Students who struggle with writing (e.g., spelling, grammar, punctuation, word usage, and sentence structure) may benefit from software programs (included in many word processing systems) that scan word processing documents and alert the user to possible errors.
What type(s) of learning difficulty do these tools address?
This type of tool benefits people who struggle with: writing/spelling.
Products to Consider:
• Ginger
Most word processing software programs include proofreading programs. They may be identified as spell-checkers or grammar-checkers within a word processing program.
Ginger analyzes misspelled words within the context of an entire sentence and suggests words based on the intended meaning of the sentence. This is different than most spell checkers that simply suggest words that resemble the misspelled words. Ginger corrects whole sentences, including multiple spelling and grammar errors all in one click, providing a potentially faster and more efficient way to work.
Ginger’s technology was developed specifically to correct the kinds of spelling mistakes commonly made by people with dyslexia. Although other products have focused on dyslexia, Ginger’s online grammar checker is the first to operate as an online service that continuously adds “dyslexic misspellings” to its database. The more the technology is used by people with dyslexia, the more accurate it should become.
Resources to help you evaluate assistive technology for your child:
Updated February 2010
