LibGuides: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD/ADD): Common Assistive Technologies

What are assistive technologies?

The Technology Related Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 described an assistive technology device as "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities."

Assistive technologies can be "high tech" and "low tech:" from canes and lever doorknobs to voice recognition software and augmentative communication devices (speech generating devices).

Reading Assistance

Scanningpenshop.com
Scanning pens use optical character recognition technology to scan words on a page. This function can be used to hear the definition of certain words, covert print text to digital text, and hear sentences read aloud. Scanning pens help people with ADHD who have reading difficulties increase their reading comprehension and speed.
Kurzweil Education
This text-to-speech software can help those with ADHD with word recognition and comprehension. Kurzweil offers various versions for individuals, schools, and institutions.

Audiobooks are a great way to experience books if you have reading difficulties. Narrators read text aloud and the files are often available on CD and MP3. Libraries often provide access to audiobooks, both in physical formats like CDs and MP3 files. Audible is a company that produces audiobooks and is a fee-based option if you do not want to wait for library audiobooks to be available.

Writing Assistance

Dragon Naturally Speaking
This speech-recognition software can assist those whose oral skills are more advanced than their writing skills. Dragon NaturallySpeaking allows users email, post on social media, dictate homework, and more.
Co:Writer Universal
Co:Writer is a word prediction program that can be used across multiple devices and in word processing applications. Word prediction helps users expand their vocabulary and more easily express their thoughts through writing by predicting what word the user will write next and giving them multiple options.

Mobile Applications for Productivity/De-Stressing

RescueTime
RescueTime tracks your online activity and generates a report of how much time you spend on your websites and applications. This can be a way to see where you are spending your time and can help you see where you might want to make adjustments to your activity.
Habitica
Habitica turns forming habits and completing tasks into an RPG-like game where you level up once you complete tasks and earn rewards such as new clothing items and fantasy pets.

Employees with ADHD

Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
The Job Accommodation Center provides guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. This page covers employees with ADHD and the ways employers can make a more accommodating workplace.

Finding Assistive Technology

EduTopia: Assistive Technology
Discover websites, blog posts, articles, and videos related to understanding, selecting, and assessing assistive technology.