Leveling+the+Playing+Field+-+Using+Assistive+Technology+to+Differentiate+Instruction

Presenter: **Description:** Teachers want to personalize instruction for all of their students but many of us are concerned about the amount of work involved. Assistive technology gives teachers a no prep solution to their differentiation needs. All students can gain access to the most challenging curriculums through the use of Inspiration 8, Kurzweil 300, and Dragon Naturally Speaking 10. This presentation will introduce these three software packages and demonstrate their benefits to all students. Participants will learn how to obtain the software for their students and when use of the software is appropriate. Teachers will gain a basic working knowledge of all three programs and will be able to bring their new insights back to their schools.
 * Alex Brosowsky, ** Director Center for Teaching and Learning / Learning Specialist

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If anyone wants to sample some of the software that will be discussed, a 30 day free trail download of Inspiration is available at http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial

__**Kurzweil 3000 Demo information:**__ [] (scroll to bottom of page) Mac demo can be downloaded from this page, you have to request a demo CD be sent to you.

You can also see Kurzweil software in action at the New York Public Library's Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. Their website is: http://talkingbooks.nypl.org/about/special_equip.cfm

The Mac OS X has what is called Voice Over (Text to Speech) and it is part of the Universal Access settings.

There's also Speech to Text which is also found in the Universal Access settings. Screen caps for that will be below the screen caps for Voice Over. Also, most applications on the Mac can take advantage of the Text to Speech functionality via the Services menu which is found in the menu with the same name as the application you're running - i.e. if you're using Microsoft Word, select some text, then go to the Microsoft Word menu, then down to the Services menu and then to Speech.

__**Speech to Text:**__

Using Text to Speech via the "Services" menu: