Literacy
This page supplies technology resources that focus on literacy or reading and writing skills.
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Description: The 2022 Virginia Assistive Technology, Tools, and Strategies (VATTS) Resources will guide the IEP team through the consideration and documentation process. These resources replace the previous versions of the AT Consideration and Resource Guide. VATTS: Consideration and Assessment Guidance Document (PDF) - Guidance for school divisions in the consideration and assessment of AT, including planning and implementing those services for students with disabilities. VATTS: Consideration...
Description: The 2022 VATTS: Resource Guide provides instructional strategies, AT solutions, modifications, accommodations, and examples used to address areas of need identified through the AT consideration process to support student success. There are two Resource Guide PDFs: an ADA Compliant version and a printable table version.
Description: Make text easier to read on small screens. Make reading as effortless as watching a video. Read faster, by reading whole phrases at a time. Speed through any text, with better comprehension. Zoom your screen in or out to adjust the font size. Use the auto-speed or click the next phrase button.
Description: Readsy is a tool to help you skim large amounts of text by focusing your eyes on one word at a time without having to move them. It is powered by Spritz, a speed reading app. To register for higher speeds, click "Login" on the top right of the Spritz box, and create an account with Spritz.
Description: The Center for Literacy & Disability Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill has developed a variety of “alternative pencils” for students with the most significant disabilities, including deaf-blindness. All the alternative “pencils” have been designed for students who are unable to hold a traditional pencil or physically manipulate a keyboard. Instead, the alternative pencils tap into students’ other developing abilities. For example, the alphabet eye gaze frame may be...
Description: The Virtual Assistive Technology Lab (Virtual AT Lab) includes information on the following topics: Reading, Communication, Writing, Organization, Math, Access, Sensory, and Resources & FAQs.
Description: This video highlights how Powhatan infuses AIM-VA into their special education system to support students with print disabilities.
Description: The purpose of these guidelines is to provide resources and suggestions to enhance the provision of services to students who are deaf and hard of hearing in order to support their educational goals. These guidelines are written for special and general education administrators, teachers of students who are deaf and hard of hearing (referred to by Virginia teacher licensure regulations as HI teachers and generally referred to as teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing-TODHH), general educators,...
Description: This open house provides information on Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), Computer Access Assistive Technology, Early Childhood/Play Assistive Technology, Literacy Assistive Technology, Low-Tech Assistive Technology, Math Assistive Technology, Organization Assistive Technology, and Sensory Assistive Technology.
Description: These are some interactive apps/websites that could be used to support literacy skills practice.
Description: This module offers an overview of assistive technology (AT) with a focus on students with high-incidence disabilities such as learning disabilities and ADHD. It explores the consideration process, implementation, and evaluation of AT for these students (est. completion time: 2.5 hours).
Description: The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) and TIES Center, the national technical assistance center on inclusive practices and policies, have developed a series of videos for parents of children with significant cognitive disabilities to help them with supporting learning at home. These are the first four videos in this collaboration: Helping Your Child with Routines at Home Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Communication at Home Helping Your Child with Communication at Home...
Description: These YouTube Videos include: Virtual Learning Tech Tips & Trouble Shooting (translated) Managing School & Home Life Teens & High School Special Education Pathways to Preschool Assistive Technology
Description: Accessible educational materials, or AEM, are materials and technologies usable for learning across the widest range of individual variability, regardless of format or features. Whether a material or technology is designed from the start to be accessible for all learners or is made accessible for learners with disabilities, it is considered AEM. AEM Center Activities Accessibility Practices for Teachers Access to Materials for Qualifying Students U.S. Department of Education Guidance Your...
Description: Rewordify.com is powerful, free, online software that improves reading, learning, and teaching. This site can: Intelligently simplify difficult English, for faster comprehension, Effectively teach words, for building a better vocabulary, Help teachers save time and produce engaging lessons, Help improve learning outcomes. Rewordify.com helps with reading comprehension and vocabulary development by simplifying English to a lower reading level. It lets you reword a sentence or reword a paragraph....
Description: The 2020-2021 school year is starting amid a great deal of uncertainty. As instruction begins in-person, online, and with hybrid formats, teachers, families and caregivers, students and instructional teams may need to reconsider the accommodations and supports that students receive. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) along with the Assistive Technology Network (AT Network) has adapted this resource from the Indiana Department of Education that lists common daily accommodations for...
Description: This document offers guidance, suggestions, and resources for sustaining inclusionary practices for students with disabilities through continuous learning opportunities using a virtual platform. It is our intention that this guidance document will help you as you refine and continuously improve existing instructional practices and develop new plans over time, as we navigate through this truly unprecedented time in educating our students with disabilities.
