Understood holds this weekly Twitter chat that aims to keep the momentum going and raise awareness of learning and attention issues. Follow along with hashtag #LDCHAT and follow users @understoodchats & @understoodorg. Experts will be available to answer your questions and concerns and share resources from Understood.org.
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Welcome to today's #ldchat! This is Dan with the Understood team. We're joined today by #AssistiveTech consultant and Understood expert Jamie Martin (@ATDyslexia) to discuss assistive technology and #dyslexia.
We're tuning in for today's #LDchat! We encourage employers and others to recognize the value & talent people with disabilities bring to the workplace. https://t.co/H1fArxzdS6
A1: Easy definition of #AssistiveTech: Technology used by individuals with disabilities or learning differences to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. IDEA definition: https://t.co/Z8JvuIkrXs#LDchat
A1 could be Voice to text relieving the pressure of writing. Could be text to speech reading to students. Could be organizers to assist with ideas. #ldchat
A1. Assistive technology are tools that #PWD can use to help them perform a task, whether it's at school or in the workplace. Students may be able to use many of the assistive technology ideas that @AT_info discusses in this blog post: https://t.co/mJnXlAiRGA#LDchat
A1: The most important benefit of #AssistiveTech is that it provides INDEPENDENCE. Teachers acting as readers and scribes may deliver helpful accommodations, but students need to move toward using AT in order to work on their own. #LDchat
A1. Assistive technology is designed to level the playing field for students with disabilities. It can be "regular" technology or digital as well. #LDchat
A1: #LDchat For kids with learning and attention issues, #AssistiveTech is a circular saw ripping through a sheet of D-grade plywood filled with 2-inch knots. Also, it’s this:
Hi #LDchat. What about Google Text-to-Speech for students with difficulties reading standard print? I've seen it help my high school students, not only students with dyslexia, but for students unable to afford corrective eyewear
Independence! YES, so imperative. While as a teacher, we feel like we are helping by reading/scribing but can be creating unnecessary barriers to our Ss learning by our own pace/voice tones, etc #LDchat
A1: The most important benefit of #AssistiveTech is that it provides INDEPENDENCE. Teachers acting as readers and scribes may deliver helpful accommodations, but students need to move toward using AT in order to work on their own. #LDchat
Hi #LDchat. What about Google Text-to-Speech for students with difficulties reading standard print? I've seen it help my high school students, not only students with dyslexia, but for students unable to afford corrective eyewear
A2: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: The most transformative #AssistiveTech tool for kids w/ #dyslexia is text-to-speech, which turns electronic text into spoken words. TTS is everywhere, and it can conquer illiteracy in seconds. https://t.co/FmEYgOJvV3#LDchat
A2. Google read and write. Students can choose the voice and pace. Words are highlighted as so students can follow along. Also allows for creation of notes. #ldchat
I couldn't agree with this more. Also, it's a skill that needs to be TAUGHT. Often that is a piece that is forgotten & then it's use is short lived by Ss. #LDchat
"For all kids, text-to-speech provides a multisensory way of learning. That's because they're using both sight and sound to read." #dyslexia#ldchathttps://t.co/fwckku8CPc
A2: Multipurpose literacy tools can be more costly, but they contain several functions, including TTS (decoding), dictionaries (comprehension), highlighters (note taking), and word prediction (spelling). Examples include: @texthelp@ClaroSoftware@KurzweilEdu#LDchat
A3: Many schools may have access to lending libraries, AT specialist and you can always jump over to #ATchat for brainstorming & asking for some considerations #LDchat Just have ur Ss goal FIRST so the right feature match happens
A3: Lending libraries are a great way to test out #AssistiveTech to see which tools work best for a particular child. Here in CT, there is a great lending library at the @NEATCenter in Hartford :). #NEATcenter#Dyslexia#LDchat
A3: Many schools may have access to lending libraries, AT specialist and you can always jump over to #ATchat for brainstorming & asking for some considerations #LDchat Just have ur Ss goal FIRST so the right feature match happens
A4: One of my favorite reading apps is @VoiceDreamApp, but a really good free option is Dolphin Easy Reader (for iOS & Android) from @yourdolphin - Both provide access to @Bookshare books and give kids options to customize the reading experience. #Dyslexia#LDchat
A3: Simplify text by using https://t.co/G7juTZ6DDu Also, summarize text https://t.co/woyQMub43q A Ss ability to decode (independent reading level) & their comprehension level r 2 different things, so accommodations 2 access grade level content is a MUST #LDchat