· What is the tool? This is a word processing tool that allows struggling writers to write more effectively and efficiently. It has a special speech feedback feature, which enables you to listen to your written work. By hearing what you have written, you can then go back in and edit your writing, thus improving your literacy and becoming a more independent writer.
· How can it be used? It can be used by purchasing and then downloading the software. To purchase the software, please visit the
Special Education Experts website. You can also purchase the software at
Don Johnston. After downloading the program, begin writing, and use the tools located on the toolbar to help you find and correct errors in your writing. To listen to what you have written, use the talking word processor by going to the "speech" tab located on the toolbar to have your letters, words, and sentences read back to you.
· What are the advantages and disadvantages of this tool? It is a great program for people with writing disabilities, hearing disabilities, and anyone with visual impairments. Some of the advantages are its features, such as spell check, image downloads, and a dictionary. The program even includes the Franklin Talking Spell Checker, which actually allows you to listen to the alternative words. Even more fascinating, is that the program includes a Homonym Checker, which helps you find a more fitting word in a sentence. Additionally, the program allows you to increase and decrease the font size on the document, so is is especially advantageous for those who are visually imapired. One disadvantage to this software is that you have to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download Adobe, click
here. Also, the program is NOT free; the price varies according to how many computers it is going to be installed to.
· Who is the audience for this tool? The audience would be those who have writing disabilities and need help in the writing process. It is also a great tool for people with auditory problems because it is a text-to-speech processor, which lets you listen to what you have written.
· Where can we learn more about this tool? To learn more about the text, please visit the
Learning Centre. Here, you can examine the software's basic programs, view a video demo of the program, and explore all the tool options. Another great website is
Don Johnston, which provides a plethora of resources to help you better understand the software. The site provides video demonstrations on how to use the product, case studies of people who have used it, and research on the tool, as well.
· What is your opinion on the usefulness of this tool? I think this is an excellent tool, especially for people with writing disabilities. It is convenient and useful for about every classroom that is equipt with a computer and Adobe (which the majority are). There are even liscensing discounts for quantities of five are more! According to many case studies of children who have used the tool, they have increased in their writing fluency significantly.