Writing involves the physical ability to produce written language (mechanics) and the cognitive ability to put words together to create written expression (composing). Here are examples of assistive technology devices that may help a student with writing:
Low-Tech Adaptations:
- Pencil Grips
- Writing Guide
- Slant Board
- Raised Line Paper
- Use of pre-written words/phrases
- rubber stamps
- Templates
- Stabilizers
- smudge guard
- Wrist Splints
- Clipboard to hold paper in place
- EvoPen
Ergonomically shaped pen fits perfectly into the palm of your hand. - RinG-Pen
The RinG-Pen is an ergonomically designed pen that reduces stress on the fingers and wrist by providing rigid support for the index finger. There is no need to grip this pen too tightly. - Remedy Pen
Soft rubberized grip and barrel shape is comfortable and encourages a looser pen grip for faster writing.
www.onionmountaintech.com www.otideas.com
Beacon-Ridge.com Assistive technology Low-tech tools to improve writing
http://www.ldresources.org/category/low-tech-tools/ LD Resources--Low tech tools
Portable Notetakers:
- Dana/Neo by AlphaSmart www.alphasmart.com
- Fusion by Advanced Keyboard www.writerlearning.com
(Considerations: Notetaker vs laptop)
Keyboarding Support:
- Type to Learn Jr. www.sunburst.com
- Color-Coded Keyboards The Lesson Board www.chestercreek.com
- 2Type www.2simple.com
- Keystick Keyboard Labels www.onionmountaintech.com
- Intellikeys (adapted keyboard)
- Keyboards with lowercase keys
- Keyboards with big keys.
- Keyboards with less and big keys, or multifunctional keys, such us the special keyboard PiTech, with only five big rounded keys, which is used with a special software for writting PiTech.
- Large print keyboard with high contrast colors (such as white on black, black on white, and black on ivory).
- Large print adhesive keyboard stickers in high contrast colors (such as white on black, black on white, and black on yellow).
- Embossed locator dots help find the ‘home’ keys, F and J, on the keyboard.
- Scroll wheels on mice remove the need to locate the scrolling interface on the computer screen.
- Footmouse - Foot-operated mouse.
Word Prediction:
Can help with students who struggle with spelling, grammar, sentence structure and those with very slow typing speed.
- Co: Writer SOLO by Don Johnston www.donjohnston.com
- WordQ by Quillsoft www.wordq.com
Tools for Literacy – Writing and Organization
AlphaSmart 3000 www.alphasmart.com/products/as3000_overview.html
A portable lightweight word processor. Students store work in Files F1 - F8. Saves automatically. Easily connects to computer to download work into Word or AppleWorks.
DANA by AlphaSmart www.alphasmart.com/products/dana_overview.html
Combines the writing features of the AlphaSmart with the organizational features of the Palm Operating System. A tool for both writing and organization.
DANA (Wireless) by AlphaSmart www.alphasmart.com/products/dana-w.html
Combines the writing features of the AlphaSmart with the organizational features of the Palm Operating System. A tool for both writing and organization. Also features wireless connectivity to the internet.
Digital Voice Recorder by Olympus www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_vr_digitalrecorders.asp
From the conference room to the classroom you're sure to find a digital recorder with the features you need and the sound quality you admire.
Fusion by Advanced Keyboard Technologies www.writerlearning.com
Portable word processor with the following features: text-to-speech, word prediction, larger screen, keyboarding program, good writing checklist, and more.
NEO by AlphaSmart
www.alphasmart.com/products/neo.html
Designed specifically for schools, Neo is the affordable, portable, easy-to-use laptop that helps teachers improve students’ basic skills. Its full-sized keyboard and large LCD screen make Neo ideal for writing, keyboarding, and quizzing. With Neo, students can enjoy working anywhere and at their own pace, engaging them in the process of learning and motivating them to learn more.
