Assistive Technology
SPELD Victoria are now selling C-Pens.
Click HERE to order yours today.
The C-Pen Reader pen scanner is major technological breakthrough for anyone learning English, Spanish or French and is a life-saver for those who suffer from reading difficulties such as dyslexia. The C-Pen Reader is a totally portable, pocket-sized device that reads text out aloud with an English, Spanish or French human-like digital voice.
The in-built dictionary puts the power of Collins English Dictionary (30th Anniversary Edition Tenth edition) and the Oxford Spanish and French Dictionaries in your hands. Simply pass the nib across a word and it instantly displays the definition and reads it aloud. It is also a scanner for capturing lines of text and uploading to a PC or Mac, making it ideal for students, teachers and professionals to capture essential information.
The pen is half the size of other portable pen scanners on the market and at 50g is half the weight. Importantly this means it can be used by a younger generation of English, Spanish or French learners making this learning tool suitable for children (age 6+) and adults. This is the only portable line scanner on the market that is both Mac and PC compatible. There is no software required, just connect the pen up to a computer with a USB cable and it appears as an external hard drive. Other features include a built-in voice recorder with playback:
As well as promoting Independent Reading this pen features:
• Hear words & lines of text read aloud
• A Collins 10th Edition Dictionary
• An Oxford Spanish and French Dictionary
• Scan, store & transfer to a PC or Mac (1GB of storage & downloads to a computer like using a USB key – no software required)
• Scan direct to the cursor on a computer
• A voice recorder
• Free future upgrades
• Available in a class set of ten pens
• 1-Year warranty from date of purchase
Members $330 / Non-members $350 (Pick up or Plus $10 postage will be applied)
Click HERE to order yours today.
Sign up for membership here
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Assistive technology is critical to the learning of children, young people, and adults with dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties. It can assist in making education and life in general, less complicated and more enjoyable. With the right use of technology, it may even help level the playing field for students with learning difficulties.
The use of assistive technology is continuing to evolve every day. SPELD Victoria is constantly looking for new solutions to match student needs.
Points to consider with Assistive Technology
If you have recently decided to take the plunge into Assistive Technology with your child it can be helpful to ask yourself some questions first. Here is a checklist of questions from understood.org to consider before purchasing a new device or tool for your child.
Some further useful websites for apps, books, software, other resources and technologies can be found at: Call Scotland; DSF Literacy and Clinical Services Store; TTR4L
Below is a list of tools, software and applications for use by those with dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties.
Tools To Assist Literacy for Older Individuals
Texthelp Read and Write ($)
Read & Write literacy software has been designed as a “floating” toolbar that will assist students improve in their reading and writing. It does have a text to speech function that enables what has been written to be read back.
One Subscription lets users sign in on any device: Windows PC, Mac, iPad and Android tablets.
Suitable for: Upper Primary, Secondary, and Higher Education.
Features:
✔ Read out loud
✔ Speech feedback
✔ Phonetic spell checking
✔ Word prediction
✔ Picture dictionaries
✔ Summary highlighters
ClaroRead ($)
ClaroRead is an effective, multifunctional, multisensory text-to-speech software for assisting in reading and writing.
For Windows PC, Mac and Cloud (across any device)
Suitable for: Upper Primary, Secondary and Higher Education
Features:
✔ Word prediction
✔ Audio-note-taking
✔ Mind map
✔ Reading ruler
✔ Screen colour overlay support
✔ Spell check
✔ Reading out loud any text with new Nuance Vocaliser Australian English voice.
Penfriend Software ($)
Penfriend software provides support for writers with dyslexia or learning difficulties.
For Windows PC
Suitable for: Primary, Secondary and Higher Education
Features:
✔ Speech feedback
✔ Word prediction
✔ On-screen keyboard
✔ Can customise with individual settings
✔ Integrates with Clicker 5.2 and later
Software For Sounds Letters and Words
Word Shark 5 ($)
Word Shark is a comprehensive multi-sensory spelling and reading program based on the widely used literacy programme.
For Windows PC, Mac and also available as USB
Suitable For: Primary, Secondary and Higher Education
Features:
✔ 60 motivating games combined with serious learning
✔ Records of activities are kept and progress can be tracked
✔ Customisable speeds and options
✔ Your own words can be easily added and recorded
Letterland Living ABC ($)
This is brilliant software for teaching young children the sounds of letters, letter shapes and writing. Lots of fun exploring the scenes and the children learn remarkably quickly at the same time.
For Windows PC and Mac
Suitable For: Pre-School and Primary School Students
Letterland Living Code Cards ($)
Letterland Living Code Cards focuses on the phonic structure of words, language development (which underpins all written work), word building and spelling in a very enjoyable way, with stories, songs and activities. Encourages children to use their imagination too.
For Windows PC and Mac
Suitable For: Primary School Kids
Fitzroy Readers - Sounding Readers ($)
The Fitzroy Readers are a popular series of books based on phonic system for learning to read. Especially useful for struggling readers as they are excellent for getting children started.
