Assistive Technology

A Guide to Assistive Technology To Support Literacy Learners With Disabilities

The NWT Literacy Council has produced a guide to explore possible assistive technology tools and solutions for persons with disabilities. While it does not cover all possible products or endorse any specific product it does give the reader a good idea of the software, hardware, and equipment that are commonly available. Order information and in some cases, free download website information are also included.

See New Resource: Guide to Assistive Technology at www.nwt.literacy.ca

NWT Literacy Council
P.O. Box 761
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N6
Tel: 867-873-9262
Fax: 867-873-2176
Email: csills@nwtliteracy.ca

IBM Home Page Reader

IBM Home Page Reader is an Internet browser designed for users who wish to access the Internet in a non-visual or combined auditory and visual way. It is useful for people who are blind or for partially sighted users, people with dyslexia or learning difficulties and users who are learning a new language. Home Page Reader uses voice to guide users when they are using the Internet to explore the World Wide Web. It also allows people with low vision the ability to resize windows and panes to make the screen easier to see. In addition, users can follow the moving cursor as the voice reads the words, making reading even easier.

Cost for single user: $150.00
Download for free 30-day trial:
http://www-3.ibm.com/able/solution_offerings/hpr.html

JAWS for Windows

JAWS can send information to Braille displays and can interact with MAGic Screen Magnification.
JAWS Standard: $1195
Download a free demo version:
http://www.aroga.com/blindness_downloads.asp

MAGic for Windows

Magnification up to 16 times and screen-reader.
MAGic Standard: $480, MAGic Professional: $640, MAGic Professional with speech: $950
Download a free trial version:
http://www.aroga.com/lowvision_downloads.asp

SARAW - Speech Assisted Reading And Writing

SARAW is an innovative self-paced computer programme designed to teach adults reading and writing skills. It is suitable for adult learners at a grade 2 - 7. Its built-in audio feed back allows students to hear and identify mistakes in grammar and spelling by themselves.

The reading portion of the software can read stories aloud: a word at a time, a sentence at a time, or all at once. The activities section contains two word games and a sounding board to teach phonics. The writing section is like a talking word processor. The computer speaks as the learner types.

SARAW Premium Version: $300.00

SARAW LITE is an entry level version of the award winning SARAW. Any Canadian non-profi t organization or publicly funded educational institution that teaches adult literacy can receive 2 free licenses for the SARAW LITE software.

For information, contact the Niel Squire Foundation at:
SARAW LITE Registraton
c/o Neil Squire Foundation
Suite 220, 2250 Boundary Rd.
Burnaby, BC V5M 3Z3
Tel: 604-412-7599
Email: info@saraw.net
Website: http://www.saraw.net