Taking tests with a pencil and paper was nearly impossible for Jeremy Ramberger.

Unable to grip a pencil due to the cerebral palsy he was born with, the Taylor Middle School eighth-grader had to read the question on the test paper and then inform his aide of the answer. Then, he had to wait for them to input the answer before moving on to the next question.

But, things got better for Jeremy this year.

“I was the lab rat,” he said proudly with a large smile.

Ramberger became the official test subject for eighth-grade special education teacher Phyllis Rogers’ use of a Kurzweil Software package designed to ease the problems of students with special needs, whether it be in reading comprehension or a physical disability such as Jeremy’s that limit their ability to take a test with paper and pencil.

“It’s a lot easier with Kurzweil than what it ever is with paper. This is set up for people like me. I told the Kurzweil representative who was here right before break that,” he said. “It’s really easy to do things with this as opposed to be doing the same assignment and it having to be stretched out over several classes.

“If this did math, I’d do my whole school day in here.”

For those who have difficulty comprehending what they read, the software will read the test, quiz or worksheet back to them. Earphones allow students to use the program without bothering other students.

“There is a reading capacity in the program, and it will read it back to them. As it reads, the program highlights each word,” Rogers said. “If a student has difficulty decoding what they read, they can follow the colored words and see what that word sounds like. Some students use that capacity.”

The software, which can read back in 12 different voices, works at a variety of speeds and can go word by word or a sentence or paragraph at a time.

“It helps me in reading. I don’t comprehend what I read,” sixth-grader Beth Geary said. “This helps me understand what [the test] says. We took our first test in social studies on it and I got an A-plus.”

Cameron Hickey uses the program for tests in his eighth-grade science and history classes.

“I find it’s easier to read,” he said. “It’s been a big help with my grades. They’ve improved a lot.”

Teachers scan in the document and the students come to the classroom, log in and do the work on the computer.

“When you finish your test, you print it out and turn it into the teacher,” said Alex McKee, another sixth-grader. “I’m still learning what it does. It makes studying for a test easier and has helped my grades a lot.”

While learning disabled students primarily use the reading program, other aspects of it help the physically disabled.

“We have a student with macular degeneration who also uses it. We can enlarge the type so he doesn’t have to squint to see what the test is. It’s been great for him,” Rogers said. “Students who have physical disabilities as far as grasping a pencil, this lets them handle a mouse to point and click or click and highlight or drag. This lets them take their tests without any difficulty.

“It’s great for them because it gives them a feeling of independence.”

Another benefit with the software program has been the increased self-confidence of the students using it.

“It lets them pace themselves and complete a test without feeling the pressure of us standing there saying we have to move on,” Rogers said. “They know they’re doing it on their own.

“The students are doing better academically and their self-confidence is going up as well. A lot of these kids, once their self-confidence improves, they’ll put more effort into class work and will see those implements as well.”

Rogers applied for grants and solicited donations from several companies to get the funds needed for the software, computers, scanner and printer the school needed. Two sets of software were purchased and that enables 10 students to use the program at a time — and all 10 can be working on different items.

“The bottom line, when we found out about this, we made an all-out effort to obtain funding to get it,” she said.

And while it helps students with school work and self-confidence, it’s also provided some unexpected benefits for the teachers.

“The reason we did this was to help students, but it also helps us. I don’t have to spend as much time giving tests and quizzes,” Rogers said. “I had to read it before. Now, they can just give their teachers the printed test or quiz and [the teachers] don’t have to interpret the writing.”

The program is being used by more than 70 students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

“Our learning curve went straight up. Once they learn how to use it, they just come in and get to work,” Rogers said. “The instruction time we lost in getting everyone in, settled down and explaining things has decreased dramatically.”

The state has yet to approve the software for ISTEP+ testing, although Rogers said the company is trying to set that up.

Some students, however, prefer to use paper and pencil, the teacher said.

“The goal is for them to learn the best way possible, and if that’s the best for them, that’s fine,” she said.

For those who use Kurzweil, however, Rogers has been thrilled at the progress they’ve made in just one semester.

“It’s been tremendous to see.”

John Dempsey may be contacted at (765) 854-6739 or by e-mail at john.dempsey@kokomotribune.com



Making it happen:

Donors for Taylor Middle School Reading Technology for Special Education include Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Papa John’s, Cinergy, Rotary, Kokomo Men of Note, Community Foundation of Howard County, Howard County School Employees Federal Credit Union, First National Bank, Star Bank, Salin Bank and Trust, UAW 685, Kokomo Lions, Solidarity Credit Union, and HH Gregg.