Adaptive Technology for Students With Learning Disabilities
Site Licenses Available:
If a computer in a departmental lab is not accessible for a student that needs to use it, contact Disability Resource Center at 569-3143 to determine if the license is available and system is compatible. More specific location information is provided at the bottom of this page.
Screen reader with study aids
Description: Text-to-speech software that uses synthesized speech to read text, menus, buttons, dialogue boxes, etc.; study aids include adding own notes to scanned text, highlighting, adding graphics and color coding; Library Lab Kurzweil 3000 also has a scanner to digitize printed information and save it into Kurzweil software
Brand Name: Kurzweil 3000; Wynn; Reading Bar
Location on Campus: DRC (software available to check out for installation on student’s home computer); Library Lab; Cyber Cafe; Earth Science Lab; DRC laptop for exams
Software for reading the web
Description: Text-to-speech software that works in conjunction with Kurzweil 3000 (see above) to read information on the Web, creates audio files for listening to on a CD or .MPG player
Brand Name: ReadingBar
Location on Campus: DRC (software available to check out for installation on student’s home computer); Library Lab; Writing Center, Earth Science Lab
Document reader and screen magnification
Description: Text-to-speech software that uses synthesized speech to read what is on the screen or on the clipboard (it is not as powerful as a screen reader)
Brand Name: readplease.com (free download); MAGic *
Location on Campus: Library Lab; SUA Lab
Screen magnification
Description: Software that allows for enlargement on the screen
Brand Name: OS Accessibility Menus; MAGic *
Location on Campus: Library Lab; SUA Lab
Optical character recognition (OCR) software (used with a scanner)
Description: Software that converts a printed page that has been scanned into electronic format (text file) for speech output or storage
Brand Name: Open Book; Reading Edge; Kurzweil 3000
Location on Campus: Library Lab (Kurzweil); Library Media (Reading Edge)
Voice recognition
Description: Software that allows one to dictate to the computer which recognizes and digitizes one’s voice
Brand Name: Dragon Dictate *; Dragon Naturally Speaking *
Location on Campus: Library Lab; DRC laptop
Optical character recognition (OCR) - portable reading tool
Dscription: Hand held portable scanner that will scan one word or a single line on a page of text. After scanning, it will read the word, the definition, and spell out loud.
Brand Name: Quicktionary Readingpen
Location on Campus: DRC (available to check out)
Dictionary, thesaurus and calculators
Description: Small portable devices that have synthesized speech output
Brand Name: Franklin Dictionary and Thesaurus
Location on Campus: DRC (available to check out)
Tape players, duplicating equipment for tapes and videos, and audio books
Description: To listen to both 2 and 4 track tapes; duplicate audio tapes; listen to audio books
Location on Campus: Library Media; DRC (duplication)
Spellers
Description: Electronic speller that provides words and definitions; spelling dictionary also available which is an alphabetical list of words
Brand Name: Franklin Dictionary
Location on Campus: DRC (available to check out)
Writing assistance
Description: Software that is designed to assist students with writing
Brand Name: Write Out Loud - talking word processor with a talking spell-checker; Co: Writer - word prediction program; Inspiration - a visual or graphic way to produce outlines and organize material
Location on Campus: Writing Center
Location and contact information
DRC - Disability Resource Center, 103 Donaghey Student Center, 569-3143
Library Lab - 104 Ottenheimer Library, Frances Middleton at 569-8727
Library Media Center - 3rd floor Ottenheimer Library, Jowa Islam at 569-8819
SUA Lab - Student Union A, Frances Middleton at 569-8727
Writing Center - 116 Student Union B, Allison Holland at 569-8311
DSL - Developmental Skills Lab, 115 Administration South, Frances Middleton at 569-8727
Links to other Adaptive Technology pages
Introduction to Adaptive Technology
Adaptive Technology for Students Who are Blind or have Low Vision
Adaptive Technologies for Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Adaptive Technology for Students Who have Mobility Disabilities