Assistive Technology and Learning Disabilities
by Janet Jendron, South Carolina Assistive Technology Program
This article includes an overview of various hardware, software and low tech tools for students and teachers with a focus on literacy and a mention of available math tools. While there is an emphasis on middle and high school, many of the tools described are useful for elementary school students.
http://www.sc.edu/scatp/ld.htm

"NEW" Freeware, Shareware and Demo Programs on the Internet. Reprinted in the ConnSENSE Bulletin ( www.connsensebulletin.com) from the Butte, Montana Office of Education, this is a 9/04 document that lists freeware and shareware off the Internet in the following categories: Cursors, Demos, Drawing, Coloring and Creating programs, Educational Games and Programs, E-Text, Graphics, Graphic Organizers, Internet sites, Keyboarding, Math Support, Modification Checklists, Mouse Skills, On-Screen Keyboards, Sign Language, Symbol Support, Text-To-Speech, Tools and Visual Support
http://www.connsensebulletin.com/freeware05.pdf
http://www.connsensebulletin.com/freeware.html

"NEW" Techmatrix from the National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) offers a "Review of Technology-Based Approaches for Reading Instruction: Tools for Researchers and Vendors." This matrix is intended to serve as a resource that matches technology tools with supporting literature on promising practices for the instruction of reading for students with disabilities. It is organized into the following areas: Building Skills and Comprehension, Convert Text to Speech, Providing Text in Alternate Formats, Providing Electronic Resources, Organizing Ideas and Integrating Literacy Supports.
http://www.techmatrix.org/index.aspx

The National Center to Improve Practice (NCIP) was funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs from 1992-1998 to promote the effective use of technology to enhance educational outcomes for students with sensory, cognitive, physical and social/emotional disabilities. The NCIP Library has a wealth of information about technology, disabilities, practice, and implementation. They also offer an outstanding series of video profiles that vividly illustrate how students with differing disabilities use a range of assistive and instructional technologies to improve their learning. Each video, approximately 10 minutes in length, is accompanied by supporting print materials that explore topics more fully. Their online tour of two exemplary early childhood classrooms show practical uses of AT.
http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/

"Web Toolboxes for Educators," compiled by Dr. Cheryl Wissick at the USC College of Education, this alphabetical listing of terrific educational resources can serve as a starting point on your search of the Web, provide interactive activities, informational resources, and lessons; and help with the integration of technology in education. One section of this web site would be of particular interest to special educators, with links for software related to web access, talking word processes, text-to-speech tools, found at
http://www.ed.sc.edu/caw/toolboxsource.html
http://www.ed.sc.edu/caw/toolboxvendors.html

Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO) provides information on AT applications that help students with disabilities learn in elementary classrooms. Project Information; At Basics:Information on AT use for elementary students with disabilities; Resources: Links are available here to national AT organizations, projects, and listserves, Tutorials are available in PDF format. Some tutorials feature PowerPoint presentations, found at http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials/talkingBooks/powerpoint.php
http://atto.buffalo.edu/

University of Virginia Library's Etext Center, including classic British and American fiction, major authors, children's literature,  American history, Shakespeare, African-American documents, the Bible, and much more - 1,800 publicly-available ebooks. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/ebooks/ebooklist.html

"NEW" International Children's Digital Library - a library that provides free access to children's books from around the world. By ensuring access to books from many cultures and in diverse languages, http://www.icdlbooks.org/

"NEW" RTEC Sources for Electronic Text. An archive-only (not updated) list of web sources for electronic text developed by RTEC Exchange. Excellent descriptions and explanations. http://rtecexchange.edgateway.net/cs/rtecp/view/rtec_sub/93

Cool Assistive Technology Tools for the Classroom: Also compiled by Janet Jendron of SCATP. http://www.sc.edu/scatp/cooltools.htm