                                                           ACCESS
          Newsletter from the office of Disabled Student Services

             WordScholar:  A NEW TOOL FOR STUDENTS 
                   WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
By Jeffrey C. Senge - Computer Access Lab Coordinator
California State University, Fullerton

Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to evaluate and
test an exciting new product called WordScholar.  And, I must say
this product has evolved into an extremely powerful compensatory
tool for persons with certain types of learning disabilities.  If
you are a person who has difficulty  with written language, I
highly suggest you read on... WordScholar may be able to help you.

WHAT IS WORD SCHOLAR?
WordScholar is a break through in computer technology for persons
who have learning disabilities.  WordScholar is a computer program
that speaks the words that are displayed on a computer monitor. 
WordScholar literally speaks words and sentences so they can be
heard as well as seen.  WordScholar users can read the words and
sentences that are displayed on a computer monitor as they have
done in the past, but now the computer can also read the
information out loud.  By adding the power of the spoken word to
the use of a personal computer, WordScholar unlocks new talents and
provides new independence for people who have certain types of
learning disabilities.

WordScholar brings the spoken word to  those who have difficulties
working with the written word, and adds a new dimension to the use
of a computer.  It was primarily designed for use with word
processing programs, but it is a tool that can work with most any
software program that relies on written language.  It can be used
to improve a persons ability to write coherent sentences, identify
poorly written paragraphs, and quickly notice incorrectly typed
information.  WordScholar is not a spell checker or a grammar
checker.  It is simply a tool that highlights and verbally speaks
the text that appears on the computer screen.  

Many people can more easily and more accurately work with written
language when they hear the words and sentences they write. 
WordScholar can not eliminate a learning disability but it may
reduce it's effects by strengthening a persons ability to work with
written language.  WordScholar does this by using the spoken word
as a supplement to the reading of the printed word.
     
     
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM WORD SCHOLAR?
Clearly, all people who have learning disabilities can not benefit
from using the tools offered by WordScholar.  Learning disabilities
take many specific forms and WordScholar is not the appropriate
tool for everyone who has a learning disability.  The following
statements describe some of the problems that learning disabled
persons experience when working with written language. The
statements also indicate some of the ways that WordScholar
addresses the problems.  If these statements describe the kinds of
difficulties you face, then WordScholar may be the tool you need.

Spelling Inconsistencies
I may spell the same word two or three different ways when writing
business letters or a report.  When using WordScholar I can hear
the words as I type them, and if a word does not sound right, then
I can immediately check my spelling.

Severe Spelling errors
Sometimes my spelling errors are so incorrect that a spell checking
program can't even begin to figure out what I have typed.  I may
not always know how to correctly spell a word, but by hearing the
word, I can come much closer to correctly spelling it.  I then can
use my spell checker to double check my spelling.


Word Identification
Sometimes I see a word and have no idea of what it means until I
hear it.  I can type the word into the computer and have
wordScholar speak the word. This is of great help, because in most
situations, I immediately know the word.


Alphabetization errors
When I need to look up the meaning of words in the dictionary, I
get frustrated and confused.  It takes me forever to find the words
I need.  With WordScholar's dictionary, I can place the cursor on
any word I have typed and press the dictionary key.  A definition
for the word is instantly displayed on the screen.

Typing errors
I know where the keys are located on the computer keyboard, but I
don't always type the letters in the correct order.  Sometimes I
just leave letters out.  WordScholar can speak the words as I type
them, but it can also speak each key as I press it.

Visual Sequencing
When I look at the words I have typed I often mix- up the letters,
so that words that are correctly typed look like they are wrong and
incorrect words look correct.  WordScholar speaks words correctly
when they are typed/spelled  correctly.  Thus many errors can be
identified  by listening for words that don't sound right.

Visual Scanning
When I read the sentences I write they look like they are OK, but
people tell me that I put words in the wrong order, or leave out
words.  By having WordScholar speak the sentences I write, I have
developed the skill of hearing the words that are missing even if
I don't see the missing words.

Punctuation and Word Agreement
The sentences I write don't flow properly, because I leave out
punctuation, or put it in the wrong places.  Sometimes the subjects
of my sentences are plural and my verbs are singular.  I just don't
always notice these errors, but I can hear and correct most of then
when WordScholar reads the complete sentences I have written.

Sentence Comprehension
I read slowly, and when I read a long sentence, I often forget the
first part of the sentence before I have finished reading the end
of the sentence.  For me, when I hear sentences, I am better able
to remember the words and I can have the computer repeat a sentence
as many times as I need until I understand it.  WordScholar never
gets tired of repeating itself.

Paragraph Comprehension
I often have trouble telling which sentences should be combined in
paragraphs,  I sometimes have sentences in a paragraph that don't
belong there, because they do not logically address the key idea of
the paragraph.  WordScholar can read a completed paragraph from
beginning to end while I concentrate on listening.  This gives me
a better sense of how things should fit together.

Style
People tell me that my writing is very jerky and my writing does
not flow well.  I have difficulty judging when the style of my
writing is good and when it is bad.  Over time, I have learned to
improve my writing style by listening to what I write.

The examples just presented describe common problems that are faced
by some people with learning disabilities.  Most of these problems
can be classified under the general term of  visual processing
disorders.  People with visual processing disorders can be helped
through a variety of intervention strategies.  One such strategy
involves the increased use of auditory processing skills. 
WordScholar provides a series of tools that expand the use of
auditory processing skills when working with written language. 
WordScholar complements the visual processing of written
information by giving people the ability to hear what they see.  It
is designed for people who can use auditory processing as a
supplement to visual processing.

If you are interested in WordScholar and would like to find out
more about this exciting new tool, please do not hesitate to
contact me at (714) 449-5397 or come by the Computer Access Lab
(CAL).  The CAL is located in the Computer Science building on the
California State University, Fullerton campus in room CS-108.

If you would like a demonstration disc, dealer information, or want
to go ahead
and place your order please call us: Henter Joyce, Inc.
800-336-5656 or 813-803-
8000 or fax your purchase order to 813-803-8001.

This reprint was written for publication in the ACCESS Newsletter
of November 1993.  Our Thanks to Mr. Senge for his review.