CD for Windows PC, Mac, and also available on iPad, iPhone and Android
Suitable For: Mainly Primary
Features:
✔ Each story can be read
✔ Any word is repeated on request (in a different voice)
✔ Students can creatively rewrite any story and print it
✔ Includes word games with the vocabulary of each story
Spinout Stories ($)
These are collections of high interest stories and related activities especially designed to appeal to older struggling students.
CD for Windows PC and Mac and also available on iTunes
Suitable For: Upper Primary and Lower Secondary School Students
Features:
✔ Each story is available at three levels of reading difficulty
✔ The computer can read all the story text aloud (with an Australian accent)
✔ All are designed to grab the attention of reluctant readers.
✔ Each CD contains reading activities to develop students’ basic skills.
✔ Time Control for Teachers
Tools For Reading
C-Pen Reader ($)
The C-Pen Reader is a totally portable, pocket sized pen device that reads text out loud with an English human-like digital voice. It has an in-built dictionary function and capacity to capture lines of text and upload to a PC or Mac, making it ideal for students, teachers or professionals.
There is also a C-Pen Exam Reader that excludes the dictionary function. With headsets on, students can now undertake their exams at the same time and in the same room as all other students. Truly a win-win situation for both student and schools.
Suitable For: From age 6 to adults
To order a C-Pen from SPELD Victoria please click HERE
Literacy Multimedia
Clicker7 ($)
Clicker 7 is a powerful yet easy-to-use writing support and multimedia tool that combines a talking word processor with on-screen grids. These enable children to write with whole words, phrases, pictures, multimedia and sound and can be used to support any area of the curriculum.
For Windows PC and Mac
Suitable For: Primary and lower Secondary School Students
Features:
✔ The definitive primary word processor
✔ Child-friendly planning tool
✔ Voice Notes
✔ Speech feedback (new children voices)
✔ Intelligent word prediction
✔ Eye gaze compatibility
✔ Touch screen friendly
Textease Studio CT ($)
Textease Studio CT is a highly versatile and powerful program with 9 modules.
For Windows PC
Suitable For: From the youngest of primary school children to adult users
Features:
✔ Publisher CT – For all your writing and publishing needs.
✔ Draw CT – A revolutionary vector drawing tool.
✔ Spreadsheet CT – The perfect introduction to simple spreadsheets.
✔ Movies CT – Produce exciting movies in minutes.
✔ Database CT – A truly easy to use, multi-user database.
✔ Paint CT – A vibrant, creative painting tool.
✔ Presenter CT – Create top-notch presentations to be proud of.
✔ Turtle CT – Flexible, progressive on-screen turtle graphics.
✔ Branch CT- Imaginative way to sort and classify.
2Create a Story ($)
This powerful program combines words, pictures, sounds and animation in a storybook format to support Literacy and Technology.
For Windows PC
Suitable For: Pre-School and Primary School Students
Software For Numeracy Skills
Number Shark ($)
Number Shark will address many difficulties that students have with basic maths including short-term memory and sequencing skills. Its bright colours, animations and choice of games will motivate students and provide them with a structured but enjoyable learning experience.
For Windows PC, Mac OS X version 10.7 to 10.13, a computer with a USB port if buying the USB version
Suitable For: Primary and Secondary School Students
2Calculate ($)
This is powerful program which can help students: learn place value, fractions, and decimals, explore number sequences & negative numbers, teach money, shape & space, data handling, and use spreadsheets & graphing tools
For Windows PC
Suitable For: Primary and some Lower Secondary School Students
Integrated Software For Teachers
Ideal-Resources ($)
Engaging interactive resources for teachers. Over 600 activities designed for whole class teaching on an interactive whiteboard, projector as well as standalone computers
Suitable For: Primary School Students
Lexion ($)
An extensive program designed for people with language related difficulties, such as dyslexia, to improve reading, writing, spatial and arithmetic skills. Provides all the tools needed for assessing areas of weakness, creating tailor made exercises and tracking the progress of individuals.
Suitable For: Primary, Secondary and High School Students
Nessy ($)
Nessy programs are designed to help students of all abilities learn to read, write, spell and type, especially those who learn differently. 100 lessons following a structured, phonic approach printable card games, activity sheets, mnemonics and computer games. Nessy Learning Programme – follows a tried and tested approach of learning that combines structured incremental phonics linked with language, writing skills and vocabulary development, combining to create highly effective multi-sensory learning.
Suitable For: Primary, Secondary and High School Students
Literacy Apps
Word Wizard for Kids ($) – L’Escapadou
This is a comprehensive, spelling and vocabulary application. It uses sound, text and visual cues to teach and reinforce spelling and vocabulary skills including phonics, homophones, plurals, prefixes, suffixes and much more.
Suitable For: Primary and Early Secondary School Students
Available on iPad and iPhone
Prof's Phonics (Free) – Doc Ruth
This application designed to explore detailed paintings for words that start with a particular sound. Children will come to understand that words may start with the same sound that is represented by a letter of the alphabet. This is known as ‘cracking the alphabetic code’ and is essential for children to be able to understand the reading process.
Suitable For: Pre-School Students
Available on iPad and iPhone
Apps For Maths
Algebra Touch ($) – Regular Berry Software LLC
Provides lessons and practice problems covering a variety of topics including simplification, prime numbers, and commutativity.
Available on iPad and iPhone
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