When working with students in the area of reading a primary focus has been "What individualized interventions and supports will promote the most generalization and be the most functional for a student?" In a recent seminar that I attended I was able to receive training with a free technology app. For my purposes as an SLP, I found it a great tool...and of course technology always intrigues our students!
Seeinai.com is a website with a free (downloadable) app, that was designed for the visually impaired. Among one of many unique features of this app, there is capability for a user to download this app to an iPhone or iPad and use the camera function to hover text. While hovering text (i.e., books, newspapers, magazines, food boxes, or even text on signs at local parks) the app provides audio and reads the text aloud. Does this replace a student's need to read? Not at all! Does it support it? Of course! Here are some benefits to its use:
It allows a student to read items that are desirable, but may be too difficult to decode.
It allows students to hover over a particular word that may be of challenge in order to help improve comprehension and understanding of what is read by not having to skip over difficult words.
Increases curiosity of reading by allowing reading opportunities in a variety of contexts.
Facilitates a child's desire to read independently.
Models good reading fluency.
Improves a child's ability to comprehend text.
Reduces the overall stress and load on a child's need to decode, which as a result, provides positive reading opportunities and exposures.
Try it out after downloading the app!
