Assessing Student's Needs for Assistive Technology (ASNAT)

Chapter 5 – Assistive Technology for Reading, Studying, and Math
secondary students in general education classes. TestTalker is a new program from Freedom Scientific
designed to assist with test taking, worksheet completion, and study of written materials. TestTalker
maintains the integrity of the written test by not modifying the test, but providing the accommodation of
a bimodal presentation of the unmodified written information. TestTalker supports true/false, multiple
choice, fill-in, and extended answer tests. It includes a PDF converter so teachers can simply open a
PDF file in TestTalker without needing to scan.
Text-to-Audio © by Premier Assistive Technology, Inc. is an easy to use tool that converts documents to
files. Text-to-Audio © can create 10 different types of audio output files including MP3 and Wav. It
compresses files as it creates them. Text-to-Audio © uses AT & T’s Natural Voices to produce high
fidelity digital speech audio. The Wav or MP3 files that are created can be played back using an MP3
player.
♦ Scanners
In order to use software to help in reading, the text to be “read” must be entered into the computer. It can
either be typed in or scanned in using a scanner. Scanners come in many sizes, types and prices these
days. Flat bed scanners are usually the best choice. They have come down in price in recent years and a
very good one can be purchased for $60 to $400. Look in computer stores or mail order catalogs for an
idea of what is available. When you consider purchasing a scanner, be sure that it comes with Optical
Character Recognition (OCR) software. The OCR software is what allows the scanner to “read” the
marks as text. With OCR software, text can be recognized as text and moved into word processing or
talking word processing programs.
Thinking about Literacy
Our understanding of the development of literacy has changed dramatically in the last few years. It was
previously thought that language developed first and reading and writing skills did not develop until a
child entered school. We now know that it is a much more simultaneous process and that early literacy
experiences provide the foundation for later reading and writing. We are not suggesting that young
children be pushed to read and write before they are ready, but rather that they have literacy rich
experiences throughout their early years. As the following chronological breakdown of the development
of literacy shows, the early components of attending and listening are critical in later making reading
and writing possible.
The Development of Literacy
Demonstrate joint attention with adult caregiver to activities, books, games, and songs (3-12 months)
Develop an interest in books and stories (1-2 years)
Associate pictures with spoken word (1-2 years)
Realize text conveys meaning (3-5 years)
Recognize speech to text boundaries (4-5 years)
Develop sound manipulation skills (4-6 years)
• Initial + final sounds
• Initial letter names/sounds
Recognize, name, and write the alphabet (4-6 years)
Apply phonics (5-6 years)
Sound blend words (5-6 years)
Read and spell words (5-6 years)
Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology (2004) 115