Writing is a multifaceted, complex task that involves interaction between physical and cognitive skills. Individuals with physical disabilities vary in terms of both their physical and cognitive abilities. Often they must overcome one or more significant barriers in order to engage in the task of writing. Minimizing or eliminating barriers is…

A teacher of learning disabled students discusses use of the computer to free students from the constraints of their disability. Recommended are learner controlled utilities including word processing, data banks, and the LOGO programming language. (DB)

Organization and word processing software programs empower students with disabilities to become more independent in their writing. In this article, the authors describe techniques for incorporating organizational programs and word processing features into the writing process. Beneficial features include word prediction, voice output, spell…

Looks at the way thinking has changed regarding one specific application: using word processors to teach writing to students with learning disabilities. Reviews research done in this area. (MG)

This report brings together data from three cycles of replication and serves as a summary of the findings of the Learning Disabled College Writers Project at University of Minnesota-General College. From July 1985 through September 1988, teachers and researchers examined the impact of microcomputer word processing on the classroom performance of…

Researchers have explored the impact of computer-assisted feedback and electronic mail on students' writing, but most of the work to date seems to have focused on second language writers, peer response, or response as part of an online composition course. Although research has documented the importance of certain generic features of word…

The paper describes the application of a computer-assisted writing program in a special high school for learning disabled and dyslexic students and reports on a study of the program's effectiveness. Particular advantages of the Macintosh Computer for such a program are identified including use of the mouse pointing tool, graphic icons to identify…

A study examined the effects of several text-entry methods, including handwriting and five computer-based approaches, in enhancing the speed of text entry for 108 students with learning disabilities. Handwriting was found to be the fastest mode of text entry, followed by word prediction. All methods improved writing accuracy. (Author/CR)

Reports briefly on three recent summaries dealing with word processing and the teaching of writing. Notes that the first two are bibliographies compiled by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading and Communication Skills and the third is a synthesis and review conducted by a graduate student. (MG)

A study involving 106 elementary and secondary students with learning disabilities and 97 typical peers found that students who used spelling and grammar checkers were more successful than transition group students in reducing mechanical errors, particularly non-real-word spelling errors, and in making positive changes from first to final drafts.…

This article describes the CHECK procedure for teaching students with learning disabilities skills in the actual operation of a computer spell-check. Students are urged to check the beginning sound, hunt for correct consonants, examine the vowels, make changes, and keep repeating the process. (CR)

The 2-year study investigated the use of word processing technology with 36 learning disabled (LD) intermediate grade children and 9 remedial teachers in five Massachusetts school districts. During the first year study staff documented how word processing was being used. In the second year, word processing activities hypothesized to be the most…

This paper provides an overview of the Computers and Writing Instruction Project, a field-tested curriculum for teaching writing to learning-disabled students consisting of a process approach, word processing, and strategy instruction. Its scope and sequence are described and guidelines for establishing a writer's workshop in the classroom…

Two studies compared handwriting, word processing, and word prediction with speech-synthesis software (PR) with three intermediate-grade students with severe spelling problems. Results suggested that PR software can improve the writing of such students under certain circumstances but that constraints, such as the difficulty of using the software,…

This article reviews research on the use of computer technologies to help individuals with mild educational disabilities write more effectively, including word processing and the use of word processing in teaching revision and facilitating collaboration, transcription tools, and the limited research on hypermedia or multimedia to support writing.…