LDDiscussionHighlights

From LiteracyTentWiki

Universal Design for Learning

In September, 2005 Dr. Christopher Lee was a guest on the National Institute for Literacy Learning Disabilities (NIFL-LD) discussion list. He offered a wealth of practical free and commercial resources in assistive technology and universal design for learning. He defined and distinguished these two concepts. He covered the following four areas:
1. Universal Design for Learning (UDL);
2. Adaptive Mainstream Technology (ATM);
3. Shareware and Freeware Resources; and
4. Alternative Media.

He also answered questions from the field. For the full discussion, go to AleLDUniversalDesign

Text to Speech

In May, 2005, David Rosen referred to an article in the Boston Globe about how Massachusetts high school students with reading disabilities use text (or print)-to-speech text-to-speech software to help them improve their reading and writing skills, and to take high-stakes and other standardized tests. He said that Massachusetts is not the only state that allows this practice. He asked if anyone had research showing that these reading programs help students make significant strides and if, by law, schools must consider buying software programs that might help students with reading and other disabilities. He also asked:

• Do your students with reading disabilities (or reading difficulties) use text-to-speech? What do you think of this practice?
• Are adult education programs in your state required by law to consider buying reading programs like this for students with reading disabilities? If not, should they be?
• Should adult literacy education standardized tests (TABE, CASAS, BEST, BEST PLUS and others) be required to have this option? Should states be required to make it available?
• Should reading be re-defined to include the use of text-to-speech, just as increasingly mathematics now includes/allows the use of a pocket calculator? If so, what are the implications for the field of adult basic literacy?

A number of people responded with research citations, and professional and personal experience in using text-to-speech software. For the full discussion go to AleLDTexttoSpeech.