Assistive Technology Tools by Area

Read aloud allows students to select text and have it read aloud, empowering them to access and engage in content. Typically this feature can be customized in voice type and speed. Review read aloud options below.

• Microsoft's Immersive Reader is a powerful reading support.  
  • Built-in support is available in Teams, Word, OneNote, Edge, Forms, PowerPoint, Lumio, FlipGrid, and Code.org.  
  • Explore this interactive training guide: Immersive Reader 
• Read Aloud in the Edge Browser
  • Use this tool to read across websites and PDFs. 
• WordQ - Speech Feedback & PDF Access Features 
  • Speech Feedback & PDF read aloud tool works across multiple apps and tools.  
  • Download WordQ from the Software Center.  
• Clicker's Speech Feedback Tool
  • Speech Feedback is integrated throughout Clicker to support literacy and comprehension.   
  • Available for all Elementary students, and Secondary upon request. 
• Scanning Pens, such as CPens can be an option for students to read paper based copies. These tools are available for trial, if you are interested please reach out to your student's educational team.

Reading aids can include anything that helps a student customize their reading experience and increase there understanding of text. 

• Microsoft's Immersive Reader offers many supports, including:  
  • Focus mode 
  • Avoid visual crowding with font spacing and short lines 
  • Syllabification to help with decoding 
  • Translation (by word or by document) 
  • Picture Dictionary  
  • Immersive Reader support is available in Teams, Word, OneNote, Edge, Forms, PowerPoint, Lumio, FlipGrid, and Code.org.  
  • Explore this interactive training: Immersive Reader
• Reader-Friendly Fonts 
  • Our students’ ability to set their own preferences with text (font, size, color, and spacing) can be key for ability to engage and understand the content.  
  • Student devices contain font options that are reader friendly: Lexie Readable, Open Dyslexic, Arial, Comic Sans, Century Gothic, Verdana, Trebuchet or Calibri.

Picture support provides a visual along with written text to help provide context and increase comprehension. Review picture support options below.  

• Immersive Reader offers a built-in Picture Dictionary  
• Clicker's Instant Pictures
  • Turn on Instant Pictures to see picture support as you write 
  • Add pictures to Clicker Sets to increase engagement and understanding 

• Use the built in Reading Progress tool in Teams to help students build fluency with independent practice.  

Engaging with electronic versions of texts allows students to use tools to access and interact with materials as needed and when needed.  

• Materials may be provided via Word, PowerPoint, Edge, or OneNote to enable students to use digital tools to access and interact with the text.   
• Digital text, e-books, and audiobooks may be offered through curriculums and school librarians. Check the sites below to learn more:  
  • LWSD's K-5 Research & Homework 
  • LWSD's 6-12 Research & Homework
• Access e-books and audiobooks through LWSD & King County Library System partnership
  • KCLS 
    • KCLS login for LWSD: 414 followed by student ID number 
• Bookshare provides e-books and digital textbooks for those who qualify.
• Students can also create their own digital texts with PowerPoint or Clicker Books.  

• Introduction to Bookshare
• Web-based resource of e-books and digital textbooks available for those who qualify.

• All About Immersive Reader
• Learn more about Immersive Reader
• Immersive Reader Resources
• Immersive Reader Interactive Training
• YouTube video of Lumio's Immersive Reader
• YouTube video: Introduction to Immersive Reader: What is the Immersive Reader? 
• Available for all LWSD students (built-in product)

• Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge
• YouTube video: Introduction to the Immersive Reader in Edge
• Available for all LWSD students (built-in product).  

• Learn more about Translator
• Translator Web Tool
• Translating text in Microsoft Applications:
• Translate support in Edge
• Available for LWSD students (built-in product).

• WordQ5 Website  
• How To Use WordQ5 How To Use WordQ Desktop — Quillsoft Ltd. 
• WordQ5 Tutorials Playlist (Youtube): WordQ Tutorials 
• Available for all LWSD students and staff.  
• Download tool from Software Center. 

