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NCAC: Research & Solutions: Students Make Progress with UDL: General Education and Special Education Associations: Electronic Supports That Aid Learners

Buy Wisely: Choose Built-In Electronic Supports That Aid Learners

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A universally designed curriculum is supported by a range of products and specially designed software. Optimally the features are built in. These could include highlighted text, text to speech capability, instant dictionary, and a note-taker. There are many others. As yet a totally universally designed curriculum is still evolving. In some cases students with disabilities will require assistive or "add on" devices to aid learning. Both built-in and add on products comprise universally designed instruction. Exactly which tools and products are best will depend on the needs of the students and the versatility of the technology products that are available and chosen by school districts.

CAST provides guidance with updates about products and the flexible features that increase access to the curriculum. Follow this advice to become savvy purchases of new technology and to help school districts spend technology dollars wisely.

Try It!

• WebTrekker Software will Help Students Navigate the Web This product is in a testing phase but may one day be the answer to keeping students on task while they surf the Web.
• CAST eReader and Customizing with UD Features: CAST eReader^TM is a software tool designed to support learners of all ages who may lack the skills needed to read materials independently. The software can take electronic text content from any source and read it using synthesized speech and visual highlighting. The program's universal design features allow it to meet a wide range of needs, abilities and interests, supporting those who have difficulty reading.

Other Interesting Products:

1. Let's Go Read!: Teachers are guided by a scope and sequence and can choose from multiple ways of engaging students using letters, sounds, words, and stories. An Adult Options menu offers alternatives for program flow, the presentation of activities, and control by students.
2. Talking Walls: See the power of a talking book and implementing it in a digital environment.
3. WiggleWorks: Become familiar with a range of embedded flexible options for learning along with a system to manage all the information gathered on individual learners.
4. Write:OutLoud: Find out about the advantages that you can give learners using a talking word processor with built-in auditory and visual learning supports.
5. Electronic Books & Reading in the Future: How important is the growth of the electronic book market to schools? This research formed the basis for initial work developed by the Council for Exceptional Children for the NCAC.