Help Wanted: Technology for Struggling Readers

Ever since my son entered first grade, my family and I have been fighting a battle. You see, Steven has a learning disability and struggles immensely with reading. He has a hard time doing it, and thus has grown to hate it. As a father, this is very difficult to watch; I want to protect my children from all hardships. However, Steven's learning disability has left me feeling helpless. He is now in sixth grade, and still struggles immensely. So, when I located an article about technology that can help kids like Steven, I then became an adamant supporter of the referendum.

This article describes programs that are being used in Milwaukee Public Schools and at Milwaukee Public Library to assist students who have learning disabilities that cause them to have difficulties with reading. Kits called "Start to Finish" include a book, an audio version of the book, and a CD-ROM version of the book (which reads the book to the student while the text is displayed and highlighted on the computer screen), and a quiz to check comprehension.

Though the description of the program was a motivator, even more inspirational was a success story that was revealed in the article. A seventh grade student (of whom the description reminded me very much of Stephen) with a learning disability had been fighting a difficulty with reading for many years, and thus had grown to strongly dislike reading. Her teachers started her on the Start to Finish Program, and within months she was excited to be scoring 90% on the follow-up questions and checking out books from the library media center for the first time! The library media specialist who observed this occurrence stated, "With it [this technology], these kids feel more successful as readers."

The article then goes on to quickly highlight other similar technologies to assist students with learning disabilities. Some examples are as follows:

1. News -4-You
   An online newspaper that, "presents stories using simple vocabulary and rebus-like illustrations accompanying the words."
2. Quictionary Reading Pen
   A pen that can scan words in a text and pronounce the word (as well as give a concise definition).
3. Write: OutLoud
   A word processor that can read aloud and assist students with the editing and revising of their composition; ideal for students who have difficulty writing.
4. WYNN for the PC
   Reads web pages and computer screens aloud; would be great to assist students in doing research or completing other assignments online. There is a similar technology (WYNN TestTaker) that reads tests and quizzes, which would alleviate the need for a teacher or paraprofessional to read tests to students who have this provision in their IEP.

Some in our community may think that it is frivolous to spend money on technologies that only serve a specific population. However, it is my observation that there are students who are struggling readers who have not been identified as having a learning disability. Also, I would invite anyone who opposes spending money on assistive technology to be a part of my family for even a few days. Their view will then be changed when they see how difficult it is to watch my son struggle day in and day out. I don't think they'll have any opposition to passing the referendum!

Signed,

A Hopeful Father
(Scott Evers)

Full Article Citation

Minkel, W. (2004). New Ways to Learn. School Library Journal, 50(1), 24-26.