Assistive Technology

• Disability Resources Home
• About Us
• Request Accommodations

Information for

• Current Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Prospective Students
• Parents & Family

Accommodations & Services

• Interpreters
• Testing
• Audio & eText
• Note Taking
• Assistive Technology
• Temporary Health Conditions

Other Information

• Scholarships
• Legal Information
• Frequently Asked Questions

• UMD Home

1. Help with Reading
2. Help with Writing
3. Program Demos
4. Assistive Technology in the Library

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology (AT) refers to tools that make learning faster and easier for students with:

• Reading barriers due to visual, learning, or other disabilities
• Sensory barriers due to deafness, blindness, or other hearing/visual limitations
• Keyboard barriers due to repetitive motion or spinal cord injuries, or coordination impairments
• Spelling or expressive writing limitations

Talk to your Disability Resources specialist to determine if AT is tight for you and which AT is best for your needs. For training on assistive technology, contact Mark Paulson, mpaulso2@d.umn.edu

Help with Reading

Software systems, such as Kurzweil and Read & Write Gold, display the text on a computer screen and, with a mouse click, read it to you. You can read/listen to text typed by the user, scanned in from printed pages (e.g., books, class handouts), or found on the Internet. AT reading systems also contain powerful study tools. With them, you can:

• Read/listen to the text
• Highlight the main ideas, details, vocabulary, etc in different colors
• Make study guides from your highlighted text
• Define and learn new vocabulary

Computers with these programs are in L122, L124, and L126 are available for use the in the Library.
Some programs on USB devices can be checked-out from the Library. See Reading Accommodations for more information.

Help with Writing

Most word processing systems alert you to spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, and sentence structure errors. If you need more robust help with these tasks, both Kurzweil 3000 and Read & Write Gold have easy to use features to help you improve your writing.

• "Word prediction" feature predicting the word the user intends, based on spelling, syntax, and frequent/recent use. You find the right word, with fewer keystrokes.
• Spell-check features define word choices so you can be sure you select the correct word.
• Read back what you have written for better proof reading.

Both of the above programs include "graphic organizer" and "outlining" features that help you organize and outline your information as you begin a writing project. You brainstorm your ideas, then organize them into appropriate categories, and click the "Outline" button for your working outline.

If you struggle with writing - or if writing comes easily - check out this powerful software. It is located on computers in L 122, L124, and L126, and is available for use in those rooms.

Speaks into a microphone, and your spoken words appear on the computer screen as text. This software is helps writers whose oral language skills are stronger than their writing skills, or users with coordination impairments that limit keyboarding.

Program Demo Links

Inspiration, a visual thinking and learning tool, can be used to plan, research and complete written projects. Writers can create graphic organizers and expand topics into writing.

Inspiration is available on computers in the AT rooms of the Library.

Helps organize your writing with mapping, then converts the map to an outline. Word prediction and word definition features help find - and spell - the right word. Reads words and sentences as you type for easier proofreading.

Kurzweil 3000

Helps organize your writing with mapping, then converts the map to an outline. Word prediction and word definition features help find - and spell - the right word. Reads words and sentences as you type for easier proofreading.

Eliminates use of key strokes and mouse when composing written documents - you just tell the computer what to write. Dragon requires some training to effectively use it, but the accuracy gets better with each use.

Designed for individuals with visual disabilities, Kurzweil 1000 scans and reads textbooks and other class materials as above, but uses all key strokes instead of mouse clicks. (Guarenteed rodent-free.)

Enlarges and reads text on computer screens, reads web pages. Have additional aids such as electronic "magnifying glass", line-by-line highlighting, contrasting text-to-background color combinations, text window sizing and screen reading.

MAGic screen magnification software increases the size of what you see on a monitor. It is fully compatible with JAWS® screen reader, and uses many of the same reading commands as JAWS. MAGic adds visual enhancements when used in conjunction with JAWS.

Screen reading software developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content. JAWS reads aloud what's on the PC screen. It is compatible with the most frequently-used workplace and classroom applications.

Assistive Technology in the Library

The UMD Library provides the following assistive technology to full-time students. Computer problems should be reported to the ITSS lab consultant at the Library front desk. Some software is available on a flash drive to check-out from the Library.

Assistive Technology on a Stick

Some assistive technology, Kurzweil 3000 Learn Station and Zoomtext, a screen reader and magnifyer, is available on a USB flash drive for a two-week renewable check-out from the Library. Learn Station has all of the functionality of Kurzweil 3000 except for scanning and PDF compatability. Please contact Disability Resources for more information.