Tracy was introduced to the word prediction program, Word Q. This program has really helped improve her writing because Word Q not only spell checks words, but a smaller user vocabulary reflects her personal writing style and adapts as she writes. Tracy can also use Word Q to listen to what she has written after she has completed her work for purposes of editing. She is able to pick up an awkward sentence or mistake with the read back function that she may not have picked up when re-reading her writing.
Jake was never successful in school. He repeated the third grade and dropped out of school in grade eight. Jake has difficulty with reading and has limited writing skills. He relies on his wife to complete job applications for him and to handle all household budget matters. The most successful job Jake has ever had is driving a truck for a local trucking company. He has had difficulty with this job too because of his lack of writing skills and all the forms and timesheets he is required to fill out.
Jake’s handwriting and spelling are at a very basic level. These limited handwriting skills have an impact on his weekly log reporting for his job. Jake relies on his oral language skills and excellent memory. He asks for directions along the way as he has difficulty reading maps. He has developed many creative strategies to get assistance in reading maps and other information along the way and when possible, gets his co-workers or wife to help him fill out forms.
Jake was introduced to textHELP Read and Write Gold as a one-stop solution for reading and writing. Jake is now able to scan some of his work memos and have the text read to him. He plans to buy a laptop computer so that he can use this software when he is on the road. Read & Write’s word prediction feature has also helped to eliminate handwriting problems and make proofreading easier because the text is legible. Jake experiences less frustration and anxiety towards expressive writing. He also uses a more extensive vocabulary when he writes, because he no longer fears making spelling mistakes.
Lakhani moved to Canada from East Africa in 2003. She works for real estate agent as a receptionist and has been promoted to an administrative assistant position. She has a visual impairment and cannot see text that is under a font size of 20 point. Lakhani needs to use a computer in her new position and will need to have some training support to use it efficiently. Lakhani’s low vision problems make it difficult for her to navigate a cluttered interface. She finds it hard to distinguish tiny icons and text.
Lakhani was introduced to ZoomText Xtra Level 2. Initially the settings in the operating system were changed to enlarge text which helped Lakhani be able to distinguish one icon from another and actually read text. With the option to change the contrast of the screen, Lakhani was able to find the setting that suited her vision best. (Some individuals with low vision prefer having black backgrounds with white or yellow text, while others need to have a white or yellow background with black text.) Lakani is now able to use the computer with ease in her new position.