Microsoft PowerPoint is an excellent program for individuals with learning difficulties. PowerPoint offers the ability to create mouse-operated talking books using one’s own writing and photographs, material from the Internet or text and pictures scanned from print. These ‘talking books’ can be tailor-made to the interests and requirement of the user. Text can be symbol-supported, and sounds and speech can be included to enable access for those with reading difficulties.
Electronic books can be of great benefit to individuals who have difficulty reading independently or for people with poor motor control. Talking books alleviate the difficulty of turning pages and allow readers to skip ahead or turn back to re-read a page. They make reading an independent exercise for people who would normally be dependant on someone to hold their books. Readers can revisit specific pages or re-read the whole book as often as needed.
PowerPoint is also an excellent tool for assisting individuals with learning disabilities to organize their ideas and create formats to aid memory. Pages or slides can be colour coded. Images, logos and highlighting can be used to help with memory or assist with organizing writing ideas.11 Adults with basic keyboarding and computer skills can quickly set up their own project using Power Point. It can be colourful, visual and highly rewarding.
For a very detailed 34 page manual on how to make construct electronic books using Microsoft PowerPoint, please refer to the following website: http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials/talkingBooks/tbookppoint.pdf
(An example of a PowerPoint slide)