SN child Voice/Speech to Text Typing

[Anonymous]

We’re in MCPS (used to be DCPS) and our SN kid with apraxia/hypotonia/adhd is entering 5th grade next year. He’s smart, but has been experiencing issues with writing this past year. The school only transferred him to computer Voice/Speech to text and typing in the middle of this year after pointlessly drilling handwriting throughout his life- despite my pleas to transfer him to tech assistance many years ago! Now he is struggling with basic language arts b/c 1) his classroom is too noisy to use the tech 2) he’s still not comfortable with the interface 3) chromebooks don’t have the best software 4) he can’t type! And voice recognition needs to be used in conjunction with typing to edit. It also requires a different editing technique. I’m frustrated. His recent IEP seems to indicate a “win” because he can type with two fingers?!!! For context, he is perfectly capable of using both hands for video games/Roblox. When I bring it up with the school they ask if I can enroll him in a typing class at home……last time I checked that’s not my responsibility. Also, it’s expensive. More importantly, I can’t find an in-person tutor, and we’ve already got a lot on our plate!

Does anyone have any suggestions? Conversations I can have with the school? Private tutors that might help! (online doesn’t work for my guy) I’ll shell out the $$. I just don’t want him to fall irreparably behind before middle school!

And how do you address the noisy classroom situation? He is mainstreamed, but I would kinda prefer if he learned to…you know…read and write.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Where’s he at with reading, reading comprehension, spelling, math?

[Anonymous]

He’s in advanced math. Of course we’ve had him in private math tutoring for a while. He is a speed reader with good comprehension. The problem really seems to be with writing specifically. The writing being an issue tracks with the loss of learning over the years due to the challenge of handwriting and now the slow start transitioning to Voice to text and typing. It’s a mess since I know he isn’t “high priority” or high risk. That’s why I’ve resigned myself to just paying for tutoring (even though it seems unfair to pay for both math and writing!) I just can’t seem to find anyone with this practice area. Doing it ourselves as parents is not an option. It would just be constant conflict and nothing would get done. He respects teachers.

Thank you for asking!

[Anonymous]

I think you should pay for a typing class/ tutor after school. Then, he can apply those skills at school; otherwise, it competes with classroom time. We have had to do similar so I know it feels like a lot. Your point that it is key to type for editing voice to text is crucial and very true.

[Anonymous]

Whatever they’ve done so far clearly isn’t working so I’d call another IEP and get it sorted out. The software might be great but they haven’t provided him the skills necessary to utilize the accommodation they put in place. They need to create accommodations for the accommodation to be utilized or find something else entirely.

I’d opt for touch typing, headphones, and someone to teach him the software. If he has an IEP you should be able to get a program like Touch Type Read & Spell (TTRS). See if you can qualify him for ESY for touch typing and acclimation with new software.

You can also do TTRS at home, it’s fairly affordable, just make sure it’s done daily, he can’t see the keys on the keyboard, and you focus on accuracy over speed.

As for noise he should be able to use headphones/microphone when using tech that requires auditory prompts, and should be placed in an environment that allows for those accommodations.

https://www.readandspell.com/us/