Palm Pilot M130 and Palm Pilot M505 www.techdis.ac.uk/PDA/
A paperless way of organizing appointments, homework etc. Also has a dictionary, e-book reader, calculator, temperature converter, periodic table, and more.
Plan Your Day Curriculum
www.attainmentcompany.com/AB1031005/showdetl.cfm?&DID=11&Product_ID=1446
The Plan Your Day instructor’s guide describes three methods of following a schedule: Picture sequence, daily schedule and ongoing schedule. Reproducible school, community and work cards plus calendar aids are included in the guide. Student resources feature activity, date and calendar cards that fit into the pocket book to form a picture-based schedule for low-level readers..
The Writer Learning Systems by Keyboard Instruction Inc
www.keyboardinstructor.com
A writing tool designed by teachers, The Writer combines simplicity with a powerful array of teacher and student centered features. The Writer offers a portable writing system with a built in keyboarding program, writing rubrics that the teacher can customize, word prediction and more.
LoTTIE Kit Special Papers
www.onionmountaintech.com/kit.php?id=19
The LoTTIE (Low Tech Tools for Inclusive Education) Special Papers Kit is designed especially for occupational therapists and teachers to use in evaluating the writing needs of students in grades K-12.
The kit includes a complete sampling of commercially available raised line, shaded line, and color coded papers as well as writing guides, magnetic sheets, math grid paper (and CD), NCR paper notebook and writing markerboards. Please note that we provide samples of these papers, not the full pads that you will get if you purchase a package individually.
- Carbonless Notebook Need a copy of student peer notes? This high quality notebook, designed for special education, contains 50 2-part sets of lined NCR paper so that peer notes can be easily shared.
- Inkjet Magnet Sheets Make your own magnets for use with the Stickin' Place Magnetic Sheets for communication books, activities, and just for fun!
- Writing Guide Single-Lined Markerboard Set
Personal size marker boards, sit at the desk, fit on students laps, and into book bags to take home. Set includes a 9 x 12 markerboard with a single primary line and room for a picture or other work, purple dry erase marker and eraser. - Writing Guide Fully-Lined Markerboard Set
Personal size marker boards, sit at the desk, fit on students laps, and into book bags to take home. Set includes a 9 x 12 markerboard with a single primary line and room for a picture or other work, purple dry erase marker and eraser. - Stickin’ Place Magnetic Sheets (various colors) Brightly colored, laminated, three-hole punched sheets that holds magnetic pictures and icons. Perfect for 'thin' and manageable communication books.
- Math Grids (paper + CD) Adobe Acrobat files for printing different size grids (1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 1 inch black, blue, yellow and pink). For student use in math and writing. Mac/Windows CD.
- Bold Lines Paper White wide-ruled paper has bold, black lines to help students see the guide lines more clearly and stay within them.
- Narrow Rule Raised Line Paper Dark green raised line paper with 3/8' spacing between each line.
- Smart Start Story Paper
Story Paper is designed to give students special visual cues for starting and stopping letter formations. On the upper margin of each line, clouds in the 'sky' signal where to start the stroke, pulling down to the flowers on the 'ground', that signal where to stop the stroke or the lower margin of each line. A horizontal red-dotted line or 'fence' marks the midpoint of each line. - Writing Guide
Heavy duty, full page plastic guide that helps students see and keep their writing within lines. Best yet, it’s reusable. -
Portable word processors to keyboard instead of write
- Computer with word processing software
- Portable scanner with word processing software
- Voice recognition software to word process
- Word cards/word book/word wall
- Pocket dictionary/thesaurus
- Writing templates
- Electronic/talking electronic dictionary/thesaurus/spell checker (e.g. Franklin Speaking Homework Wiz)
- Word processing w/ spell checker/grammar checker
- Talking word processing
- Abbreviation/expansion
- Word processing w/ writing support
- Multimedia software
We will be looking to add new free and low cost AT alternatives. If you have a great idea you would like to share, please send it to the following:
