The document outlines a three-tiered model for providing assistive technology tools to support writing and organization skills. Tier 1 involves tools and strategies readily available to teachers, such as graphic organizers, dictionaries, and planners. Tier 2 involves trials of specialized equipment guided by an assistive technology specialist. The document provides examples of tools, roles and responsibilities, and data collection methods for each tier.

1. Tech Tools for Writing and
Organization
Shawn Tran
Assistive Technology Specialist
Poway Unified School District

2. Session Agenda
 Premise of the Guide
 Tier 1 – Writing and Organization
 Definition, Roles & Responsibilities, Tools, Data
Collection
 Tier 2 – Writing and Organization
 Definition, Roles & Responsibilities, Tools, Data
Collection
 Tier 3 – Writing and Organization
 Definition, Roles &
Responsibilities, Tools, Assessment & Follow-up

3. Assistive Technology Guide
www.assistivetechnologyguide.org

4. Premise of the Guide
 Teachers will learn how to consider the student, the
environment, and the tasks in order to identify the appropriate
tools to support learning (SETT)
 AT Specialists will support school site teams by providing training
and consultation
 Three-tiered model that includes ideas for tools, strategies, and
data collection at each level
 80% of student needs will be met at Tier 1 using tools and
strategies that teachers have available and can readily implement
 Remaining 20% of students will require more specialized
technology provided through Tiers 2 and 3

5. Areas of Focus
WRITING
 Fine Motor – handwriting and keyboarding
 Organization – brainstorming and pre-writing
 Drafting and Editing – draft writing and publishing
 Spelling
ORGANIZATION
 Study Skills – task organization, managing
materials, note-taking
 Time Management – student planners, calendars

6. Description of Tier 1
 Targets building academic skills for all students using resources
readily available in the classroom
 Teachers gather basic student profile information about academic
skills and formulate clear, realistic goals.
 Teachers identify tasks and barriers within the curriculum where
students are unable to participate and modify the environment
based on those needs.
 Use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles guide the
modification to support the widest number of learners
 Use of Tier 1 supports will meet the academic needs of the
majority of students

7. Roles and Responsibilities – Tier 1
IEP Team AT Specialist
 Creates a positive learning environment  Supports school site staff through general
through use of readily available classroom AT trainings
resources
 Answers questions about the Tier 1 Tools and
 Implements ideas from the Tier 1 Tools and Strategies list
Strategies list
 Gathers basic student profile information
about written language
 Accesses free and available district
resources
 Accesses trainings for Tier 1 support tools
 Identifies needs for further interventions
through data collection

8. Tier 1
Writing Tools
Fine Motor Organization Drafting & Spelling
Editing
• Adapted pencils & • Graphic organizers • Highlighters • Personal print
pens • Story starters & • Erasable pens dictionary
• Pencil grips prompts • Writing & editing • Standard dictionary
• Adapted paper, • Writing frames checklists • Thesaurus
color-coded lined • Index cards • Dictionary and • Word walls
paper, & raised-line thesaurus
paper • Highlighters
• Writing & signature
guides
• Word, number,
alphabet, & name
stamps
• Magnetic letters
• Hard copy printouts

9. Tier 1
Writing Tools
 Low Tech Tools: Onion Mountain Technology
 Graphic Organizers: Great Source iWrite
 Scholastic Story Starters
 Writing and Editing Checklist
 Personal Print Dictionary:
 K-2 Printable (grades K-2)
 Mr. Myers (grades 3-8)

10. Tier 1
Data Collection for Writing
Fine Motor Composition
• Student's handwriting level with • Written language samples
and without Tier 1 tools and • Examples of dictated work
strategies compared to handwritten work
• Handwriting samples • Spelling scores
• Pencil grip method • Rubric scores
• Keyboarding rate • Standardized test scores

