What is Kidspiration?
Kidspiration is a program that allows
students to see text visually organized.
Pictures, text, and numbers can be
combined to help student develop
vocabulary, comprehension, and word
recognition skills.
Using Assistive
Technology and
Powerful Teaching to
Reach Common Core
Standards in Writing for
Students with
Disabilities
Using Assistive Technology
and Powerful Teaching to
Reach Common Core Standards
in Writing for Students with
Disabilities
What is Zoom Text?
Zoom Text is word magnifying software.
Everything on the computer can be
enlarged and enhanced to allow students
with visual impairments to see everything
on the screen.
What Is SOLO 6?
With Questions or Comments Contact:
SOLO 6 consists of a variety of programs,
which include a text reader, graphic
organizer, word processor, and word
prediction. Read out Loud is the text
reader which can electronically read
online text. Draft Builder is used for
outlining and drafting. Write Out Loud is
a talking word processor, which allows
the student to hear what they are typing.
Co Writer is the word prediction software
that can be used in Write Out Loud, Draft
Builder, or any other word processor.
Catherine Furletti
MSED Special Education Candidate
cfurlett@oswego.edu
Assistive Technology Poster
By: Catherine Furletti
MSED Special Education
Using Kidspiration,
Zoom Text, and Solo 6
With 3rd Grade Student
How Can These Enrich A
Student’s Life?
S- Student and Characteristics
Katie is a nine-year-old 3rd grade student who is visually
impaired. She is in an integrated co-teaching classroom. She is
currently reading at a level C text, but enjoys listening to more
complex stories. She enjoys writing on the computer, but
struggles to write paper/pencil due to her visual impairments.
E- Environment/Background
SOLO 6 has many benefits for students
with and without disabilties. Struggling
readers, writers, and spellers could benefit
from the many different components of
SOLO 6. (Co-writer, read out loud, write
out loud)
Zoom Text allows students who are
visually impaired to see and understand
what they are writing. Spelling and hand
writing can be very difficult when it is
hard to see the paper you are writing on.
Zoom Text makes it possible for students
to write on their own.
Kidpsiration will help children reach their
writing goals independently. The graphic
organizers are very kid friendly and easy
to use.
Through the use of technology students
will be able to reach the common core
writing goals with less struggle and more
confidence! Grade level materials will be
much more accessible for students, with
the use of technology.
•
She is a third grade student who receives support from
teacher’s aide throughout the day. She receives
support with writing and reading activities.
•
She uses a CCTV for tasks throughout the day to
enlarge text on the board or in front of her. The aide
will often write the passage from the board for her to
copy at her seat.
•
She will be given a computer with a big keys
keyboard, SOLO 6, Kidspiration, and Zoom Text
software to help her be more independent.
T- Tasks/Objectives

•
Make curriculum more accessible to Katie through the
use of assistive technology in order to be more
independent in her learning.
Success of Student using
Assistive Technology
Katie was a hesitant reader and writer
because these topics were difficult for
her. Katie’s vision got in the way of her
writing, and with Zoom Text she is able
to see everything she types out. Spelling
is a lot easier for her because sheis able
to see if she makes a mistake. Through
the use of Kidspiration and SOLO 6 and
minimal support she was able to read
and write using grade level materials.
She enjoyed using the technologies and
was more engaged. Below are pictures,
which show the success she achieved by
using these technologies.
Before writing with Kidspiration,
Zoom Text and SOLO 6
Be able to do grade level reading and writing activities
with more independence. Using Kidspiration she was
able to organize her thoughts before writing. She used
CoWriter and Zoom Text to write without needing a
scribe or to ask how to spell most words.
T- Tools/Description of Assistive Technologies
•
Zoom Text is software that enlarges the text on the
computer screen for students who are visually
impaired.
•
Co Writer which has word prediction capabilities was
used in conjunction with Zoom Text to produce
writing pieces.
•
Kidspiration is technology software that allows
students to create graphic organizers for visual support
before completing a writing piece.
After writing with Kidspiration, Zoom
Text and SOLO 6