Writing is the most difficult form of communication for some individuals with disabilities. Fortunately, there are many assistive technologies to help people with the many components of written language such as letter formation or motor plan, written mechanics or grammar, spelling, and other conventions, and even written expression or content, and organization.
We employ several speech-to-text and word prediction software programs to support students in their efforts to produce written language.
Speech-to-Text (STT)
Dragon Naturally Speaking: A software program by Nuance. Talk and your words appear on the screen. Say commands and your computer obeys. Dragon is 3x faster than typing and it's 99% accurate once your voice files are adequately developed in the software.
Dragon Dictate: an app for tablets available through respective App stores for quick and easy speech-to-text. Allows for copy and paste into a word processing app, which can then be e-mailed and/or printed.
Google Chrome Speak: a feature available on the Chromebook, which we have deployed. Works very similar to the tablet apps.
Word Prediction
Co-Writer by Don Johnston: In Google Chrome browser, grammar and vocabulary-smart word prediction to help students better express their ideas in writing across devices. And now built-in speech recognition adds an entirely new way of getting ideas out. Also works well on tablets. For more information go to http://donjohnston.com/cowriter/
Pages App: Simple word prediction in word bar found in the Pages App for tablets.
Clicker Apps: by Don Johnston made for iPad and Chromebook via the Chrome browser offer story grids which are highly customizable or already developed. Provides read back once student completes a sentence. Picture supports.
Organization
iBrainstorm: one of many tablet apps for building graphic organizers available at respective App Stores.