Description: These materials are being provided as a resource for teachers considering remote learning options. The resources contained in this site do not reflect an endorsement from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Please refer to local remote learning guidance, policies, and practices for further clarification. For optimal viewing of this site please use the Google Chrome browser.
Description: It is recognized that everyone is doing their best to manage work, self-care, children’s online education, and more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families and professionals supporting children with disabilities face additional challenges. You are not in this alone. The PA Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), in collaboration with the Bureau of Special Education, has created this website for families and general educators supporting complex learners at home. For the purpose...
Description: During the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, it's important to have fun activities to keep children engaged. Some children may be able to be self-directed with homework and reading, while others will need more active engagement with adults. Parents often have competing demands, with other children, working from home, or just getting through the day. We hope that some of these ideas may be helpful during this time! Establishing a Routine Helping Around the House Cooking Ideas...
Description: Project Core is a stepping-up technology implementation grant directed by the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Allied Health Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill. The primary goals of Project Core are two-fold: Empower teachers and classroom professionals to deliver access to a Universal Core vocabulary and communication instruction during the naturally occurring academic and daily routines of the school day. Improve the academic achievement of students with significant...
Description: Instructional Resources Supporting Students with Disabilities (Virginia Department of Education, VDOE) Resources to Support Academics and Inclusive Practices Resources to Support Accessibility/Assistive Technology Resources to Support Social Emotional Learning Resources to Support Students with Significant Needs Supports for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education) Lesson ideas by grade band from kindergarten through high school...
Description: We’ve heard that teachers will need to develop virtual learning activities! Our specialists have developed a list of resources that we hope can help you. Looking for leveled reading? Try these free resources for teachers: Epic! Newsela Are you using Tar Heel Reader? Need a tip for how to share selected books with your students? Create a favorites list of the books you want your students to read. Open the favorites page. Copy the link and share with students and families....
Description: Whether you have dyslexia, ADHD, a concussion, or another reading disability, with Speechify, reading is never a barrier. Create audiobooks from anything. Have text read out to you in natural human voices. Read faster, retain more information, and save time.
Description: Bring the World to Your Classroom (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and more) WETA and PBS have curate FREE, standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more for teachers. You can browse by Subject or by Grade. Featured lesson plans in this collection contain full contextualization for the media they include. Plan and adapt our lessons in creative ways, using the Lesson Builder tool, Google Classroom, Remind, and more. For early educators, we’ve...
Description: The George Lucas Educational Foundation is dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by documenting, disseminating, and advocating innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies that prepare students to thrive in their future education, careers, and adult lives.
Description: This website has been designed to describe technology activities that facilitate social emotional learning. The links in the menu lead to descriptions of the individual activities. They can be used within formal and informal educational settings. Even though the focus of the activities are on building and enhancing social emotional learning, many can be connected with content standards related to language arts, visual arts, oral communication, media literacy, and ISTE's National Education...
Description: Virtual Virginia offers online professional learning opportunities for all Virginia public school educators at no cost. VVA’s fully online professional learning opportunities include webinars, courses, certifications, workshops, conferences, and the VVA Professional Learning Network.
Description: This guide (available in Spanish) is designed to support professionals and families in understanding assistive technology (AT) and identifying possible AT tools for students from preschool through high school. “I have severe dyslexia and it's hard for me to read and write. In the eighth grade, I could not write down a single word. The first time I used a program with voice recognition, I wrote a whole short story. Using AT means I can do things myself and I don't have to depend on someone...
Description: Android accessibility overview You can customize your Android device using accessibility settings and apps. Turn on Chromebook accessibility features You can make your Chromebook easier to use by turning on accessibility features that work best for your needs.
Description: iPhone Accessibility: The world’s most personal device was designed for every person. So a person who’s blind can take group selfies. A person who’s deaf can call Mom from overseas. And a person who can’t move from the neck down can send text messages to friends. MAC Accessibility: Edit a video without using a mouse or trackpad. Build a presentation without seeing the screen. Or track down important files for your next project with just your voice. Because Mac is...
Description: The Rocketbook system connects traditional handwriting surfaces with the power of the cloud. Combine our extensive line of reusable notetaking products with our free app to take off into the digital future! Use any of our reusable notetaking products for a traditional handwriting experience - which actually makes you smarter. We worked with several experts to develop our patented, futuristic technology, while keeping an authentic pen and paper feel. No more notepaper guilt! Rocketbook...