11. Obtaining a Keyboarding Rate
 Select a sentence that includes every letter of the alphabet at once.
 The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dogs.
 The king and queen wore fuzzy slippers when jumping over the cardboard box.
 It was not until daylight that the very dizzy farmer spied the jumpy old fox by the square chicken
coop.
 Time the student while he/she is typing the sentence.
 Count the number of correct letters typed. Do not count
errors, spaces, or punctuation.
 Use following formula to determine the student’s keyboarding speed:
Correct # of Letters ÷ Seconds × 60 = LPM
LPM ÷ 5 = WPM
Adapted from Assistive Technology Assessment: Developing a Written Productivity Profile by Denise DeCoste

12. Tier 1
Organization Tools
Study Skills Time Management
• Cloze technique for note-taking • School Planner
• Color-coded folder & notebook • Calendar
system • Checklists
• Teacher web sites for homework
and notes

13. Tier 1
Data Collection for Organization
Study Skills Time Management
• Examples of notes taken in various • Examples of completed planner
classes pages
• Type of organizational method for • Types of checklists provided
assignments & papers • Documentation of met & missed
• Student preference for due dates
organizational method

14. Description of Tier 2
 Teachers identify individual students whose academic needs are
not being met by use of UDL and Tier 1 tools and strategies.
 Teachers use data to target needs and barriers that require
further support and strategies.
 IEP team begins to trial specialized equipment and gather data
about the effectiveness of the equipment.
 AT Specialist guides the team in selecting appropriate
equipment, providing the equipment for the trial, and supporting
implementation.

15. Roles and Responsibilities – Tier 2
IEP Team AT Specialist
 Implements ideas, strategies, and supports  Provides training for ideas, strategies, and
from the Tier 2 Tools and Strategies list supports from the Tier 2 Tools and Strategies list
 Identifies and clarifies additional needs and  Provides IEP team with information and
barriers resources regarding AT
 Requests consult from AT Specialist  Provides consultation for individual students per
district procedures
 Provides data from the trials of Tier 1 tools
and strategies  Models and provides access to
trainings for specific tools, software, and devices
 Collects data on newly implemented
strategies and/or equipment  Supports IEP team with technology trials and
provides data collection forms
 Accesses training resources
 Follows district procedures for repair and
 Includes AT supports and equipment in IEP maintenance of equipment
Special Factors

16. Tier 2
Writing Tools
Fine Motor Organization Drafting & Spelling
Editing
• Word processing • Graphic organizer • Word processing • Handheld
program websites program dictionary & spell
• Portable word • Microsoft Word checker (with or
processor forms – checklists, without auditory
multiple choice, fill- feedback)
• Keyboarding
websites & in-the blank • Word processor
software • Portable word spelling & grammar
processor check
• Audio recorder
• Text-to-speech
software add-ons
• Computer
operating system
features

17. Tier 2
Writing Tools
 Keyboarding Websites: Dance Mat Typing (elementary) &
Typing Web (middle & high)
 Graphic Organizers: Holt Interactive Graphic Organizer
 Free Text-to-Speech: Natural Reader
 Interactive Writing Support: ReadWriteThink
 Portable word processor: NEO, Writer, Fusion, Forte

18. Tier 2
Data Collection for Writing
Fine Motor Composition
• Student's handwriting level with • Written language samples with the
the use of Tier 2 tools and use of Tier 2 tools and strategies
strategies • Spelling scores
• Handwriting samples • Rubric scores
• Pencil grip method • Standardized test scores
• Keyboarding rate

19. Tier 2
Organization Tools
Study Skills Time Management
• Digital recorder • Talking watches
• Electronic flashcards • Online calendars
• Electronic datebook or
calendars
• Portable word processor with
built-in calendar
• Time-tracker software
UDL Tech Toolkit

20. Tier 2
Data Collection for Organization
Study Skills Time Management
• Examples of electronic notes • Examples of completed
taken in various classes electronic calendar pages
• Type of organizational method • Types of organizers trialed
for assignments & papers • Documentation of met & missed
• Student preference for due dates
organizational method