• Learn more about Clicker
• Create a Clicker Book
• Available for all Elementary students' laptops and Secondary upon request.  

• Learn more about Inspiration 10
• Inspiration how-to videos
• Available for all LWSD Secondary students and staff.  

• Introduction to Reading Progress tool
• Getting Started with Reading Progress tool

Students may need notetaking support around organization of notes, efficiency with recording content, or understanding their written notes after a presentation. 

• Presentation Translator in PowerPoint automatically generates a transcript that can be downloaded.  
• Live Captions in OneNote automatically captures the transcript of a video, lecture, or webinar: How to use OneNote Live Captions - YouTube
• Use of templates or worksheets in OneNote can make notetaking easier. 
• Use of a type-able templates can support notetaking. Make a worksheet “type-able” by using Prepare Form in Adobe.  
• Use of Graphic Organizers can support notetaking.  
  • Secondary students can use Inspiration 10. Download from Software Center
  • Elementary students can use Clicker Boards for digital graphic organizers.

Speech-to-text gives students the option to speak into their computer or headset and have it transcribed for them. This may benefit students who are inefficient typers, unable to access a keyboard, or just accessing their ideas better in a verbal format. 

• Dictate is Microsoft's Speech-to-text tool: Dictate in Microsoft 365 
• Students can use Dictate in Word, Outlook, OneNote or PowerPoint with the click of a button.  
• Students can use also the shortcut Windows + H to turn on "voice typing" and dictate anywhere across several different apps and websites.  
• Students can submit a recording of their responses with OneNote: Audio Recording.

Typing support my include word prediction, allowing student to type the beginning of a word and have predicated options appear, it may also include customized changes to the actual keyboard a student uses. 

• In Windows 10, Text Suggestions offers suggestions for words as you type.  
• Clicker offers word prediction, as well as Word Banks and additional Clicker Sets to help writing. Learn more below.  
  • Clicker's Word Prediction: Clicker - Word Prediction | Crick Software 
  • Clicker's whole word or phrase typing support with Clicker Sets: Clicker - Jump-Start Writing Tasks | Crick Software 
• Word Q offers robust Word Prediction as a floating toolbar: WordQ Desktop for Schools — Quillsoft Ltd. 
• If needed, alternative keyboards or keyboard stickers could be explored to support students. Please reach out to your team to learn more!

   

Students who struggle with getting initial idea down on paper or organizing their ideas into a coherent manner may benefit from planning and organization support.

• Secondary students can use Inspiration 10 to build digital graphic organizers. 
  • Download from in Software Center.
  • Inspiration 10 can then be transferred to an outline to support writing.
• Elementary students can use Clicker Boards for digital graphic organizers.
  • Clicker Boards can be converted into a Word Bank to support writing.
  • Use Voice Notes in Clicker for recording and listening to your ideas as often as needed.
• Collaborate together by using Lumio/SLSO graphic organizers.

Editing supports include basic spelling and grammar options, as well as increasing clarity of ideas and the opportunity to independently reflect on written work. 

• Use Read Aloud tools to have your work read back to you for editing and review  
  • Built into Microsoft products with Immersive Reader, Clicker and WordQ. 
• Use all the key features of Editor in Word
• Use the “Share” feature in Microsoft tools and collaborate with peers or staff.  
• Use of Voice Notes in Clicker to provide feedback and support planning.

Having access to writing or drawing alternatives with typing options such as digital worksheets, digital whiteboards, or digital organizers and mind maps can be highly beneficial for students.  