Description: Livescribe smartpens breathe digital life into your handwritten notes and empower you to do incredible things with them. Every meeting, every lecture, every interaction, every word – make them count even more with Livescribe. Livescribe smartpens can record voice while you write, adding a new dimension of information to your notes Recorded notes are accurately transcribed and made ready to share across your cloud services from the Livescribe+ app With Livescribe your notebooks are...
Description: Dictate your documents: Word for Office 365, PowerPoint for Office 365, Word for the web and more... This feature is available to Office 365 Subscribers only.
Description: Use dictation to talk instead of type on your PC Use dictation to convert spoken words into text anywhere on your PC with Windows 10. Dictation uses speech recognition, which is built into Windows 10, so there's nothing you need to download and install to use it. Note: To use dictation, your PC needs to be connected to the internet.
Description: Type with your voice You can type and edit by speaking in Google Docs or in Google Slides speaker notes. Note: This feature is only available in Chrome browsers.
Description: Narrator is a screen-reading app that's built into Windows 10, so there's nothing you need to download or install. This guide describes how to use Narrator with Windows so that you can start using apps, browsing the web, and more.
Description: You can hear full pages read aloud with Chromebook’s built-in screen reader or hear parts of a page, including specific words, read aloud with Select-to-speak.
Description: With this extension, you can use Immersive Reader without an internet connection. Microsoft Immersive Reader is a free tool that supports literacy development for learners regardless of age or ability. Immersive Reader uses proven techniques to enhance: Reading comprehension Language learning Decoding for readers with dyslexia Immersive Reader also powers Grammar Tools and Dictionary for Microsoft Edge.
Description: Snap&Read offers the most complete toolkit available to meet the different ways students learn today, from students with reading challenges to advanced students who need organizational supports. Snap&Read offers the most complete toolkit available to help students comprehend everything they read with tools to assist reading, organize information, and annotate PDFs.
Description: Read&Write is a literacy support tool that offers help with everyday tasks like reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words, researching assignments and proofing written work. Read&Write can: Create more independent learners Motivate students to learn Help students to study smarter Support students with learning disabilities
Description: Teach more efficiently with the world’s leading symbol-based special education solution. Support learning and communication in the classroom, therapy room or home with this trove of customizable material, including access to over 40,000 Picture Communication Symbols® (PCS). Boardmaker 7 is offered as a Standard or Subscription option.
Description: Check out DonJohnson's latest How-To Videos and Printable PDFs made to support specific needs. Snap&Read Co:Writer uPAR Quizbot Readtopia First Author Start to Finish And more..
Description: As part of its barrier-busting mission, CAST offers a number of robust (and free) learning tools. These tools—many designed and tested as part of CAST’s research projects—help educators, developers, families, and other individuals experience the power of flexible learning environments. Clusive®?: An Accessible, Digital Reading Platfort Corgi: Co-organize Your Learning Biofab Explorer TIES Lessons for All: The 5-15-45 Tool CAST Figuration®? Learning Designed™ UDL...
Description: AIM-VA provides accessible instructional materials to eligible Virginia K-12 students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and are unable to access traditional print. Accessible instructional materials can positively impact student performance. What is a Print Disability? A ‘print disability’ has been defined as, a student who cannot effectively read print because of a visual, physical, perceptual, developmental, cognitive, or learning disability. Who is Eligible for...
Description: The following kids app reviews represent some of the best kids apps found in iTunes and the Android marketplaces. We cull the app marketplaces, talk with kids app developers, pay attention to the app buzz, and download and play 1000s of children's apps every year. We don’t spend much time writing about kids apps that we don’t think are worth your child’s time, thus most kids apps reviewed on this site get a rating of 3 stars or higher. That said, not all of these apps have...
Description: The Virginia Department of Education is the administrative agency for the commonwealth’s public schools. VDOE works in partnership with Virginia’s 132 school divisions to support and improve teaching and learning, set high expectations for all students, and promote student safety, wellbeing, and health.
Description: The DCMP provides services designed to support and improve the academic achievement of students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Explore our website to learn how we are living our mission to promote and provide equal access to communication and learning for students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. The DCMP is an idea that works thanks to funding by the U.S. Department of Education and administration by the National...
Description: NaturalReader allows you to upload test and documents or convert to mp3 to listen to anywhere anytime. Natural sounding voices OCR Technology Listen on the go Personal Online & Personal Software is for personal use and recommended for: Students Working Professionals Dyslexic Readers Foreign Language Learners
Description: The vision of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (hereafter known as The Departments) is that 1) all young children will have adults in their lives who are well-informed on how to use technology to support learning at various ages; and 2) all young children will have opportunities to learn, explore, play, and communicate through a multitude of approaches, including the use of technology. The purpose of this policy brief is to:...