Cross-over technology for deaf learners
Abi James, Product Manager at Iansyst Ltd
Numerous software packages have been designed
for and used successfully by dyslexic students to
overcome their literacy difficulties. However this is
not the case in the deaf community where little
software development has taken place. Here we are
going to look at software and technology used by
dyslexic learners which can also be used to support
and teach deaf learners.
Similarities between deaf and dyslexic learners
There is a cross-over of difficulties in acquiring
literacy skills for dyslexic and deaf children. Many
children with dyslexia have problems with
processing information given orally and rely on
visual patterns of words to read and spell. A similar
technique is taught to those deaf children who must
rely on word recognition instead of phonetic
understanding to spell words. Because of the highly
visual environment provided by computers, software
packages are an ideal method of reinforcing a visual
approach to learning to read, spell and write. Here
we’re going to introduce some technology which
could also be used with deaf children.
Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping is a method of visually representing
information. Traditionally it has been used as a
drafting or revising tool but it can also be used for
teaching. Inspiration and Kidspiration can be used
both in the classroom and at home. These
programmes let you build colourful and interesting
maps which can be converted into a text outline or
writing view. Kidspiration, for children aged 5-11,
(reviewed in Magazine Sept/Oct 02) has many builtin curriculum activities as well. Alternatively
teachers can develop their own activities.
Inspiration, for secondary aged children, provides a
more sophisticated drafting tool with the ability to
export map or text outlines to other applications
such as Microsoft Word. The latest version
incorporates a new post-it note function for adding
notes to a map whilst a large library of templates
give examples of how maps can be used throughout
the curriculum.
Spelling
Many software packages for helping dyslexic
students with spelling use a multi-sensory approach
with both sound and pictures but a few programmes
also work without sound.
GAMZ player contains SWAP/FIX card games which
are similar to snap but use word groups. Players
must identify cards with words from the same word
group, an excellent way of improving visual word
recognition. Also included in the GAMZ player are
games for improving visual memory, using both
pictures and words and a word search programme.
Teachers can also create their own card games and
word searches which can either be played on the
computer or printed off.
SWAP/FIX games in GAMZ player
Soapbox from Xavier enables children to identify the
correct shape of a word and then spell it out. Words
can also be read out by letter sound or name, which
is useful for those with useful residual hearing, whilst
teachers can add their own word lists.
Wordshark 3 is a popular game for reinforcing
reading and spelling. This new version, released
last year, contains more than 30 games. These
games use either the built-in word lists (covering the
National Literacy Scheme and the Alpha to Omega
word lists) or your own lists. Many of the games
can have signs and pictures accompanying words
which make Wordshark suitable for those with
hearing difficulties.
Map and Outline view in Inspiration 7.
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©BATOD Magazine December 02
Test punctuation skills in Punctuate Plus
Punctuate Plus, also from Xavier, teaches
punctuation through example sentences. It includes
practice games and a quiz to improve and test
punctuation skills.
Hardware
A number of small hardware tools can be used in
the classroom to help improve reading and spelling.
The Quicktionary Reading Pen II is a small, handheld scanner, shaped like a pen. Although designed
to help people with dyslexia it can also be used by
those with hearing difficulties to improve
pronunciation. Once a printed word
has been scanned it reads it
aloud through the integral
speaker or external
earphone.
It can also read out
each letter of the word or
show the syllable breakdown of the
word. A dictionary definition of the scanned word
can then be shown and read aloud. The pitch,
volume and speed of the electronic voice can all be
altered.
The Franklin electronic dictionaries offer phonetic
spell-checking and definitions independent of a
computer. As all entries are spell-checked it
removes many of the difficulties encountered with
dictionaries by those with spelling problems.
Franklin dictionaries range from Literacy Word Bank,
designed specifically for primary-aged children and
containing the National Literacy scheme vocabulary,
to those designed specifically for those with special
educational needs, such as the LM6000B. This
includes speech feedback and a pronunciation
guide for those with useful residual hearing.
However the LM6000B contains a US dictionary and
does not recognise UK-specific spelling so may not
be suitable for use with young children. For
©BATOD Magazine December 02
information on Franklin spell-checkers and
dictionaries have a look at
www.dyslexic.com/dictionary.
Typing Tutors
Touch typing can be a great skill for deaf children
and adults to acquire. With touch typing skills they
can take down information whilst teachers, lecturers
or colleagues are speaking. There is a huge
number of touch typing tutors available. However,
many rely on auditory instructions or use the home
row approach which, with its nonsense typing
passages, does not help those who have difficulties
with spelling. The Kaz typing tutor is an easy to use
typing tutor which is great for those users who have
hearing or spelling difficulties. Instructions can be
written on the screen or given orally while it only
uses real word or phrases in typing exercises.
Even with good spelling skills deaf people/students
will encounter words that they do not know whilst
typing. They may then rely on their knowledge of
phonetics to guess the word. In such cases, where
words have been spelt as they sound, not as they
are spelt, many standard spell-checkers will not be
able to suggest the correct word. However, spellcheckers have been developed to pick up such
errors for dyslexic computer users and can be used
in a similar way for those with hearing impairment.
Spell Catcher is an integrated spell-checker,
dictionary and thesaurus, which can identify
phonetic errors. It can interact with most
applications and can be used to correct mistakes
while typing or once completed.
Further details and prices for all these products are
available at www.dyslexic.com
This article was written by Abi James, Product
Manager at Iansyst Ltd. Iansyst Ltd specialises in
providing software and technology solution for
people with dyslexia and other disabilities.
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