A four-week trial shows whether a reading pen helps a client read independently in real settings, and gives you the evidence schools and the NDIS look for. Set a baseline, teach the pen well, use it in everyday tasks for two weeks, then measure again and decide. The template below works for OTs, speech pathologists and school learning support teams.
Download the printable trial template (PDF)
The four weeks at a glance
| Week | Focus | Who | What to record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before the trial | Baseline | Therapist or teacher | Current reading tasks, independence, time taken |
| Week 1 | Set-up and training | Therapist with the client | Settings chosen, scanning accuracy, early problems |
| Weeks 2 and 3 | Use in real settings | Client, with family and school | A simple use log and a weekly check-in |
| Week 4 | End measures and decision | Therapist | The same measures as baseline, plus client views |
Before the trial: set the baseline
Choose three to five everyday reading tasks that matter to the client and match their goals. For a student, this could be a worksheet, a page of a class text and a set of task instructions. For an adult, it could be a letter, a form and a product label.
For each task, record:
- whether they completed it independently, with some help or with full help
- how long it took
- whether they understood it, using two or three quick questions.
Week 1: set up and teach
- Choose the model to match the goal. The Reader 2 suits most daily-life goals; the Reader 3 adds translation and Bluetooth audio (see therapist guide).
- Set the hand, Australian English voice, reading language and volume with the client.
- Teach scanning technique and practise on easy text (see scanning technique).
- Agree where and when the pen will be used over the next two weeks.
- Show the family, teacher or aide how to charge it and what to do if it stops working.
Weeks 2 and 3: use it for real
The pen needs to be used in real tasks, not just in sessions. Ask the client, family or school to keep a short log:
| Date | Task | Setting | Used the pen? | How did it go? (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Check in once a week by phone, message or in person. Ask what worked, what didn't and whether anything needs changing, such as volume, speed or where the pen is kept.
Week 4: measure and decide
Repeat the baseline tasks with the pen and record the same three measures. Ask the client, and the people around them, how useful the pen was and whether they want to keep using it.
| Result | Next step |
|---|---|
| Clear gain in independence, and the client wants to keep using it | Recommend the pen and write it up |
| Some gain, but set-up or technique got in the way | Adjust and extend the trial by two weeks |
| Little or no gain, or the client won't use it | Stop and consider other options |
Writing it up
Summarise the baseline, the trial results and the client's own view. Link the results to their goals. For NDIS participants, show use across daily life, not just school (see NDIS evidence). For school funding and NCCD, the same summary supports the adjustment record (see funding guide).
Copy-and-use template
Client:
Goal(s) the pen supports:
Model trialled:
Trial dates:
Baseline (before the trial)
| Task | Independence (independent / some help / full help) | Time | Understood? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | |||
| 2. | |||
| 3. |
End of trial (with the pen)
| Task | Independence | Time | Understood? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | |||
| 2. | |||
| 3. |
Use log summary: number of days used, main settings
Client's view:
Family or teacher's view:
Decision: recommend / adjust and extend / stop
Next review date:
Frequently asked questions
How long should a reading pen trial last?
Three to four weeks is usually enough: one week to set up and teach, two weeks of real use, and a final week to measure and decide.
What should I measure in a reading pen trial?
Measure independence, time taken and understanding on three to five everyday reading tasks, before and after. Add a short use log and the client's own view.
Can we trial a C-Pen before buying?
Assistive Tech is launching a trial program soon. Contact us for details.
Does the NDIS need trial results?
The NDIS does not require a trial for low-cost assistive technology. Trial results still make a recommendation much stronger.
More C-Pen guides for schools and therapistsSetup help, exam provisions, funding and model comparisons in one place.