• Digital Graphic tools can be used to conceptualize many different concepts, ideas, processes, sequences, or timelines.  
  • Secondary students can use Inspiration 10 and elementary students can use Clicker Boards for digital options to support their learning and engagement.  
• Digital drawing tools can offer students ways to engage, brainstorm, or express themselves and their ideas. Find digital drawing options within: 
  • Clicker's paint tool: Clicker 8 - Harness the Power of Pictures | Crick Software  
  • Microsoft OneNote: Draw and write with ink in Office
  • Word: Add a drawing to a document
  • Whiteboard: Use Ink in Whiteboard 
  • Paint (Classic Windows App): Installed on your students device.  
• Digital worksheets can be powerful options for students. Learn how to edit worksheet files/printouts below, so they can become interactive for students.       
  • OneNote: Printouts as background  
  • Adobe: Make a PDF “type-able” by using Prepare Form in Adobe: How to create a fillable PDF | Make a PDF fillable | Adobe Acrobat DC 
  • Create Cloze activities in Clicker 8 (new Fall 2022!): Clicker Cloze - Check understanding | Crick Software 
• If needed, hardware tools such as styluses or adaptive mice can also be explored to support students. Please reach out to your team to learn more!  

• All About Immersive Reader - Microsoft Educator Center
• Learn more about Immersive Reader
• Immersive Reader resources
• Immersive Reader interactive training
• YouTube introduction to Immersive Reader: What is the Immersive Reader?
• Available for all LWSD students (built-in product)

• Dictate resources
• Voice Typing (Windows + H)
• How to use Dictate (YouTube): How to Use Dictation in Word, OneNote and PowerPoint. Free in Office 365 and Windows 10 
• Available for all LWSD students (built-in product)

• Editor resources
• How to use Editor (YouTube): How to Use Editor in Microsoft Word  - Your Intelligent Writing Assistant
• Available for all LWSD students (built-in product)

• Text Suggestions  
• How to use Word Prediction (YouTube): How to use Word Prediction in Windows 10 
• Available for all LWSD students (built-in product)

• OneNote introduction  
• Digital Worksheets 
• Draw and write with ink in OneNote
• Live caption options to support note-taking: How to use OneNote Live Captions - YouTube
• Available for all LWSD students (built-in option)

• Learn more about Translator
• Available for LWSD students (built-in product)

• Introduction to Whiteboard
• Whiteboard guide
• Available for all LWSD students (built-in option)

• WordQ5 
• How to use WordQ5
• WordQ5 tutorials playlist (Youtube): WordQ tutorials 
• Available for all LWSD students and staff
• Download tool from Software Center

• Clicker
• Clicker's Word Prediction 
• Clicker Sets
• Clicker Boards
• Available for all elementary students' laptops and secondary upon request

• Inspiration
• Inspiration how-to videos
• Available for all LWSD secondary students and staff
• Download tool from Software Center

• Digital worksheet option in Adobe

Offering students tools to help comprehend text, explore additional multi-media options for topics, and  engage with content can be helpful for learning, processing, and success in STEM courses.

• Use Immersive Reader to support comprehension (e.g., content, directions, math problems, etc.), access, and engagement.
  • With Immersive Reader, students can use read loud tools, access translation support, and adjust or personalize the appearance of content to meet their needs.
  • Immersive Reader is available for all students and is built into Teams, Word, OneNote, Edge Browser, Forms, PowerPoint, Lumio, FlipGrid, and Code.org.
• Clicker offers rich resources that can provide differentiated supports for a wide range of curriculum topics: Clicker - Support the curriculum with free resources | Crick Software.  Clicker is available for all Elementary students and is available at Secondary upon request.

Students can benefit from notetaking support around organization, efficiency with recording content, or understanding their written notes after a presentation.

• Presentation Translator in PowerPoint automatically generates a transcript that can be downloaded.
• Transcribe in OneNote automatically captures the transcript of an audio file or live presentation
• Using structure such as tables, templates, or worksheets in OneNote can make notetaking easier.

• Use of a type-able templates can support notetaking. Make a worksheet “type-able” by using Prepare Form in Adobe.

• Use of Graphic Organizers can support notetaking in helping students capture and organize the content in a way that supports their learning.
  • Secondary students can use Inspiration 10. Download from Software Center
  • Elementary students can use Clicker Boards for digital graphic organizers.

Guide students to show their work with equation building supports and digital tools to record their steps, problem solving, or answers.

