Supporting students with SLD

In a previous blog I mentioned I have learning disability-- dyslexia.  If you are following my blog, I do not have to tell you this because you may noticed I often leave out words, use the wrong word and/or write sentences in an confusing format.

First, I want to explain that dyslexia affects how individuals processes information; how and severity  depends of the individual.  In some cases, its a processing disorder and individual struggles to process (understand) information, but in other cases, the text is all jumbled up which prevents the individual from decoding words.  Regardless, how the dyslexia affects the students abilities to perform, the student is fully capable of comprehending information and learning.  Its a matter of understanding what type of learning disabilities the students and figuring out what type of support the student needs. Watch these to video to gain a better understanding of students with dyslexia.  

Video #1- Processing of information 

Video #2- Decoding Information

Now image, if you struggle to processing and decoding written language, do you think you will have trouble writing?  Well, yes, students with reading disabilties often struggle with writing.  However,  some students have dysgraphia (writing disability) and struggle with writing and organizing of written language. 

There are 5 steps in the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, reviewing, editing and publishing.  In the following under step, I put a simple AT device/software that will support students with learning disabilities as the work through each of the step. Check out this site to learn more.

1. Pre-writing
• Graphic Organizers: Concept Maps, Venn Diagrams and charts will help students organize and create a visual representation of the information.
2. Drafting 
• Word Processing:  word processing software allow students to get their ideas out on paper in more efficient and effective matter.  In addition,  word processing software can help with
  
• Speech Recognition: this type of software allow the student to fluidly express his or her thoughts. As students with learning disabilities write/type, information can go missing because their is a disconnect between the student's thoughts and writing. 
• Word Prediction: helps students by predicting words as they write, which will relieve the stress of remembering each word.  (Students with learning disabilities process information in different formats and information can easily be lost.) Word prediction will help students to keep a comfortable and productive writing pace. 
3. Reviewing 
• Text–To-Speech: allows students to hear the mistakes.  Student will often read over their mistakes.
  
4. Editing 
• Word Processor: allow students to easily move text around on the page
  
5. Publishing
• Word processors
• Multimedia presentation applications
• Digital story storytelling

References:
Lavoie, R. F.A.T City. PBS. http://www.ricklavoie.com/videos.html
http://www.donjohnston.com/