21. Description of Tier 3
 Targets students with the most complex needs
 Identified needs have not been adequately met through access to tools and
strategies at Tiers 1 or 2
 Students require a specialized evaluation to determine individual needs
 IEP team works collaboratively with AT Specialist to complete an evaluation of
needs and identify appropriate technology and services
 Implementation plan is developed to define roles and responsibilities of IEP
team members
 Students may require additional follow-up and technical interventions to
support recommended technology
 Long-term trials may be required along with an on-going assessment

22. Roles and Responsibilities – Tier 3
IEP Team AT Specialist
 Contacts the AT Specialist for assistance  Collaborates with IEP Team to complete the AT
assessment
 Supports the AT evaluation with data
collection and monitoring of trials with  Secures equipment for assessment trials
technology
 Prepares a written report that includes data from
 Identifies student needs and preferences for technology trials and recommendations
tools and/or devices
 Attends IEP meetings as needed to review AT
 Implements suggested items from the Tier 3 assessment results
Tools and Strategies list
 Assists in the development of the Implementation
 Participates in trainings Plan
 Includes AT supports and equipment in IEP  Explores funding options and assists in the
Special Factors ordering of equipment
 Supports student use of tools/devices and  Provides training for all assistive technologies
continues to collect data on AT supports
 Assists in troubleshooting and repair of
equipment as needed

23. Tier 3
Writing Tools
Fine Motor Organization Drafting & Spelling
Editing
• Voice recognition • Voice recognition • Voice recognition • Electronic word
software software software walls
• Tablet devices • Graphic organizer • Scan & read • Voice recognition
• Laptop & netbook software software software
computers • Scan & read • Text-to-speech • Word prediction
software software software
• Writing software • Writing software • Text-to-speech
with picture support with picture support software
• Evernote (Mac, • Writing software
PC, & mobile with picture support
devices)
• OneNote (PC &
mobile devices)

24. Tier 3
Writing Tools (Software)
 Voice recognition software: Dragon Naturally Speaking & Speak Q
 Organizational software: Inspiration, Draftbuilder, OneNote, Evernote
 Scan & Read software: Kurzweil 3000, Read and Write
Gold, WYNN, SOLO Suite
 Picture-supported writing software: Writing with Symbols 2000, Clicker
6, Symwriter
 Text-to-speech software: Write OutLoud
 Word prediction software: CoWriter & Word Q
 Electronic word wall: Clicker 6

25. Tier 3
Writing Tools (iDevice Apps)
 Voice recognition app: Dragon Dictate (free)
 Must have active wireless or cellular service
 Word prediction app: Typ-O HD ($14.99)
 Also includes text-to-speech and speech-to-text
 Must have active wireless or cellular service for speech-to-text
 Voices for text-to-speech are more realistic with an active
wireless or cellular service
 Graphic organizer app: Inspiration Maps ($14.99)
 Inspiration Lite (free)
 Evernote & Evernote Peek (free)
 One Note (free)
 Book-writing app: Pictello ($18.99)

27. Tier 3
Organization Tools
Study Skills Time Management
• Smartpens that link written notes • Handheld electronic organizer
and audio
• Evernote (Mac, PC, & mobile
devices
• OneNote (PC & mobile devices)

28. Tier 3
Organization Tools (iDevice Apps)
 Reminders & Notes (included on all iDevices)
 My Homework (free)
 $1.99 to enable syncing to website
 Voice Memos – many options free and paid
 FlashCards – many options free and paid
 Evernote & Evernote Peek (free)
 OneNote (free)
 Must create a Hotmail or Windows Live email account

29. Tier 3
Assessment and Follow-Up
 Assessment is guided by data collected in Tiers 1 & 2
 Use the SETT framework to match student needs with options for technology supports
 Assessment procedures may include observations, direct assessment measures, and
technology trials
 Conduct short-term and/or long-term AT trials
 Develop a formal, written report documenting the results of the AT assessment and
future AT recommendations
 Develop an Implementation Plan to identify the roles and responsibilities for each
member of the IEP team
 University of Kentucky Assistive Technology (UKAT)
 Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP)
 National Assistive Technology Research Institute (NATRI)
 Acquire equipment and provide necessary trainings for successful implementation