Project ACCESS:

Accessing Curriculum Content for Special Education Students

Alternative Keyboards

Portable, inexpensive alternative keyboards allow students to write and spell check their work, later downloading files to a computer. These keyboards work best when students:

• have adequate typing skills
  
• need to complete a written assignment
  
• need access to digital text
• need to use word processing (e.g. taking notes)need an alternative keyboard layout (QWERTY, Dvorak, or left/right hand)

Alternative keyboards do not work well for students who need:

• to see enlarged type on the screen
  
• to use an alternative input device (such as an expanded keyboard or switch interface)

Offering a variety of writing materials in the classroom and letting students select from the options prevents a material as being seen as “special education only"

Resources and Information

• AlphaSmart 3000 is a portable keyboard/word processor that can print directly to a printer or download to a computer for more sophisticated word processing.
• IntelliKeys is a membrane keyboard that comes with a series of overlays that can be changed to alphabetical, the standard QWERTY, or others as needed
  
• QuickPad is a portable keyboard/word processor.