Case study on the use of assistive technology by a pupil with dyslexia, elaborated by CRTIC Mirandela in 2013, in the scope of European project SENnet

1. SENnet PROJECT
Case Study– CRTIC Mirandela
Application of different methodologies in the
school path of a pupil with dyslexia
Mirandela, June 2013
Elaborated by Luísa Pratas and Irene Miranda
Escola Secundária
Emídio Garcia

2. Study Objectives
Global Objective
►To verify the impact of the application of educational
measures for the learning success of a pupil with dyslexia
Specific Objectives
►To apply different strategies to promote learning
success
► To use assistive technologies for alternative
communication in reading
► To provide individualized support in the subjects she
reveals more difficulties
2CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

3. CRTIC Mirandela
Geographic location
► Basic School and kindergarten of
Carvalhais - Mirandela
Aims
► To assess pupils’ needs concerning assistive technologies
► To monitor the use of assistive technologies in the teaching
and learning process
► To inform, train and advise the school community in the
scope of special education and assistive technologies
► To create tools for the use of assistive technologies, adapting
them to particular situations
► To establish partnerships and agreements
3CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

4. Bragança town
► Rich historic heritage: Castle and fortress, Domus
Municipalis, Pillory, Museums, Churches, etc;
► Gastronomy highlights: Montesinho goatling, trouts,
chestnut and hunting products.
► Situated in Trás-os-
Montes province;
► In the north and east
frontier with Spain;
4CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

5. Secondary School
Emídio Garcia
Total number of pupils
► 686
Total number of teachers
► 118
School levels:
► 3rd cycle of basic school
► upper secondary school
► Vocational courses
► Education and training courses
5CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

6. Pupil Identification
Name: Ana Luísa Rodrigues Age: 14 Anos
Year : 9th year
► Functionality Profile
-Difficulties in calculating (d172)
-Difficulties in reading – communicating with (d166, d325)
-Difficulties in writing messages (d170, d345)
-Difficulties acquiring complex skills (d1551)
-Difficulties handling stress (d2401)
-Difficulties in school education (d820)
-Difficulties focusing attention (d160)
-Alteration of mental functions (b1440)
6CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

7. ► Environmental factors - facilitators
Family(e310, e410)
School(e330, e430)
Friends (e320, e420)
► Environmental factors - barriers
Friends, peers, schoolfellows (e325, e425)
7CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

8. Educational Measures
Decree –Law 3/2008
► Article 17 – Personalized Pedagogical Support
a) boost strategies in the classroom
d) boost and development of specific competences
► Article 20 – Accomodations of Assessment Process
- type of test or exam
- Diversification of assignments
- Asessment adaptations to pupil’s abilities, limitations and
restrictions
8CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

9. Intervention Methodology
► Reading of written texts by a schoolfellow (tutor)
► Reading training to decode messages
► Recording contents and listen as support to memory and
promotion of autonomy in the learning process
► Reading tests
► Individualized support to Math, Portuguese and English
subjects
► Development of reading and writing skills
9CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

10. Assistive Technology
Assessment needs
► Why?
- Low efficiency in recording contents in taperecorder
- Numerous contents of different subjects
- Insufficient time for reading training
- Tutor dependency for reading in classroom
- Consequent discouragement, no motivation and anxiety of
the pupil
10CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

11. Assistive Technology
Assessment needs
► How?
► Response
-Use trial of“Zoom-Ex” software:
- Portable solution that integrates functionalities of magnification
and reading in a single equipment
-Faster than OCR (optical character recognition)
-Allows to follow reading in the screen of a laptop computer
-Allows to record to CD, DVD or PEN for further audition in any
context
-Easy to carry
-Experimentation of “Eye – Pal Solo”
autonomous reading device for any book or
printed material
-Rejected by the pupil, owing to transportation
difficulties
11CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013

12. Thanks for your attention!
Luísa Maria Pratas
Maria Irene Miranda
12CRTIC Mirandela - junho 2013