The Assistive Technology Blog

Writing and Spelling TECHNOLOGY TOOLS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Learner Profile
Some individuals with learning disabilities struggle with written expression due to difficulties with spelling and or handwriting.

Common Issues (examples)

Limited spelling vocabulary
Letter reversals
Dysgraphia
Grammar and punctuation
Vocabulary
Structure
Possible Student Outcomes (examples)

Individual uses technology to complete written assignments.
Individual for uses assistive technology strategies to circumvent spelling difficulties.
Individual uses a variety of spelling reference materials effectively.
Individual works at their developmental spelling level.
Individual writes with content-specific words.
Individual writes stories using symbols.
Individual communicates with symbols and speech.
Individual builds good first sentences with correct conventions.
Individual gains writing confidence.
Draft and edit writing more focused, purposeful and reflects insight into the writing situation.
Individual monitors their own work to ensure standard usage, varied sentence structure and appropriate word choice.
Individual writes more and for longer periods of time.
Individual works independently as they progress through the stages of writing, including research during prewriting, drafting, revising for mechanics and content and final draft.
Individual writes in a variety of genres, including biographies, informational texts, speeches and poems.
Individual's have instant access to easy-to-understand word meanings.
Individuals locate words in dictionary using phonetic spelling.

Toolbox
Low Tech Writing Tools
Outlining
Proofreading Programs
Word Processing
Talking Word Processor
Electronic Spell Checkers and Dictionaries
Portable Keyboards / Stand Alone Word Processors
Keyboards and Keyboarding Skills
Word Prediction
Voice Recognition

To visit this site and explore the toolboxes, click http://www.nsnet.org/atc/tools/contents.html