“Read All About It: the C-Pen Reader”

The C-Pen Reader is an ideal tool for students, teachers and professionals to capture essential information!   It is a totally portable, pocket-sized device that reads text out loud with an English or Spanish human-like digital voice. It’s a scanning pen that displays a word definition and reads text aloud to support individuals with reading difficulties. It’s half the size of other portable pen scanners and half the weight.  It has built in Spanish and English dictionaries. It is the only line scanner on the market that can capture lines of text and upload directly to a PC and/or Mac.  The user doesn’t need any software. The pen connects to a computer with a USB cable and it appears as an external hard drive.  It has a voice recorder with playback.   There are free future upgrades, and the pen can be purchased as a set of ten.

The C-Pen Reader makes reading content more accessible, helping give students independence, increase reading speed and fluency, and enhance comprehension. It is a helpful tool for a wide range of readers, from those with reading and learning disabilities (particularly dyslexia) to individuals wanting to work more efficiently.   Continue Reading...

Teaching with Interactive Picture E-Books

Learn about the features in e-books that can distract, support, or extend comprehension and the need for more scaffolding of reading instruction with e-books. You’ll also get tips on how to transfer print-based reading strategies to this new medium. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/teaching-interactive-picture-e-books-grades-k-6  Related:  How to Read an E-Book with Your Child

AT for Reading: Ear Reading for Individuals with Print Disabilities

Do you remember your last visit when we started talking about ear reading, which Foss (2013) states is one of three ways individuals can approach reading? Today, I want to tell you about two ear reading options available to people with documented print disabilities, including those with dyslexia. https://eida.org/at-for-reading-ear-reading-for-individuals-with-print-disabilities/

Literacy Apps - Updated List - from Reading Rockets

We’ve just updated and expanded our library of high-quality educational apps that can help your child build skills in print awareness, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing (including multimedia composition). What’s new? Tools for children with dyslexia (including apps for text-to-speech, audiobooks, and organization and goal-setting).  http://www.readingrockets.org/literacyapps

NaturalReader

NaturalReader is a text to speech software with natural sounding voices. This easy to use software can convert any written text such as MS Word, Webpages, PDF files, & eBook into spoken words. NaturalReader can also convert any written text into audio files such as MP3 or WAV. It has many other functions, such as OCR. OCR function can convert printed characters into digital text & it is up to 99% accurate. This allows you to listen to your printed files or edit it in a word-processing program.  http://www.naturalreaders.com/features.html

What reading technology tools and supports are effective for students who struggle with reading?

Dr. Tracy Gray of the American Institutes for Research shares powerful ways to help you become an informed consumer of technology tools and resources, including TechMatrix and PowerUp WHAT WORKS. TechMatrix matches technology tools with supporting literature on promising practices for reading instruction for students with disabilities.  http://www.ldonline.org/techexpert/c661/#36470

Sight Words Ninja - The Endless Slicing Game to Learn to Read

Sight Words Ninja, from Innovative Investments Limited, is an exciting educational game that can help kids learn sight words by sight, sound, and touch. The easy to use interface automatically adjusts between three levels of difficulty based on player skills, keeping children both challenged and entertained. Parents can further customize their child's experience by selecting specific sight words to focus on and recording their own audio to go along with the words. Download Sight Words Ninja for FREE from iTunes!

 

Tar Heel Reader

Tar Heel Reader is a free web-based tool that gives you access to thousands of books made by parents and teachers.  Select Find a Book to start your search.  Try using a search term such as "social story" or "first day of school."  To see if it is the right one for your young learner select the book and read it.  If you would like to make changes you will need to sign up for a free account.  Ask for the access code (it's not a secret but they don't post it to keep automated systems from getting into the site).  With your free account you can change the wording, add different pictures and publish a new book.  When you publish it is available for everyone to see and use.  To keep it private you would keep your book as a draft and read it in preview mode.   http://tarheelreader.org/?utm_source=Tiny+Tech%3A+Simon+Technology+Center+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3b9e47ebbb-Tiny_Tech_Test_13_17_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bec332876a-3b9e47ebbb-167435633

MIT researchers create finger tool that reads text aloud

A prototype of a reading tool that fits on the index finger and aims to assist individuals with vision impairments access printed text has been developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The FingerReader was developed using a 3D printer and uses vibrations to alert users when they stray from the text. The Associated Press (7/8)  http://bigstory.ap.org/article/mit-finger-device-reads-blind-real-time   It seems like this could work for those with various reading disabilities.

Free Digital Books for Children with CP

Did your child get an iPad or tablet for Christmas? Put it to good use with free digital books for children with disabilities. Find out how you can get your hands on some!   READ MORE>>  http://cpfamilynetwork.org/blogs/ipad-opens-new-world-of-learning?utm_campaign=CPFN%20Eblast%20-%20January%208.%202013&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=Free%20Digital%20Books

Study: Most students with dyslexia benefit from e-readers

U.S. researchers tested the reading skills of children with dyslexia and found that using electronic readers was associated with greater reading comprehension and speed in most students, compared with traditional paper. However, the study showed that children who had lower "visual attention span" scores comprehended less of what they read on electronic devices. The study was published in the journal PLOS One. CNN/The Chart blog (9/18), http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/18/e-readers-may-help-people-with-dyslexia/  

New E-Book Tools for Kids with Print Disabilities

 

Bookshare recently introduced two new online tools to help kids with print disabilities connect with books. Web Reader allows kids to directly open books with a browser (without requiring them to download the book or use separate software), adjust font size, colors and display format, and use special features like word-by-word highlighting and text-to-speech. Bookshelf allows readers (or their teachers) to organize selections by any system they choose. Teachers can download the year's reading list for multiple students at once.  http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2013/02/k-12/bookshare-launches-new-ebook-tools-for-kids-with-print-disabilities/

Online app is designed to improve reading for those with disabilities

An online application by BrightStar Learning aimed at improving the reading skills of students with disabilities -- such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder -- is now available in the U.S. The BrightStar Reader mobile application features a game-like design meant to help students recognize "high-frequency" or "instant" words. T.H.E. Journal (3/28)  http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/03/28/brightstar-reader-debuts-in-the-us.aspx