Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Dear Dyslexic Foundation
1800Helpline    Book online   Donate
Menu
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Our vision and mission
    • Meet our CEO and Founder
      • Our CEO and founder
        • Shae's story: the School Years
        • Shae's story: life at university
        • Shae's story: work/life
    • Meet the team
    • Board of directors
    • DDF Reports
      • Half Yearly Report 2020
      • 2019 Annual Report
    • Our partners
  • Change Makers
    • The difference we make
    • DDF grassroots Social Enterprise
    • Working with Governments
    • Education and Awareness Raising
    • National Campaigns
      • #FacesofDyslexia2021
        • Self-Portrait Entries
        • Meet the Judges
    • Research
    • Case studies
  • Storytellers
    • Dear Dyslexic Podcast Series
    • Question Dys Series
    • Mental Health and Thriving Series
    • Blogs
  • Helpers
    • Our services
    • Why get an assessment?
    • Assessments
    • Tutoring
    • Support Groups
    • Helpline
    • Looking after our Mental Health and Wellbeing
      • Dyslexia and Mental Health and Wellbeing
    • Make a referral
  • Educators
    • DHub
    • Workshops
    • Key Note Speaking
    • Webinars
  • Get involved
    • Work with us
    • Current roles
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
      • Set up a fundraising page
      • Fundraising ideas
    • Campaign for us
    • Other ways to support
      • Share your story
      • Workplace partnerships
      • Trusts and funds
  • Latest News and Events
    • Events
    • News
  • Resource
    • Resource list
    • Assessment Strategies for Students
    • Factsheets
      • Dyslexia, what is it?
      • Dysgraphia, what is it?
      • Dyscalculia, what is it?
      • Dyspraxia, what is it?
      • Assistive Technology
    • Dyslexia in the Workplace
    • Employers and Dyslexia - How you can help
    • Dyslexia and disclosure in the workplace; Should I tell work that I have dyslexia?
    • Supporting Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education
    • Dyslexia in Our Community
    • Dyslexia and the Justice System
    • Dyslexia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Pages
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Assistive Technology Factsheet

Assistive Technology Factsheet

Assistive technology is any device, piece of equipment or system that helps bypass, work around or compensate for difficulties that you might have.

For students who have dyslexia and other learning difficulties, assistive technology can be a critical part of making further education achievable and allowing you to support your particular areas of weakness, and capitalise on your strengths.

Speech to text and voice dictation technology

For someone who struggles to read and write fluently because of their dyslexia, speech to text and voice dictation technologies can be a huge asset.

A commonly used option is one called Dragon, which allows a student to speak their thoughts and ideas when writing an essay, journal, email or another writing task, Dragon then converts that to written form, and reads it back to allow for editing and correction.

You can speak quite quickly when using speech-to-text software, but you will need to specifically add in the punctuation (ie, say ‘full stop’ at the end of a sentence) as you go. It takes a little bit of getting used to but is a pretty easy adjustment.

Microsoft Word, Windows, Google docs and Apple all have voice recognition tools either built-in or available as a free download. Most brands of phones and tablets offer voice dictation tools too.

 

Text to speech technology

In text-to-speech technology, the program reads out what you need to read so you can listen to the textbook or article you need. It works well for any piece of reading you need to do where the text is available electronically.

Some of the most popular commercial software options are Texthelp Read&Write and ClaroRead. Both of them have text-to-speech, document conversion and advanced spell-checking and proofreading functionality.

There are free options available too that have less functionality, but work well when you’re trying a tool out. Natural Reader is available for Mac and PC, and Macs have an in-built text-to-speech tool too.

 

Reading pens

As the name suggests, these are pens that read. You simply scan the hardcopy piece of text and it reads it out to you via headphones. Reading pens are a useful piece of assistive technology in a situation where you have to read a hardcopy piece of text, like an exam or an official form.

There is a wide range of options available for assistive technology and the range is expanding all the time. It is now common for assistive technology features to be built into software and hardware.

Check out the settings on your laptop, tablet or phone, as well as options in your most commonly used software and you might be surprised how many handy tools you have already.

To learn more, we recommend the pages here https://www.dnamatters.co.uk/resources/ and https://bdatech.org/what-technology/ . You can also look at Scanning Pen or listen to our podcast about Scanning Pens with CEO Jack Churchill.

 

Learn more about assistive technology and how you can help to provide a supportive environment at work and school in our other factsheets and through the Dear Dyslexic Podcast Series with Jamie Crabb at deardyslexic.com

Download Factsheet 

Published: 2nd February, 2020

Author: Shae Wissell

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Celebrating Neurodiversity Month with Kathryn Guy

    Celebrating Neurodiversity Month with Kathryn Guy

  • Half Yearly Report 2020

    Half Yearly Report 2020

  • DDF Reports

  • Sponsor a Podcast in 2021

    Sponsor a Podcast in 2021

Most read

  • 2020 End of year message from CEO and Founder Shae

    2020 End of year message from CEO and Founder Shae

  • ABC Gippsland with Board Director Carmel Riley

    ABC Gippsland with Board Director Carmel Riley

    We are excited that  Board Director Carmel Riley Consulting was interviewed on ABC Gippsland discussing the work of the Foundation and the launch of our 2020 National Dyslexia Month Campaign.

  • Faces of Dyslexia - Rory McCafferty

    Faces of Dyslexia - Rory McCafferty

  • Accessibility

  • Autumn Newsletter 2021

    Autumn Newsletter 2021

  • Question Dys - episode 4 with Ashton Bishop  from Step Change

    Question Dys - episode 4 with Ashton Bishop from Step Change

    In this Question Dys episode Shae speaks with the CEO Ashton Bishop from Step Change.

  • Faces of Dyslexia - Janet Rose Boddy

    Faces of Dyslexia - Janet Rose Boddy

  • Faces of Dyslexia - Nicholle Quilty

    Faces of Dyslexia - Nicholle Quilty

  • Celebrating Neurodiversity Month with Kathryn Guy

    Celebrating Neurodiversity Month with Kathryn Guy

  • Decision Making in a Crisis

    Decision Making in a Crisis

    Decisions making in Crisis In times like these, leaders are expected to make decisions in a snap — yes, faster, but at the same time better and smarter. But how should you react and respond, when all you have in front of you are these uncertainties.

Tag cloud

#FacesofDyslexia2021 adults art depression dislexia dyscalcluia dyscalculia dysgraphia dyslexia education higher education learning disabilities reading disability self-portrait workplace young people

Sign up for our newsletter

* indicates required

Acknowledgement

The Dear Dyslexic Foundation acknowledges all the Traditional Owners and Tribes of country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to them and their culture, and to Elders both past and present.

Disclaimer

Dear Dyslexic makes no warranty, express or implied, that the information contained on this website is comprehensive. They accept no responsibility for any consequence arising from the inappropriate application of this information. The information on this website should not be considered medical or professional advice.

Find us

Registered Office
42-44 Aylesbury Dr

Altona VIC 3018

Mail Address

P.O. Box 5123
Moreland West
3055 VIC

Toll-Free 1800 589 667
[email protected]

Follow us

  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

This website uses Browsealoud 

Learn how to use it and its functionality.

 

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • References

© 2020 Dear Dyslexic All rights reserved. ACN 618066523 ABN 66618066523