Category Archives: Writing

Livescribe Echo 2 Pen is Coming!

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

News from Livescribe, com announced the Echo 2 pen is available for pre order at a price of $149.95.   Unavailable for more than a year, it appears it will be coming hopefully soon. It’s great news for individuals looking for … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptive Devices, Assistive Technology, AT for Handwriting, Dysgraphia, Handwriting, Learning Disability, Note Taking, Special education, Voice Recorder, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Voice Dream Apps – Sale!

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

Congratulations to Winston Chen for receiving the 2021 Apple Design Award. Well deserved for his continued development of Voice Dream Reader apps supporting persons with reading disabilities since inception in 2011. Winston through the years has developed and improved his … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Learning Disability, Low Vision/ Blindness, Reading, Scanning, Special education, Text to Speech, Universal Design, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Neo Smartpen RECO — Assistive Technology at Easter Seals Crossroads

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve written about different Neo smartpens.  In addition to a variety of smartpens, Neo also offers the Neo Smartpen RECO, which is the “world’s first intuitive voice recorder.” Further, Neo Smartpen RECO is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptive Devices, Assistive Technology, Note Taking, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Scanmarker Air Pen – A Digital Notetaking Tool

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

The Scanmarker Air pen is a wireless, OCR scanning pen. With scanning lines of print, the pen completes optical character recognition and transfers it to another source. Companion software installed on a computer (Mac or Windows) or iOS or Android … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Android, Assistive Technology, Mac, Note Taking, Note Taking App, OCR, Windows, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Experience with AI-powered Digital Writing Assistants: An Illustrated Autoethnographic Study — Peace & Quiet

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

As an assistive technology practitioner, concerns regarding spelling and grammar are frequent. Of the many grammar editing services, Grammarly is typically recommended to clients for the extended editing tools offered. While MS Office’s spelling and grammar checkers have improved, they … Continue reading →

Posted in Artificial Intelligence, Assistive Technology, Grammar, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Assistive Reading and Writing Software – Free Licenses Offered Through the End of the School Year

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

        As the mandatory shift to online instruction for all students occurs amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic, more vendors of assistive technology software have stepped up to support special needs students. The following developers of assistive technology software … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Assistive Technology, Dysgraphia, Learning Disability, Reading, Scanning, Word Prediction, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Assistive Technology in Special Education 3rd Edition” Book by Joan L. Green, SLP

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

        A big “thanks” to Joan L. Green for her diligence in updating her book, “Assistive Technology in Special Education 3rd Edition” © 2018 and to her donor who offered 1500 copies of her book to professionals working … Continue reading →

Posted in Android, App Reviews, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, AT for Handwriting, Augmentative Communication, Communicaton, Emergent Literacy, Executive Function, Focused attention, Google Docs, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Language Arts, Learning Disability, Note Taking, Scanning, Special education, Special Needs, Spell Checking, Spelling, Text to Speech, Windows, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How AI is Changing Writing: Check out Robot Don — Ask a Tech Teacher

Posted on May 19, 2019 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

Thanks to Jacqui at Ask a Tech Teacher for sharing a new AI proof writing tool! I am pretty excited about AI, much less a tool to help individuals with written production. Second to solutions for reading, writing solutions are needed … Continue reading →

Posted in Assistive Technology, Grammar, Language Arts, Learning Disability, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Styluses for Dexterity Challenges with Touch Screen Tablet Use

Posted on May 19, 2019 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

A inquiry from a blog reader requested suggestions for a stylus that would help with challenges with dexterity causing problems grasping writing tools. While standard grippers are currently available, additional research was needed to check current options of styluses. My search reminded … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Activities of Daily Living, Android, Assistive Technology, AT for Handwriting, Drawing, Ergonomics, Handwriting, iPad, Mobility Impairment, Note Taking, Occupational Therapy, Writing | Leave a comment

Handwriting for Heroes – Learn to Write with Your Non-dominant Hand

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, ATP, CATIS

Loosing hand dominancy after injury or a medical condition is a daunting task after years of developing manipulative skills of one’s preferred hand. A recent assessment of a vocational rehabilitation client in her late twenties who sustained a spinal stroke … Continue reading →

Posted in Adults, Assistive Technology, Fine Motor Development, Handwriting, Mobility Impairment, Notetaking,, Rehabilitation, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment