Writing Support
Access to even a basic word processing programme can be helpful, and a student with dyslexia will produce better work on a computer than if they were handwriting. The computer will always produce clear legible writing, whereas handwriting may be difficult to read. Spelling can be checked using the spellchecker. Editing and rearranging text is easy, so students do not have to rewrite laboriously to produce a final draft. This facility also helps students who have sequencing difficulties as it is easy to edit the text so as to rearrange the sequence. Forgotten information can simply be added in later, or a paragraph moved to improve the flow of the passage.
Screen readers are also a very useful tool for supporting writing. They allow the student to hear any errors, e.g. a mis-typed word, or an incomplete sentence. ClaroRead and TextHELP Read&Write also have a homophone checker; possible homonyms are identified in the text and the student is then given guidance to help identify whether they have the correct word. Both programmes also have word prediction.
Software such as Textease, Co:Writer and Penfriend support writing with features such as talking spellcheckers, which makes the choosing of the correct spelling easier, and word prediction, which can increase the speed of written production and in so doing increase the student’s confidence in their writing ability. Clicker is another useful programme where you can write with whole words and even pictures.
Audio Notetaker is an innovative piece of software which enables you to make better notes through audio recordings. It can prove a useful tool for students who struggle with note-taking in lectures.
The Livescribe Echo Smartpen is another useful tool for capturing information quickly. It digitally records handwritten notes while linking them to simultaneous audio recording, great for taking notes in lectures and meetings. Using special dotted (digitized) paper, the Livescribe Echo Smartpen wil remember everything you write and hear.
Voice recognition software, which was originally designed so that astronauts could use computers while tucked up in their space suits, is ideally suited for older students and adults who have to produce extended pieces of written work such as long essays. All instructions can be given verbally; the computer will type as you speak. Dragon Dictate Naturally Speaking is the most commonly used programme of this type. While this type of software has improved greatly over the last decade, it will rarely be 100% accurate. There is an initial training period where the programme learns about the user’s voice, and the accuracy does improve with usage, as each time the programme is used it learns more about the user’s voice, speech patterns and the vocabulary commonly use. A compatible digital voice recorder can be used with Dragon; this means that documents can be created by voice anywhere, and when the digital recorder is synched with the PC, Dragon can then transcribe the document. A basic Dragon app for iPhone is also available .
To get the best from both screening reading and voice recognition software a powerful, modern computer, with a good soundcard is essential; these programmes either may not work at all or else work poorly on older machines. A good quality microphone is also important, ideally one that limits external noise which can distract or confuse the software.
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