Reading

=**Assitive Technology that Supports Reading**= = **Created by Monica Velez** =

What we know about teaching children to read by the National Reading Panel:

To learn to read children need skills in 5 basic areas. These are phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Students with disabilities may have difficulty in one or more of these areas. With assistive technology students can address and overcome these problems.
 * **Phonemic Awareness:** || Understanding the sounds of a language ||
 * **Phonics:** || Recognizing the correspondence between sounds and letters ||
 * **Fluency:** || Reading orally with speed, accuracy, and proper expression ||
 * **Comprehension:** || Understanding the meaning of the text ||
 * **Vocabulary:** || Understanding the meaning of words both orally and in print ||

Some ways to make reading easier for students are:


 * ======Announce readings as well as assignments well in advance.======
 * ======Find materials paralleling the textbook, but written at a lower reading level. (Also, include activities that make the reading assignment more relevant.)======
 * ======Introduce simulations to make abstract content more concrete.======
 * ======Make lists of required readings available early and arrange to obtain texts on tape from Recording for the Blind or a Reading/Typing Service.======
 * ======Offer to read written material aloud, when necessary.======
 * ======Read aloud material that is written on the chalkboard and on the overhead transparencies.======
 * ======Review relevant material, preview the material to be presented, present the new material then summarize the material just presented.======
 * ======Suggest that the students use both visual and auditory senses when reading the text.======
 * ======Rely less on textbooks. Reading for students with learning disabilities may be slow and deliberate, and comprehension may be impaired for the student, particularly when dealing with large quantities of material. Comprehension and speed usually dramatically increase with the addition of auditory input.======
 * ======Spend more time on building background for the reading selections and creating a mental scheme for the organization of the text.======
 * ======Encourage students to practice using technical words in exchanges among peers.======
 * ======Choose books with a reduced number of difficult words, direct non convoluted syntax, and passages that deliver clear meaning. Also, select readings that are organized by subheads because this aids in the flow of ideas.======

An example of an assistive technology reading tool is the ability of a software application to read the text aloud. Text-to-speech functions have the ability to read all digital formats, including Word documents, PDF, html, txt, rtf, images and photos. Reading tools may also include an integrated dictionary and thesaurus. This enables students to instantly find the meaning of unknown words and to distinguish between homophones. These words and definitions can be instantly read aloud to assist in gaining meaning from the text.

Another function of a reading tool is the capacity to convert text to an audio file. This audio file can be saved on a CD, on computer or an MP3 player. This can be an excellent study tool and is the great way to support students who have difficulty with reading. Reading tools also allow students to customize the pitch, speed, volume or type of speech. The text can either be read by word, by sentence or by paragraph. By customizing these features, students are able to make the program suit their particular learning needs or style.

Technology plays a big part in helping children how to read and become better reader's especially if they have a disability. Children with disabilities have trouble with all five area's as listed above in the table. Computer's can help student's reading by providing systematic, repetitive, and individualized instruction.

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 * Here are some reading tools:**

Kurzweil 3,000 - physically disabled program 1,000 - vision impared program
 * Fast Forward -** 90 minute program, increases childs ability to read 1-2 years faster
 * Thinking Reader -** Geared towards middle school students
 * Read 180 -** Program for students that helps teach you to read and comprehend
 * Scan and Read Software -** Also known as "Literacy Software Support"
 * Bookshare -** Online site you can download books and it reads the book to you
 * Cover Overlays -** Helps students read better if they are seeing letters on top of each other, disappearing, or jamming together

The following are Assistive Technology for Reading and Universal Design for Learning for Reading websites:

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