Vision and Reading

Assistive Technology

Leah Noreiga, Cate Dymek, and Patty

Lewis

Low Tech Vision and Reading AT

Eye Glasses

Average Cost: $300-$500 (depending upon brand and insurance)Who Can Use Them?: Children and adultsPositives: •Anyone can use them•help with a variety of eye problems Negatives: •Fragile•Easy to lose•Children may not like wearing them

Low Tech Vision and Reading ATAverage Cost: Varies depending on

bookWho Can Use Them?: Children and adultsPositives: Recreational and Educational usesNegatives:• Textbooks can be expensive and are not easily accessible in public schools difficult to carry•student may have negative attitude towards using large print

Mid-Tech Vision and Reading AT

Average Cost: Available for Free on Windows, $40 for Screen Enlarger

Who Can Use It?: More popular for those with low vision (most often caused by macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa)

Positives: Relatively inexpensiveNegative: No zoom capability—

only one level of magnification for screen

Mid-Tech Vision and Reading AT

Average Cost: Computer Program upwards of $400

Who Can Use It?: More popular for those with low vision (most often caused by macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa)

Positives: Zooms to 36x, font smoothing

Negatives: Font smoothing not as smooth as other programs (ZoomText—more expensive version)

Screen Magnification Software

Mid-Tech Vision and Reading AT

Average Cost: $1,000-$1,400 (depending on licenses needed)

Who Can Use It?: K-12Positives: Reads texts and digital uploads;

support reading fluency, comprehension, and writing; allows for individualized instruction; supports ELL students; developed upon UDL principles

Negatives: Expensive! Scanning is time consuming, training needed, memory needed on computer, doesn’t always read the Web properly

Kurzweil

High Tech Vision and Reading AT

Average Cost of Duxbury Braille Translator: $600 single user; $3000-$4500 for additional licenses

Who Can Use It?: Specifically for blind users

Positives: Sends text directly from computer to embosser without translation

Negatives: Computer support due to connection issues; often need add-on software for math translation; translation needs to be check by someone knowledgeable about Braille

Braille Translation Software

High Tech Visual and Reading AT

Average Cost: $150-$200Who Can Use It?: EveryonePositives: Built-in Apps; can download

additional apps; Voice Guide; large text; different magnification levels; built-in-dictionary; internet access; constant updates available; text-to-speech; optional text-coloring

Negatives: Too expensive to have available to every student; internet access needs filter in school

KINDLE FIRE