Comments on: Tools and Dyslexia: Issues and Ideas http://www.ldresources.org/2004/07/08/tools-and-dyslexia-issues-and-ideas/ Resources for the learning disabilities community Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:53:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Trusted.MD Network http://www.ldresources.org/2004/07/08/tools-and-dyslexia-issues-and-ideas/#comment-105374 Trusted.MD Network Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:50:41 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/wordpress/index.php?p=171#comment-105374 <strong>Excellent Article by Richard Wanderman on Assistive Technology...</strong> Thanks to a link from Ann C., I found a copy of an article by Richard Wanderman on assistive technology and learning disabilities, Tools and Dyslexia: Issues and Ideas. Some highlights: The label “assistive technology” is redundant: all technology ... Excellent Article by Richard Wanderman on Assistive Technology…

Thanks to a link from Ann C., I found a copy of an article by Richard Wanderman on assistive technology and learning disabilities, Tools and Dyslexia: Issues and Ideas. Some highlights: The label “assistive technology” is redundant: all technology …

]]> By: Liz http://www.ldresources.org/2004/07/08/tools-and-dyslexia-issues-and-ideas/#comment-105368 Liz Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:19:45 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/wordpress/index.php?p=171#comment-105368 Thanks for posting this. I found the original article extremely useful, but misplaced my copy in an office reorganization. Thanks for posting this. I found the original article extremely useful, but misplaced my copy in an office reorganization.

]]> By: Richard http://www.ldresources.org/2004/07/08/tools-and-dyslexia-issues-and-ideas/#comment-1237 Richard Mon, 16 May 2005 14:28:53 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/wordpress/index.php?p=171#comment-1237 Caroline: <blockquote> I am a music, not a multimedia student and therefore do not get a Mac.</blockquote> Maybe it's time to show them GarageBand and the music track editor in Final Cut Pro? It is shortsighted to force you to use a computer/OS combination because of a single AT product (TextHelp) when there are many other solutions available to support reading and writing on both OS's. Also, I think it's a plus for any "thinking" person that OS X's access features are at the system level and not a "scarlet letter" for all to see. That nuanced difference is possibly the difference between being "outed" as LD if you're using a tool and not. And don't think for a second that this doesn't have a negative impact on tool use; it does. Caroline: thanks for your kind words about this site and about the article and good luck in the UK which I've heard is a bit odd about such things (Acorn and such). Caroline:

I am a music, not a multimedia student and therefore do not get a Mac.

Maybe it’s time to show them GarageBand and the music track editor in Final Cut Pro?

It is shortsighted to force you to use a computer/OS combination because of a single AT product (TextHelp) when there are many other solutions available to support reading and writing on both OS’s.

Also, I think it’s a plus for any “thinking” person that OS X’s access features are at the system level and not a “scarlet letter” for all to see. That nuanced difference is possibly the difference between being “outed” as LD if you’re using a tool and not. And don’t think for a second that this doesn’t have a negative impact on tool use; it does.

Caroline: thanks for your kind words about this site and about the article and good luck in the UK which I’ve heard is a bit odd about such things (Acorn and such).

]]> By: Caroline http://www.ldresources.org/2004/07/08/tools-and-dyslexia-issues-and-ideas/#comment-1236 Caroline Mon, 16 May 2005 12:30:51 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/wordpress/index.php?p=171#comment-1236 I found this article very interesting, and it has re-emphasised the importance of being able to choose your own solutions and integrate these with your learning. At the start of this academic year, I was assessed and found to be dyslexic. Because of UK disability access laws, I have now been allocated a computer and all sorts of other gizmos as "assistive technology". To my surprise, the computer they recommended was a PC, not a Mac. Why? Because Texthelp 7.1 is available on PC, and there is only a stripped-down version for Mac. Also, Texthelp have no plans to update this and they are phasing out their Mac-compatible product. Texthelp 7.1 is one of the solutions to my problem, and the computer I am allocated must support this. I am a mature student, having previously worked as a support tutor for dyslexic students. I have seen dyslexic students working with both Mac and PC, and I believe that the operating system for Mac is far more dyslexia friendly. However, its friendly features are hidden in the OS, so it does not appear to contain assistive technology in a way that is easily identifiable on a receipt. The funding body would only notice the higher price of the computer. When discussing this with my disability advisor at university, she seemed annoyed and commented that no one had complained before. Except I found that a small group of students did complain: as a result, the only students allocated Macs as assistive technology are multimedia students that use video editing and virtual studio software. Even though I use ProTools (Mac-only music recording/editing software) and have an option to learn Final Cut Pro (Digital video editing software) next year as part of my course, I am a music, not a multimedia student and therefore do not get a Mac. Dont get me wrong - its wonderful that students are being allocated these things to help with their learning. But its frustrating that the approach is so shortsighted and doesnt attempt to address the whole issue how the computer you use becomes part of your thought process and your life. As there would be very little point in me getting a PC, Im going to fight to get a computer that Ill actually use. Any arguments for Macs versus PCs as assistive software would be very useful! Caroline PS - Thanks for creating such a wonderful resource, Ill recommend this site to all my dyslexic students! I found this article very interesting, and it has re-emphasised the importance of being able to choose your own solutions and integrate these with your learning.

At the start of this academic year, I was assessed and found to be dyslexic. Because of UK disability access laws, I have now been allocated a computer and all sorts of other gizmos as “assistive technology”. To my surprise, the computer they recommended was a PC, not a Mac.

Why? Because Texthelp 7.1 is available on PC, and there is only a stripped-down version for Mac. Also, Texthelp have no plans to update this and they are phasing out their Mac-compatible product. Texthelp 7.1 is one of the solutions to my problem, and the computer I am allocated must support this.

I am a mature student, having previously worked as a support tutor for dyslexic students. I have seen dyslexic students working with both Mac and PC, and I believe that the operating system for Mac is far more dyslexia friendly. However, its friendly features are hidden in the OS, so it does not appear to contain assistive technology in a way that is easily identifiable on a receipt. The funding body would only notice the higher price of the computer.

When discussing this with my disability advisor at university, she seemed annoyed and commented that no one had complained before.

Except I found that a small group of students did complain: as a result, the only students allocated Macs as assistive technology are multimedia students that use video editing and virtual studio software. Even though I use ProTools (Mac-only music recording/editing software) and have an option to learn Final Cut Pro (Digital video editing software) next year as part of my course, I am a music, not a multimedia student and therefore do not get a Mac.

Dont get me wrong - its wonderful that students are being allocated these things to help with their learning. But its frustrating that the approach is so shortsighted and doesnt attempt to address the whole issue how the computer you use becomes part of your thought process and your life.

As there would be very little point in me getting a PC, Im going to fight to get a computer that Ill actually use. Any arguments for Macs versus PCs as assistive software would be very useful!

Caroline

PS - Thanks for creating such a wonderful resource, Ill recommend this site to all my dyslexic students!

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