Assistive Technology for Students with Dyslexia

   Dyslexia is a specific learning disability which is characterized by a difficulty in reading, spelling and writing.  Dyslexia does not affect these individual's cognitive ability.  People with dyslexia have an average to above average intelligence.  This disability does, however, impact the students attention, perception, memory and thought processing abilities.  Some signs of dyslexia is delayed speech, slow learning of new vocabulary and a delay in reading.  Most student can succeed in school with additional assistants such as, tutoring, supplemental instruction or assistive technology.
   Below is an example of what someone with dyslexia might see while reading.  Using assistive technology can minimize the difficulty in decoding what an individual perceives. 

http://dyslexia.mindsay.com/

I have researched two devices to assist student (or adults) with the daunting task of reading.   

The Reading Pen

   The Reading Pen is a portable device that can translate a word or full text by simply scanning it and producing an audio pronunciation.  This device is programmed with language software so it can be in any language.  It also decodes idioms and phrases.  Pretty Cool!   For students that need reading assistance, the Reading Pen provides definitions and pronunciations immediately to help with comprehension and fluency.

vBookz

vBookz is a PDF Voice reader.  It shows the text and while it is reading to you.  It is also available in mobile version.  The interesting thing about the vBookz is that it is specifically designed for dyslexic readers.  They use this text called Dyslexie that addresses the way these students perceive letters and words and makes it easier for them to read.  With this font, every letter appears is unique.  This helps with the rotation, flipping and reversal of letters while reading.  It also bold faces capital letters in the beginning of sentences to avoid sentence confusion or "smashing" together. 

http://vbookz.com/V1/vBookz_Voice_Readers.html

     Dyslexic students of today have more opportunities that ever to achieve full potential.  Research has shown that early intervention is necessary for children with reading disabilities and now there is a greater understanding of how this learning can work, even past childhood.  Past implications of not being able to read meant that the person was not smart and actually was looked at as 'slow' is no longer the case. This is far from the truth.  Many famous dyslexic are looked at as gifted.    Gen. Patton, John Lennon, Alexander Graham Bell just to name a few.  I believe the future is promising for those with specific learning disabilities in general.  The research, education and treatment are abundant and forthcoming, Society has a better understanding and knowledge of the disabilities and difficulties.

Sources:

http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cdynamic%2CTopicalBrief%2C23%2C

http://www.ablongman.com/html/productinfo/friend2e_MLS/0205505317ch05.pdf

http://ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities/