Assistive technologies (AT) have been developed to help students who have learning disabilities. These technologies cover many areas and are designed specifically to help students develop the skills they need and complete tasks that would otherwise be impossible for them. Diagnostic software determines a student's problem areas and charts progress. Cause and Effect programs are games that provide basic training for students in computer usage, math and even attention span. Most of these are available online or can be purchased as software packages.
Students who have difficulty reading are those with conditions like dyslexia and Repetitive Language Disorder. Dyslexic students find it difficult to learn new words and letters. Students with Repetitive Language Disorder have a limited ability to understand spoken and written language. An excellent assistive technology for these students is the text-to-speech program. This program converts written documents and websites into speech. Another program is called Symbol-based software. This uses pictographs and symbols to teach students new vocabulary and to help them understand difficult text through pictures. Such tools give the students a lot of confidence and will help them a great deal with online research as well.
Students who have trouble writing may often lose confidence and avoid writing altogether. Thus, tools that build confidence are very important. There are many websites online that have free games designed to help learning-disabled students learn grammar, spelling and vocabulary in a stress-free environment. Touch-typing software is another tool that uses specialized keyboards and predictive text to assist students in typing. Finally, hand-to-eye coordination software allows students to practice controlling their hands as they write on a page.
Often, learning-disabled students find it helpful if they can organize and plan their study. Setting goals and having a time frame to achieve them can help them gain a lot of confidence.
To help you do so, there are many "mind-mapping" programs available online. Several of these programs have been specially designed for the learning-disabled, whether it be students with a lower IQ, dyslexia or another condition. Mind-mapping programs are designed to help students to organize their thoughts, ideas and plans in easy-to-read charts. They can be used to set goals and give time lines. Students with a lower IQ may find this particularly useful because the programs use color, pictures and charts to make organization fun. They help learning-disabled students stay focused on their work and clear about their goals.