Assessing Student's Needs for Assistive Technology (ASNAT)

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Chapter 5 – Assistive Technology for Reading, Studying, and Math ♦ Hand held Computers These small devices which have become popular in the business world and also can be a great help to many students with disabilities. More powerful than the first Mac or Windows computer now propping open the supply closet door, more functionally agile than a graphing calculator, and less expensive than a laptop, the handheld computer may be the technology that revolutionizes the face of learning for students with mild disabilities. Handheld computers are small, light weight, have a long battery life and are instant on. There are two basic operating systems on handheld computers. Similar to Mac and PC for traditional computers on the handheld side we have Windows based devices and Palm based devices. Software applications are downloaded to a computer and then transferred to the handheld using the sync utility provided. The operating system of the hand held computer allows students to record a schedule with alarm features, take notes, keep addresses and phone numbers, keep reminders, beam documents to other handhelds, and receive assignments or vocabulary words via beam from instructor. They have potential for students with disabilities because of their portability, flexibility and low cost. Data can be entered into the handheld computer in a variety of fashions. Many of the current handhelds have a built-in keyboard that is accessed by use of the thumbs. Middle school aged children are accustomed to using handheld devices with their thumb due to the popularity of the Game Boy and handheld video games, thus they are natural keyboarders with their thumbs. Windows based handhelds have built-in software called Transcriber that allows the student to write on the handheld’s LCD using the stylus and then converting the handwriting to text with the tap of the screen. There are also a significant number of keyboards available to use with the handhelds. There are thousands of applications that can be added to a handheld to increase the functionality for our students with mild disabilities. In the area of word processing, FreeWrite is an application that has been developed by the University of Michigan. FreeWrite allows input of over 25 letter size pages of text and offers spell checking and auto-capitalization. Word to Go is the equivalent of Microsoft’s Word on a traditional computer. It is part of Documents to Go and allows a user to create, view and edit word processing files. QuickWrite is an application from Mobile Systems that includes word prediction that collects frequently used words and allows the user to add or delete words. Teal Script is an application that is available for Palm handhelds. It is a text recognition system for data entry and replaces the traditional graffiti. For organizational and study skills, Agenda 6.0 is an application that provides multiple calendar views and allows icons or photos to be associated with certain calendar events. This would allow a non-reading student to be able to identify calendar entries by the photo/icon. PiCo Map is a concept mapping program for the handheld. The student can create colorful concept maps or receive the beamed concept map from a teacher. Thought Manager for Education is an application that allows teachers and students the ability to create and organize lessons, lectures, and learning activities. It has student templates for topics like research paper development, word study, proofreading checklists etc. It allows development of concept maps and outlines of information. WordTutor by Ants Technologies is an application designed to improve memory and word study skills. Easy Talk is a foreign language tool that translates common phrases and words and is available for English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish. In the area of math, Toysoft has developed a talking calculator called KidzTalk Calc. This application turns the handheld’s calculator into a talking calculator. Converter is a free conversion tool that converts over 215 types of measurements. BeSmart is a math program that generates problems randomly, including negative numbers, and allows the student to complete the problem on the screen, then checks Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology (2004) 140
Chapter 5 – Assistive Technology for Reading, Studying, and Math the answers. Sheet To Go is the handheld equivalent of Microsoft Excel. It is a spreadsheet program that allows the user to create, view and synchronize spreadsheets. Sheet To Go is part of the Documents to Go Suite. ArithmeFish by AcroDesign Technologies develops ability to memorize basic math facts. Nipcalc Plus by Nipsys Technologies provides both a standard and scientific calculator, fractional calculator and a unit and city time converter. Shortcutter is an application very similar to Overlaymaker for the PC. It allows the user to create and design onscreen buttons on the handheld to control the computer functions like mouse movements, page up and page down and the enter key. Remote Commander allows the handheld to be used as a touch screen to control the PC’s cursor and keyboard and now includes word prediction. TealMagnify doubles the onscreen display to provide magnification for visually impaired. Many of the handhelds can be used as a tool for reading text. Children’s Illustrated eTales is an application of short stories with colorful illustrations for Kindergarten through Grade 2 readers. On the Palm OS handhelds, Palm eBook Studio allows ebooks to be created, formatted, and converted for reading on a handheld. Websites that offer eBooks for handheld computers include: http://etext.virginia.edu/ebooks/ - University of Virginia eText Library http://www.memoware.com - memoware – Palm http://www.dotlit.com - Dotlit – for Pocket PC http://esspc-ebooks.com/default.htm - Elegant Solutions Software and Publishing Company - PC platform Handheld computers also have a wide variety of accessories to increase their functionality including digital cameras, keyboards, screen magnifiers and smartpads. The Magnifico is a screen magnifier that is lightweight and fits on any handheld magnifying the LCD of the handheld. The following tables list the applications, source and cost of the applications. You will note that most applications are under $20 or free! Applications are usually purchased via the Internet and downloaded to the handheld computer from a desktop or laptop computer. Participation in a Modified Curriculum All of the previous examples have been designed to help a student with a disability be a more active participant in the general education curriculum. However, there are also a number of ways to use assistive technology to assist the student with severe disabilities who is working to acquire skills that are significantly different from those of the other students in the classroom. Two excellent resources for ideas that are practical, affordable and valuable are A Book of Possibilities: Elementary Edition and A Book of Possibilities: Secondary Edition (AbleNet, Inc.). Each of these focuses on the use of simple technology to include a student with severe disabilities in meaningful classroom activities. A student might give directions using a voice output device, start a blender with an environmental control device, select the next person to read aloud by using a spinner operated with a switch, etc. There are hundreds of suggestions in these two books, categorized by curriculum areas. Several vendors have developed commercial software designed to provide access to the regular educational curriculum for those students who are significantly disabled in the area of cognition. The I KNOW Series from SoftTouch Software provides standards based, age appropriate curriculum in the areas of science and history for students working at the cause-and-effect and choice making levels. Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology (2004) 141
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Notes: Chapter 1 - Assistive Techno
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Chapter 2 - Computer Access A CONTI
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Chapter 9 - Documenting Assistive T
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Chapter 10 - Funding Assistive Tech
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Assistive Technology Vendor Table C
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Assistive Technology Vendor Table M
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Assistive Technology Vendor Table N
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Assistive Technology Vendor Table C
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Assistive Technology Vendor Table V
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Appendix Additional Vendors: Assess
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WATI Product Catalog WATI PRODUCT C
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WATI Product Catalog Assistive Tech
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WATI Product Catalog School Profile
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WATI Product Catalog Wisconsin Assi
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Assistive Technology Assessment For
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