• Explore the OneNote tools for calculations and equations:
  • Create math equations using ink or text in OneNote
  • Create equations in OneNote using Equation Tools
  • Write an equation or formula in Microsoft 365
• Use Whiteboard to collaborate and work together to show/work through problems as a group.
• Use digital calculators and graphing tools to demonstrate understanding and work (see below for specific digital tool options)
• Clicker Sets can also be number or symbol based, to allow students point and click access to putting together equations and solutions.
  • For  ideas of how Clicker could support Math, please explore set options in Learning Grids here: Maths | Free Clicker teaching resources from Crick Software | LearningGrids.com

Use digital calculators, graphing, and measurement tools to demonstrate understanding and solutions.

• In OneNote, draw graphs of math functions with Math Assistant

Draw graphs of math functions with Math Assistant

• Draw and Measure with tools in OneNote: Draw straight lines or measure with the ruler in OneNote
• Desmos is an advanced calculator implemented as a web application. Has several calculator options under the math tools option, and specific supports for vision needs.
• GeoGebra is an interactive geometry, algebra, statistics and calculus application.
• Create a graph with the NCES' Kid’s Zone - Create a Graph
• Use built-in Windows Calculator Calculator in Windows 10 (microsoft.com)
  • You can open multiple calculators at the same time in resizable windows on the desktop and switch between Standard, Scientific, Programmer, Date calculation, and Converter modes.

OneNote has built in guidance that can help students practice and get immediate feedback on how to solve an equation.

• Get guidance on how to solve math problems on your own with the “step-by-step” math tool in OneNote: Solve math equations with Math Assistant
• Once you get a refresher on how to solve the problem, practice on own with the practice question generation: Generate a practice math quiz
• Geogebra also offers additional Math Practice activities to support your learners' understanding of math concepts: Mathematics – GeoGebra

Having access to digital alternatives with typing options such as digital worksheets, digital whiteboards, or digital organizers and mind maps can be highly beneficial for students.

• Digital Graphic tools can be used to conceptualize many different concepts, ideas, processes, sequences, or steps.
  • Canva is now an option for students in LWSD. They can find it in their ClassLink launch pad. 
  • Secondary students can use Inspiration 10 and Elementary students can use Clicker Boards for digital options to support their learning and engagement.
• Digital manipulatives can help a student engage and demonstrate their understanding:
  • GeoGebra has options: Geogebra's IM K-5 Elementary Resources
  • Your student's curriculum may offer digital resources as well. Please reach out to your educational team to learn about those options.
• Digital drawing tools can offer students ways to engage, brainstorm, or express themselves and their ideas. Find digital drawing options within:
  • Clicker's paint tool Clicker 8 - Harness the Power of Pictures | Crick Software, 
  • Microsoft OneNote Draw and write with ink in Office (microsoft.com), 
  • Word Add a drawing to a document (microsoft.com),
  • Whiteboard Use Ink in Whiteboard
  • Paint (Classic Windows App): installed on your students device.
• Digital worksheets can be useful options for students. Learn how to edit worksheet files/printouts below, so your students can interact with them below:    
  • OneNote: Printouts as background 
  • Adobe: Make a PDF “type-able” by using Prepare Form in Adobe. How to create a fillable PDF | Make a PDF fillable | Adobe Acrobat DC

Provide students with tools or templates to think through processes/steps,  record their findings, observations, or responses.

• Guide students to use typing supports, such as Dictate, WordQ or Text Suggestions.
• Show students the options to record an audio or video response in OneNote.
• Use tables or templates to help them follow specific methods, record findings or note observations in OneNote.
• Digital Graphic tools can be used to conceptualize many different concepts, ideas, processes, sequences, or timelines.  Students cause use these tools to record observations or document completion of their labs or processes.
  • Canva is now an option for students in LWSD. They can find it in their ClassLink launch pad.
  • Secondary students can use Inspiration 10. Download from Software Center
  • Elementary students can use Clicker Boards for digital graphic organizers

Provide vocabulary and topic specific support for students to demonstrate their knowledge and expand upon ideas.

