Dyslexia and Kurzweil 3000

Kurzweil 3000 Provides Literacy Support for a Lifetime

• Reading Comprehension Support: Access to all major digital file formats, online text and printed materials
• Spelling Support: Spell Checker and integrated dictionary
• Writing Support: Talking word processor, auditory spell checker, grammar checker
• Study Skills: Multiple highlighter options, sticky notes, read-the-web
• Test-Taking Accommodations
• A single user interface with all the tools necessary for academic success
• Runs on Windows® as well as the Macintosh® OS

Common indicators of Dyslexia and how Kurzweil 3000 can help

• Low reading comprehension
  Reading text out loud does not ensure comprehension. Understanding of vocabulary and active reading of text is essential for comprehension.
  
  Kurzweil 3000 digital dictionaries and thesaurus tools provide instant access to the definitions and a deeper understanding of words within text. Adult, child, foreign language and picture dictionaries are available.
  
  In addition to providing auditory support for text and extensive vocabulary support tools, Kurzweil 3000 has numerous study skills tools that allow students to more actively engage in reading in order to glean meaning from text. Digital highlighters provide teachers and students the opportunity to use colors to thoughtfully indicate key information. In addition, teachers can embed a variety of notes within text to guide students to important information, assist them in making connections and processing information on a deeper level. Students can also use these notes to respond to text in a manner that best fits their learning style and ability to express themselves (e.g. visual highlights, recorded voice notes, categorized column notes, typed text-based notes, etc.)
  
  With digital text and tools, instructional support for curriculum content can easily be differentiated to support a variety of student learning needs.
• Poor phonological processing
  High quality text-to-speech models fluent reading. Words are highlighted when read so that students can see what the words look like and hear what they sound like at the same time. The syllabication tool provides additional support for understanding the construction of words.
• Misshapen, cramped, laborious handwriting
  Kurzweil 3000's writing and study skills tools ensure that the mechanics of writing do not impede students' ability to express what they know. Students can type notes, complete worksheets and answer questions on tests using Kurzweil 3000's talking word processor support. Talking word prediction is also available to support writing on any type of Kurzweil 3000 document, reducing number of keystrokes needed for students who also struggle with typing. In addition, students can highlight notes within text, extract them into an outline, or use Kurzweil 3000's column note feature to drag-and-drop notes into an organized format, thereby limiting or eliminating the need to write or type notes. Students may also use the "voice note" feature to record responses to text or answers to questions. Students' "written" work can be legible using digital tools.
• Extreme spelling difficulties
  Kurzweil 3000 provides a talking word processor that can read text to students as they write. By listening to written work, students receive instant feedback and make corrections by changing letters and re-listening to their work. The "check spelling while typing" features will visually alert students to misspelled words. Kurzweil 3000's speaking spell-check support allows students to listen to suggested word choices before making changes, allowing students to make a more informed decision when editing their written work. Content and/or strategy specific floating word lists can be activated to further support student spelling and word retrieval difficulties.
• Poor written composition
  Kurzweil 3000 can support all stages of the writing process, providing numerous levels of support and varied entry points to writing that result in successful written composition.
  
  To be a good writer, one needs to have experience reading. Initially, using Kurzweil to read text provides students with exposure to a much greater volume of examples of written work than struggling readers would typically receive.
  
  With Kurzweil 3000, students can take notes from text and seamlessly bring them in to Kurzweil 3000's Writing Path. In the Writing Path, writers can view and revise notes for writing graphically, or with a text-based outline, or with outline and draft side-by-side, or draft only and finally check work using a teacher-guided, student-specific "review checklist".
  
  For students who require significant structure, Kurzweil 3000 provides pre-made graphic organizers, with supportive notes, to guide students through the process of writing for a number of different genres.
  
  Kurzweil 3000's Brainstorm Tool is a great pre-writing organization tool for brainstorming ideas which can later be organized graphically or in an outline view.
  
  Finally, Kurzweil 3000 supports the final steps in the writing process with its talking word processor and auditory spell checker, which allow the writer to put the finishing touches on their work.
• Disorganization
  When using digital content (books, worksheets, study guides, assignments, quizzes, etc ) it is much easier to organize files and organize thoughts.
  
  With digital files, no "papers" are lost between school and home or from locker to classroom. Kurzweil 3000 automatically creates a username folder for saving all documents. With the V12 web license version, all files can be saved in a central universal library and can then be accessed from any computer. This makes it much easier to keep files organized and stay on top of homework.
  
  To keep thoughts and notes organized, there are a number of ways to use Kurzweil's study skills tools. For example, students can use the Bookmark tool to mark where they left off in a text, but more powerfully, they can mark and date each point in a text where assignments are due. Another example, when taking notes or conducting research using multiple sources, students can use the hyperlink tool to link related documents together so that key resources won't be lost. Further, Kurzweil 3000 writing tools provide extensive support for keeping thoughts organized when expressing oneself through writing.
  
  Kurzweil 3000 provides tools that can be used in numerous, flexible ways to support student needs.
• Difficulties in sequencing and following directions
  Teachers can provide step-by-step instructions for tasks and embed them in student assignments to provide a means for students to keep on task and keep on track. Directions can be read and re-read using text-to-speech. Teachers can also embed hyperlinks in text to guide students to next steps within a document or between documents.
• Poor performance on standardized and/or classroom tests
  It is important that tests are a measure of student understanding and not yet another indication of a student with Dyslexia's struggle with decoding. With Kurzweil 3000, it is easy to provide tests in a digital format that provides full audible support for reading and re-reading questions as needed. In addition, Kurzweil 3000 talking word processor and study skills tools can be used to answer questions and avoid the difficulties involved when handwriting answers to tests. Kurzweil 3000 is used as an accommodation on high stakes tests in a number of states as well as for the Department of Defense.