Don Johnston is a pioneering education technology leader known for building tools that expand access to communication and curriculum for learners with significant disabilities. His work focuses on reducing cognitive load, supporting language development, and enabling students to demonstrate understanding through multiple pathways.
Across classrooms and clinical settings, educators and therapists use his evidence-informed solutions to help learners participate more fully in literacy, math, and communication. The following overview highlights key roles, products, and practical guidance for teams implementing assistive technology.
| Name | Primary Role | Key Solution Areas | Target Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Johnston | Founder & Chief Learning Officer at Don Johnston Incorporated | Assistive Technology, Literacy & Communication, Curriculum Access | Students with learning differences, complex communication needs, and significant disabilities |
| First Author | Instructional Software | Writing support, symbol support, switch access | Early writers and students who use alternative access methods |
| Universal Reader Plus | Text reader & comprehension support | PDFs, digital text, test platforms | Students who need text read aloud with robust comprehension tools |
| Co:Writer | Word prediction and vocabulary support | Writing, note taking, test taking | Students who struggle with spelling, grammar, and idea generation |
| Boardmaker | Symbol-based communication and visual supports | Symbols, communication boards, schedules | Individuals who use picture-based or symbol-based AAC |
Core Solutions for Literacy and Communication
Integrated Writing and Reading Tools
Platforms such as Co:Writer and Universal Reader Plus remove barriers around decoding and composition by combining text-to-speech, word prediction, and vocabulary support. These tools align with classroom content and assessment platforms so learners can access the same materials as peers while receiving tailored scaffolding.
Symbol-Based Communication
Boardmaker provides a broad library of symbols and ready-made communication boards that educators and speech-language pathologists can customize quickly. This supports individuals who rely on visual schedules, choice boards, and robust AAC systems across school and home environments.
Product Implementation in Schools and Clinics
District and Clinical Workflow Integration
When implementing Don Johnston solutions, teams map tools to existing literacy routines, IEP goals, and assistive technology protocols. Coordinated training for teachers, paraprofessionals, and therapists helps ensure consistent use and measurable progress in participation and skill development.
Data-Informed Decision Making
Built-in reporting and educator dashboards support ongoing monitoring of usage, goal attainment, and skill growth. Teams can adjust instruction and therapy plans based on objective data, enabling timely changes to accommodation strategies and assistive technology setups.
Professional Learning and Capacity Building
Job-Embedded Coaching and Onboarding
Structured onboarding with coaching cycles helps staff move from initial exposure to confident use of each tool. Professional learning pathways address device management, accessibility features, and troubleshooting so that technology becomes a seamless part of everyday instruction.
Family and Caregiver Engagement
Equipping families with clear guidance and simple routines allows carryover of skills between school and home. Caregiver training materials, quick-start guides, and short demonstration sessions support continuity of practice and reduce barriers to consistent use.
Strategic Adoption and Next Steps
- Identify priority students and IEP goals to match tools to specific needs
- Run short pilot cycles with clear success metrics and fidelity checks
- Provide role-based training for teachers, therapists, and aides
- Use built-in data reports to refine instruction and service delivery
- Engage families with simple routines and accessible resources
FAQ
Reader questions
How do Co:Writer and word prediction support students during high-stakes assessments?
Co:Writer provides real-time word prediction and speech feedback, reducing writing speed and accuracy barriers during tests. It integrates with many online assessment platforms so students can access the same items as peers while receiving tailored spelling, grammar, and vocabulary support.
What are the primary differences between Universal Reader Plus and other text readers in an IEP setting?
Universal Reader Plus combines high-quality text-to-speech with integrated comprehension supports such as highlighting, vocabulary tools, and simplified navigation across PDFs and digital test items. This combination helps students focus on understanding rather than managing multiple separate tools during instruction and assessment.
How can a small team with limited training time ramp up effectively on Boardmaker?
Starting with curated symbol sets and ready-made templates allows a team to create basic communication boards and schedules quickly. Pairing these templates with short, focused coaching sessions helps staff build confidence and competence without requiring extensive design experience or prior AAC background.
What implementation benchmarks should a district track during the first year of using First Author?
Key benchmarks include number of active student users, frequency of writing sessions, progress toward IMeasurable writing goals, and teacher-reported ease of use. Monitoring these indicators helps teams adjust training, device access, and lesson integration strategies to maximize impact.