1. Assistive Technology Presentation:
Alternative Keyboards
Annie Morgan
July 5th, 2015

2. Fine Motor Skills
• Involve small muscles in the body that enable us
to write, grasp small objects, and fasten our
clothing
• These skills involve strength and fine motor
control
• Students with physical, neuromuscular, cognitive,
visual, and social and emotional disabilities may
struggle to complete activities that require the
use of fine motor skills and strength

3. Handwriting- A complex skill
Involves:
• Visual perception- ability to understand and interpret information taken in
through the eyes
• Neuromuscular components- ability to combine muscle strength and
postural control
• Motor components- assimilation and interpretation of sensory information
in order to accommodate with an appropriate motor response.
• Cognitive and social emotional factors also influence handwriting
• Reference- WATI- austisminternetmodules.org

4. Motor Aspects of Handwriting
• Holding a writing utensil
• Steadying the paper
• Visually guiding the hand
• Moving the writing utensil across the paper
• Visually recalling letters
• Letter formation, writing and rewriting (editing)

5. Challenges Student's with Disabilities
Face When Writing
Motor Challenges May Influence:
1. Confidence
2. Motivation
3. Self-esteem
4. Recollection of information
5. Creative expression through writing

6. Alternative Keyboards
• May alleviate stressors associated with writing
• Provide alternate forms of access for writing
for student’s with disabilities

7. 3 Examples of Alternative
Keyboards

8. ItelliKeys® USB from IntelliTools
• Used with students with physical,
visual and cognitive disabilities
• Programmable alternative
keyboard that plugs into any
computer running Windows
• Membrane keyboard that requires
minimal pressure for use
• Easily type, enter numbers,
navigate on-screen displays and
move the mouse

9. Big Keys
• Used with students with visual, cognitive and physical
disabilities
• Larger keys provide a larger strike area that is easier to
access compared to standard keyboards
• High contrast lettering- available in different
combinations
• Plug-N-Play device
• Options to use accessibility features in Windows and
Mac

10. Onscreen Keyboards
• Designed to help people
with physical disabilities
• Decrease the physical
space between the
keyboard and the monitor
• 3 Modes: Clicking,
Scanning and Hovering
• Can use a mouse, joystick
and/or switch input
• Available through the
latest versions of Windows
and Macs

11. Many types of Alternative
Keyboards Available
These are just a few…

12. Reference
• Assistive Technology for Writing, Including
Motor Aspects. (2009). Retrieved from
autisminternetmodules.org