Resources? You want resources? We got resources!
Well, after a whole summer of researching & learning about how to make a writing class "safe for all brains" - one answer I came up with was...technology. "Productivity Tools" (so-called) can allow students to add whatever supports are necessary for them without self-identifying as "disabled" or even "different." The truth is...we all can use support for some aspect of our workload - why force students into a certain medicalized box in order to get the support they need? Using technology allows for students to personalize HOW they learn.
But what tools should I be using?
The truth is, there is an endless supply of tools to help students, and more (and better!) ones are being developed all the time. Main areas to think about are reading, writing, brainstorming/pre-writing, attention/distraction support, vocabulary support for ELL students, and ways for students aural, instead of visual processing in reading & thinking (like using voice recorders to jot down ideas, screencast tools to demonstrate understanding, or text-to-speech tools to read). These tools can instantly make your class more accessible...if you're willing to think about how to teach technology as well as your subject matter. (I'll report back this semester, but from what everyone says, students can get a real kick out of working with some of these tools!)
So here's a great article to get you started. It's mostly focused on tools that can be used as part of Google Drive/Chrome browser extensions (perfect for K-12 schools using Chromebooks....less perfect for a crazy diverse BYOD environment like Higher Ed), but if you like the concept, there are apps and programs that do most of this stuff that you can find simply by using any internet browser.
Enjoy!
18 Digital Tools and Strategies That Support Students' Reading and Writing
And here is one teacher's website with links to a gosh-darn plethora of useful tools (mostly Google or Chrome-centric!) to help with pre-writing, reading, research & editing. Totally awesome:
Inspired Writing by Dana Levesque