• All LWSD students can use WordQ5's dynamic ThoughtQ tool to generate a topic specific word bank.
  • In addition to being a powerful reference list, this tool also provides additional support, by giving priority to the topic specific words while using their word prediction tool.
  • Students can also add specific word banks as well from a copied resource. Go to: Options-My Words-Topics- New - Learn.

• Elementary Students can use Clicker Sets to access topic specific support:
  • Use Word Banks for vocabulary support
  • Can also provide sentence starters or “frames” to support on-topic writing.
  • For more ideas of how Clicker could support Science, please explore options in Learning Grids here: Science | Free Clicker teaching resources from Crick Software | LearningGrids.com

For all things STEM, please think about the accessibility of the physical tools and materials themselves. If you need help adapting a tool for a student to use, please reach out to your student's educational team for problem-solving and support.

These supports can help students struggling with organizing presentation materials, identifying key points, and presenting in front of other people. 

• Use PowerPoint templates for guidance and structure.  
• From Word, can export an outline to a PowerPoint to build upon.  
• From Inspiration 10, can export a mind map to PowerPoint to build upon.
• Practice with Presenter Coach in PowerPoint
• Record the PowerPoint ahead of time & play it back in front of audience.
• Have students present using  Talk Sets "Tell a Story" or Clicker Books "Make-a-book" with Clicker (available for Elementary students).

Help students and guardians understand and access important information with tools like Translator, Live Captions in Teams, or Subtitles in PowerPoint.  

• Access the Translator tool to get real-time captions of translated conversations and presentations.
• Presentation Translator in PowerPoint generates a transcript to increase understanding and accessibility for all audience members.  
• When attending a Teams meeting, students can change the language of the captions or translate different posts/messages.
• Use the Edge browser to translate web pages.
• Use the built-in translator tool in Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Teams.
• Use the features in Microsoft's Immersive Reader to support comprehension, specifically Translate, and Picture Dictionary. 
• For additional supports, please review the supports under our Reading and Writing sections. 
   

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools can offer a means for students to supplement, enhance, or replace speech. "AAC means people can say anything, to anyone, anywhere and anytime."

AAC can empower our students to advocate for their wants/needs, participate in their classrooms, repair communication challenges, demonstrate all they know, and engage socially.  Indeed, AAC often increases social interaction, school performance and feelings of self-worth - and it is often an ongoing process and collaboration between home and school teams. 
 
There are many different types of AAC that can support and empower a student's communication skills. AAC can range from light-tech communication books to high-tech dynamic display devices. To learn more about a specific tool or device, please reach out to your students ' educational team for information. 

• Communication Bill of Rights (asha.org) 
• What is AAC? - Overview (exploreaac.com) 
• Learn AAC - AssistiveWare 

Check out Resources tab for more information about AAC! 

Modeling (or Aided Language Stimulation) is a strategy of presenting students with spoken, visual and written examples of communication simultaneously. This provides students with the context of the word and symbol and promotes comprehension and communication. Modeling can benefit every learner in building upon their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

• Learn more about "modeling" here:
  • Modeling: Use AAC to teach AAC - AssistiveWare 
  • Attributing Meaning | Assistiveware
  • Modeling Without Expectation
  • Aided Language Stimulation Explained
• Model on light-tech communication core boards
  • Print out the communication core boards and hang them in your home or classroom.
  • Try to model on them during you and your students' favorite parts of the day.
  • See Resources for printable low-tech communication supports.
• If your student uses a communication app, practice modeling with their device as well.
  • See Resources tab for links for using and modeling with different communication apps.

In 2022, the Assistive Technology Team and SLPs worked together to create a customized Core Word Communication Board for LWSD students. The goal was to create a consistent communication support that students will be able to find and use across buildings, playgrounds, and grade levels in LWSD.  We have also been able to translate this communication board into 30 different languages. 

We hope this board can support ALL students in their communication growth, while empowering those around them to model across all environments.  

For printable versions of this board, please see resources tab.  

