Alternative Keyboards

Learn about assistive technology tools called alternative keyboards.

By Kristin Stanberry , Marshall Raskind, Ph.D.

These programmable keyboards have special overlays that customize the appearance and function of a standard keyboard.  Students who have LD or have trouble typing may benefit from customization that reduces input choices, groups keys by color/location, and adds graphics to aid comprehension.

What type(s) of learning difficulty do these tools address?

This type of tool benefits people who struggle with: writing.

Products to Consider:

Resources to help you evaluate assistive technology for your child:

Updated February 2010

Kristin Stanberry is a writer and editor specializing in parenting, education, and consumer health/wellness issues. Her areas of expertise include learning disabilities and AD/HD, which she wrote about extensively for Schwab Learning and GreatSchools.

 

Marshall H. Raskind, Ph.D., is a learning disability researcher. He is a frequent presenter at international LD conferences and is the author of numerous professional publications on learning disabilities. He is well-known for his research on assistive technology and longitudinal studies tracing LD across the life span.