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Dragon naturally speaking
As far as I am aware, nobody here at EARAC has ever had such a recommendation challenged; that's a lot of people.  I would like to know who has arrived at this conclusion and on what basis.  Perhaps you can let us know, presuming that anyone at the LEA is willing to sign a name to such an assertion.
 
Regards, Bernard
 
 

Bernard Doherty
Assessor
East Anglia Regional ACCESS Centre
Anglia Polytechnic University
East Road
Cambridge CB1 1PT
 
01223 363271 x2534
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----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">R.Fidler
To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2005 8:39 AM
Subject: Dragon naturally speaking

I recently conducted a DSA needs assessment for a dyslexic student and recommended Dragon; the student had difficulty articulating ideas in a written form, but was able to express herself verbally in a competant manner.  The LEA has responded by saying that "Dragon Naturally Speaking has been deemed unsuitable for students with specific learning difficulties".  I personally find that voice-activated software is only suitable for some dyslexic students, depending upon their weaknesses in writing and their verbal abilities, but a general ruling seems rather strange to me.

I have challenged this, but has anyone else experienced this view or know on what basis it has been suggested.

Regards

Rob Fidler
Univ of Surrey and CELT assessor.