Assistive Technology to Support Writing

There is a variety of Assistive Technology to support students who struggle with writing. The use of these technology tools can have a tremendous impact on student performance. Note that many of these are sold on the mass market, not as specialized AT, and have the advantage of mass market pricing.

Simple Technology

When thinking about tools that can help improve handwritten work, begin by providing a variety of pencils and pens of different sizes and shapes. Select some of the many on the market today that have special grips built in and also provide additional grips that can make it easier to hold and reduce fatigue. Sometimes students have difficulty monitoring the pressure they are producing; fun pens that light up when the writer presses the tip down to write can help provide feedback. They are available periodically at dollar stores and other discount stores.

Magnetic letters and/or words can allow struggling writers tap into ideas by moving words or ideas around. Magnetic Poetry is one brand of a magnetic word bank. The student can shuffle these pre-formed pieces of language around to compose messages. Magnetic letters and words can offer a range of words at an appropriate reading level with a mix of adjectives and adverbs to allow the student more depth and complexity than they would manage when struggling to form legible handwriting.

It may also be helpful to try a variety of paper. There are a variety of special papers with raised lines, thicker lines, wider spaces between lines, shaded lines, etc. They are available from such school supply vendors such as Pro-Ed (1-800-897-3202, http://www.proedinc.com or Beacon Ridge (http://www.beacon-ridge.com).