Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology are tools used to help a student learn. Many kinds of Assistive
Technology is used at Dr. Oakley School. Please remember that if your student is coded
with a Learning Disability, the purchase of this equipment is a tax deduction. If you
purchase through the school, you will get a better price.
Links:
http://www.readplease.com/
This is a free text to speech program.
http://education.alberta.ca/admin/techn
ology/atl.aspx
Alberta Education and Assistive
Technology
http://www.ldactaac.ca/indepth/tech_selection-e.asp
Learning Disabilities Association of
Canada and Assistive Technology
http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc
University of Toronto Adaptive Technology Resource Centre.
www.snow.org
The Special Needs Opportunity Windows or SNOW Project is a provider of online
resources and professional development opportunities for educators and parents of
students with special needs.
www.ldrc.ca
The Learning Disabilities Resource Community (LDRC) has been developed to provide
knowledge-building and communication tools for individuals and groups involved in the
education of those with learning disabilities and to support research and development in
associated fields.
www.nsnet.org/atc
Assistive Technology Centre promotes education in the area of technology solution for
individuals with a disability.
Assistive Technology:

both high tech and low tech tools

to help individuals with learning disabilities reach their full potential
 become independent
 experience success
 increase confidence and
self esteem
 removes barriers

need to find the right tool and
support the learner while they
learn how to use the technology
effectively

Tools to help with organization
skills
 Highlighters
 index cards
 color-coding
 graph paper
 beepers/buzzers
 headphones or earplugs to shut out distractions
 PDAs, mini pocket recorders

Tools to help with auditory/listening skills
 Using carbonless paper (where a fellow student writes notes and gives the
student with a learning difference a copy), or a copy of the notes ahead of time
from the teacher so that the student may concentrate on the information rather
than getting down the information
 Amplification device
 Laptop computers for note taking
 Recorder
 Audio books
 iPods
 Multi-Media Centers in the library used for animation

Tools to help with visual processing skills
 Recorder
 Using colour overlays or changing background colours on the computer
 Making text size larger
 Text to speech software such as Read and Write Gold
 Audio books
 Flip Video

Tools to help with Math skills
 Use of graph paper or color coding for columns

Calculators and talking calculators

Tools to help with reading skills
 Text to speech software
 Audio books, e-books
 Colour overlays

Tools to help with writing skills
 Text to speech software to read back written work when editing and revising
 Speech to text software (Dragon Naturally Speaking)
 Word processor with spell and grammar check
 Webbing programs such as Inspirations
 Word prediction program such as in Read and Write Gold
 Paper with raised lines
 Laptop computer