• Use Presenter Coach in PowerPoint  
• Record PowerPoint Presentations  
• Use PowerPoint templates  
• From Word, can export an outline to a PowerPoint to build upon.  
• From Inspiration 10, can export a mind map to PowerPoint to build upon. 
• Captioning & Subtitles in PowerPoint 

• Learn more about Translator
• Translator Web Tool
• Teams & Translator: Using Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Translator to host a multilingual meeting - Education - Microsoft Translator 
• Available for LWSD students (built-in product)

• Learn more about Clicker
• Create a Clicker Book:  
  • Clicker 8 - Create and edit a Clicker Book | Crick Software  
• Explore Clicker's Talk Sets "Tell a Story"

Available for all Elementary students' laptops and Secondary upon request. 

• Teams Captioning: Use live captions in a Teams meeting (microsoft.com) 
• Translate a post or message: Translate a message in Teams (microsoft.com) 
• Teams & Translator: Using Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Translator to host a multilingual meeting - Education - Microsoft Translator 

• Communication Bill of Rights (asha.org)
• Explore AAC
• What is AAC? - Overview (exploreaac.com)
• Learn AAC - AssistiveWare
• What is AAC? - Tobii Dynavox Global
• Project Core
• Types of AAC - Communication Matters 
• PrAACtical AAC
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (asha.org)

• Modeling: Use AAC to teach AAC - AssistiveWare
• Attributing Meaning | Assistiveware
• Top 3 Tips for Using AAC at Home
• Modeling Without Expectation
• Aided Language Stimulation Explained

• Amanda's AAC Activities - YouTube
• Active with AAC (saltillo.com)
• Implementation Activities - AAC & Speech Devices from PRC (prentrom.com)
• AAC Language Lab
• AAC Language Lab - School Year of Core Vocabulary Words
• PrAACtical Introductions: Meet…A Year of Core Vocabulary Words – School Edition (by Michaela Sullivan, Beth Lytle, & Alisa Lego) : PrAACtical AAC

• Presume competence - AssistiveWare
• This Is Not About Me | A story about growing up non-speaking
• How to be a respectful communication partner - AssistiveWare
• How to talk about AAC and AAC users (according to them) - AssistiveWare
• Top-10-Tips-Keyring-Cards.pdf (communicationmatters.org.uk)
• The Hanen Centre - YouTube – Interactions 

• Will AAC stop a person from learning to speak? - AssistiveWare
• Myth Busting - Tobii Dynavox Global - Myth Busting

• Gestalt Language Processing Overview
• The Gestalt Language Processing Handbook

• Communication Matrix
• EMC, Inc. Home (everymovecounts.net)

• Alternative Access - Switches 
• Linda Burkhart’s Stepping Stones
• Keys-to-developing-switching-skills

• Picture Exchange Communication System
• Picture Exchange Communication System | AFIRM (unc.edu)

• Proloquo2go | Assistiveware 
  • Quick Overview of Proloquo2Go (Stream, may need LWSD credentials)
  • AssistiveWare - What will you say? 
  • Proloquo2Go - AAC app with symbols - AssistiveWare
  • Getting started with Proloquo2Go - AssistiveWare
• Touchchat | Saltillo
  • Quick Overview of TouchChat with WordPower  (Stream, may need LWSD credentials)
  • New to TouchChat? Let us help! Part 1, Spring 2021 
  • WordPower™ Saltillo: Getting Started by Nancy Inman, M.A.T., CCC-SLP and Rena Carney, M.S., SLP 
  • What Are Core Words Anyway? Let Us Help You! Part 1 - Spring 2021 
  • Low-tech Communication Board Options (Saltillo- TouchChat)  
• LAMP Words for Life |PRC Prentrom 
  • Quick Overview of LAMP Words For Life  (Stream, may need LWSD credentials)  
  • The Center for AAC & Autism | What is LAMP? (aacandautism.com) 
  • LAMP Words for Life® (lampwflapp.com) 
  • Vocabulary Builder | LAMP Words For Life (lampwflapp.com) 
  • Using Vocabulary Builder in LAMP - iOS 
• Snap Scene 
  • Snap Scene - Tobii Dynavox US 
• Proloquo4Text 
  • Proloquo4Text - AssistiveWare