Has anyone tried voice activated software for DC with writing difficulties?

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DS2 has always struggled with literacy, we have cracked reading by slowly working through Toe by Toe (in fact he is now in the top reading group when two years ago he was in a group of his own below the bottom group). Writing is going to take longer, it is legible but enormous and very slow and spelling is still haphazard.

I am thinking about trying voice activated software at home to increase his productivity.

Anyone else tried it?

DS2 is 10 and has just over a year until high school, he also has mild AS.

i can't recommend voice any voice activated software but my ds (7) has difficulties writing and it has been established that writing "is not a natural process for him". the advice from professionals and school is that he learns how to touch type in order to assist him. the school have said that when he goes to secondary school there will be a lot more use of computers and tehrefore if he learns now he will have the advantage he needs then. the diability team with the local council suggested a free programme called word talk (www.wordtalk.org.uk) which is aimed at children with reading and writing difficulties. it will read highlighted words back to you, etc and is compatible with word 97 upwards.

typing would be much easier in the long run - that said dd2 has cp and her voice is also affected, so not an option for us. have they not already given him access to a laptop for literacy? by secondary it's reasonably common. and far easier to use in class than a voice system for note taking/ copying from the board etc. much more practical?

thanks for answering, I have been doing typing with him (I have an alpha smart), it is just as slow as his handwriting, it's not a fine motor control thing (he is good at drawing etc.) it seems to be a problem translating what is in his head into written words, he produces very good creative writing at school if someone scribes for him. I envisage him using a laptop for notetaking at school and Voice activated for long pieces of homework etc.

i used to scribe for a number of kids in a secondary - some gained a lot of independence from using a lap top f/t instead, but you're right, it doesn't work for everyone.

alpha smarts are the work of the devil. dd2 practically tossed hers through the window after a few days. it was a few years old though, so i hope the newer ones are better.

her teacher wanted me to buy her a macbook for school. she's 7 ffs...

will they write in scribing long term for exams etc?

DS (14 and y9) uses Dragon, mainly for note taking at home. He has also learned to type using TTRS and types at about 35 wpm which is way better than his writing.

Learning to type is definitely a big plus, but sometimes when he's shattered at the end of the day the Dragon helps. He doesn't have it on the laptop he takes into school, though I know occasionally children have even used it in GCSEs!