Technology Tools for Visual-Spatial & Motor Control Difficulties

There are a variety of tools and applications available for students with visual-spatial and motor control difficulties that minimize the handwriting demands of math work. The following is a list of applications that can be used for this purpose:

1. Math Pad: This is a talking math worksheet for basic operations. This program has a number of assistive technology tools imbedded (including a scanning feature and customizable speech output) and enables students to perform arithmetic computations with whole numbers on the computer.
2. Math Pad Plus: This is the extended version of Math Pad provides addition features and allows doe computations with fractions and decimals, it also provides additional features to support student access including pie charts, fraction bars and decimal grids.
3. Virtual Pencil Arithmetic: this is an education application designed to help students with working through basic operations of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. It allows students to solve problems on the computer in a similar manner as a pencil and paper. This program also features a speech feedback and tutor or tutorial mode. There is an additional version of this application Virtual Pencil Algebra, which extends the aid to help students solve algebraic equations.
4. Number Navigator: This free program is a simple math processor that allows students to enter and solve basic math problems. While this program does not feature speech or scanning, it does provide options for customizable colors, fonts, and font sizes.
5. Scientific Notebook: This high-end application, unlike the programs above, is designed for solving equations. Students can work with calculus, vector calculus, transformations, matrices, etc.