the Georgia Institute of Technology, College of Architecture [COA], AMAC and is funded by grant #H224C030009 of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), Department of Education. The contents of this presentation were developed under a grant
from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education,
Georgia Tech, COA or AMAC and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal government.