Melinda Widener

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Melinda Widener
According to Hasselbring and Bausch (2005), assistive
technology is a broadly used term in Education (p. 72). The
Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1990 states that assistive
technology devices are defined by the federal law as any
item, piece of equipment, or product systemused to
increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of
individuals with disabilities (p. 72). These are tools that can
help students achieve tremendous results partnered with
excellent instruction (p. 75). Some assistive technology tools
for reading include Reading Pens, Fluent Reading Trainer
(FLRT), Fast ForWord Reading Series, and Read and Write
Gold.


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Designed to help
readers especially those
who are dyslexic
improve their reading
skills.
Help with reading
fluency and
comprehension by
providing definitions for
the scanned text.
Reads any printed
material and can be
used with books,
magazines, and
newspapers.
Scanned text and
definitions can be read
aloud so that readers
maintain their reading
flow even if they come
across an unfamiliar
word
Displays scanned text in
large characters. It also
displays syllabic division
of words, reads scanned
words aloud and spells
words letter-by-letter.
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Users must hold the pen
at a specific angle to
enable them to read the
text correctly.
A reading pen may easily
misinterpret or
mispronounce words

Enables
students to
progress at
own pace
Provides
reading
practice with
narrative and
expository
texts
Includes a
library of
over 1,000
stories
Adapts
speed and
practice to
meet the
standards of
all learners
Provides
comprehen
sion
questions
based on
CCSS
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Autistic
Emotionally Disturbed
Major-Other Health
Impaired
Specific Learning
Disability
Speech or Language
Impaired




Easy to use, automated, and adaptive
Provides guided practice in silent reading fluency
Improves visual scanning efficiency
Improves fluency by providing sufficient reading
practice at appropriate rates of speed
Three or more stories can be read in one 20 minute
session

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Birth to
Preschool
Early
Elementary
Intermediate
Elementary
Middle
School
Secondary
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Autism
Emotional Disturbance
Major-Health
Impairments
Specific Learning
Disabilities
Speech or Language
Impairments

Dramatically improves brain processing efficiency and
reading skills
Actual physical changes occur in the brain resulting in
enduring gains in language and reading skills
Improves comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary
Students can average a one to two grade level reading
gain in 8 to 12 weeks.
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Struggling Readers and Writers
Students with Learning Disabilities
English Language Learners
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Melinda Widener
Improves reading comprehension and fluency
Facilitates research, writing, studying, and test taking
Includes voice dictation that reads aloud what
students write and helps them to identify errors
Encourages independence
Supports Common Core Standards
Improves learning for students with reading and
writing disabilities
Prepares students for success in college and careers
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Advantages
Supports learning
through the reading,
writing, and learning
process
Has one of the most
natural-sounding
computerized voices
Features text reading,
voice dictation, teaching
tools, and research aides
Very expensive and some
school systems may have
a difficult time
purchasing the program
Students will need help
in learning how to use
the program
Disadvantages
Facilitate and inspire student learning
Design and develop digital age
learning experiences and assessments
Promote and model digital citizenship
and responsibility
Model digital age work and learning


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Melinda Widener
Hasselbring, T. S. & Bausch, M. E. (2005). Assistive
Technologies for Reading. Educational Leadership,
63(4), 72-75.
http://techmatrix.org/resource/fast-forward?C2%-AE-
reading-series-products
http://www.texthelp.com/North-America/Our-
products/Readwrite/Features-PC
http://www.mindplay.com/programs/flrt
http://www.quick-pen.com/item/ReadingPenreg2-40



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