After completing the following webinar on Assistive Technology to Support Reading, I discovered more information on text-to-speech software devices that increase reading fluency and comprehension for students with reading disabilities. The webinar began with a discussion about text reader vs. screen reader.
- Text readers - read all text in a given document/application
- Most often used for students with a reading disability who have adequate vision
- Screen readers - read all the text elements on a screen (tool bars, menu bars, buttons, dialogue boxes, etc.) and may include screen magnification
- Most often used for students with visual impairments
- Provide access to program navigation and written text
Bookshare was also mentioned during the webinar as a place where you can find electronic text. Bookshare is an accessible online library for electronic text. Membership fees are waved for students in educational facilities as long as students qualify. Qualifications include orthopedic and/or visual impairments and students with reading disabilities.
Some of the text-to-speech reading support software described in the webinar include:
- Kurzweil 3000
- Read Outloud
- Natural Reader
- WordTalk
The key features these programs offer was then discussed. Specific features may include:
- Choice of high quality voices
- Modify text interface
- How the program reads/chunks the text: word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, etc.
- Ability to control rate
- Dictionary
- Highlight and extract key information
- Allows students to interact with the text
- Can read files directly from Bookshare
- Converts to MP3
- Includes a language translator
This software, along with their features, can help students in my classroom who struggle with reading achieve success. However, I need to ensure I'm choosing the right tool for my students based on classroom setting, student needs, and what resources are available.
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