Powerpoint from a training on using a variety of text-to-speech supports. Updated Powerpoint.

1. Text-to-Speech and
Word Prediction:
Technology Supports
for Struggling Readers
and Writers
Hindie Becker Dershowitz
Tricia Peters

2. Resources
• Comments/suggestions:
http://todaysmeet.com/texttospeech
• LiveBinder of Resources
– http://www.livebinders.com/play/play/611449
• Learnist Board of Resources
– http://learni.st/users/5997/boards/6646-text-to-
speech-and-word-prediction-technology-
supports-for-struggling-readers-and-writers
– Slide Share:
http://www.slideshare.net/hindie/text-to-speech-

3. Considerations
• Reasons against using Text To Speech
• Teachers
• Administrators
• Parents
• Paras
• Students

4. Considerations
• Reasons for using Text To Speech
• Teachers
• Administrators
• Parents
• Paras
• Students

5. Considerations
• Reasons against using Word Prediction
• Teachers
• Administrators
• Parents
• Paras
• Students

6. Considerations
• Reasons for using Word Prediction
• Teachers
• Administrators
• Parents
• Paras
• Students

7. Consideration Tools for Reading
• Protocol for Accommodations in Reading
– Oral Reading
– Adult Reading
– Text Reader
• Computer
• Mobile device
– Likert Scale
• http://www.donjohnston.com/products/par/in
dex.html

8. Written Productivity Profile
• Handwriting and Keyboarding Comparisons
• Alphabet
• Copy sentence or passage
• Writing Prompt
– picture,
– Jar Journal
– Discussions
• Dictated Sentence
• Word Prediction
• http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/depar
tments/hiat/resources/wpp.shtm

9. ARD Paperwork
• IEP Goals/objectives
• Accommodations
• STARR testing

10. Print Disability
• Print Disability
– Chafee Amendment
• Accessible Instructional Materials
– IDEA
• National Center on Accessible Instructional
Materials
– AIM Explorer
• http://aim.cast.org/experience/decision-
making_tools/aim_explorer
– AIM Navigator
• http://aim.cast.org/experience/decision-

11. AIM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcPIMlOJ
Jkc#

12. Features
WYNN Kurzweil Snap & Read Read Write Gold

13. WYNN
• WYNN Tip Sheets
– http://www.freedomscientific.com/lsg/products/w
ynn_tipsheets.asp
• Pearl Document Camera

14. Features
• OCR Tools
• Text to Speech Tools
• Dictionary Tools
• Research Tools
• Word Prediction
• Tools to read websites
• Tools to read PDF documents
• Test taking/writing tools
• Ability to save audio file

15. Read & Write
• Works within Word/PDF environment
• Various Toolbars
– Reading
– Writing
– Studying
– Research

16. Read Write
• Read & Write Gold Tutorials
• http://www.texthelp.com/north-america/our-
products/readwrite/educator-
resources/documentation/
• Loudon County Public School
• http://www.lcps.org/cms/lib4/VA01000195/C
entricity/Domain/116/reference%20cards/R
WGtaskcards10.pdf

17. Kurzweil
• Kurzweil Files
– Opens and reads Word and PDF Files
• Customize Toolbars
– Main Toolbar
– Reading Toolbar
– Study Skills Toolbar
– Writing Toolbar

18. Kurzweil
• Toolbars

19. Snap N Read
• Windows or Mac
• USB Flashdrive
• Floats over applications
• Docs
• PDF
• Websites
• http://www.donjohnston.com/products/snap-
read/index.html

20. Snap & Read
• Click and drag over text
• Speaker
• Click on triangle to open settings
• You can adjust speech, highlighting
colors and background transparency

21. CoWriter
• Word Prediction
• Click on arrow to flip to tools
• Topic Dictionaries
– Display words from Dictionary
• Create Custom Dictionaries

22. Adobe PDF
• Someone needs to have Adobe Pro
– Enable editing
– Save and share file
• Enable editing in Adobe Pro
– http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/documen
ts/resourcebank/V-
2CreateinteractiveFormsAdobeProfessional.pdf
• Students can use form on any computer

23. Read&Write for Google Docs
• Free in Chrome Webstore
• https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/r
ead%26write-for-google-
doc/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd

24. FireFox Extenstions
• Talking Clipboard
– http://talkingclipboard.com/
• Accessibar
– https://addons.mozilla.org/en-
us/firefox/addon/accessibar/?src=search

25. Safari
• Handout from www.billziegler.com
• Set the computer up to read text
– System Preferences: Speech:Text to Speech-
Select your System Voice & Rate.
• You can re-set the HOT key that triggers the
speech
• De-clutter text on Safari web pages
• Use Cover Flow and Top Sites to allow
struggling readers to locate folders, documents
and Internet sites

26. Free Text to Speech Tools
• Edu Apps, My Study Bar
– http://eduapps.org/?page_id=7#
• AT Bar
– http://www.atbar.org/
• Balabolka
– http://balabolka.en.softonic.com/
• Natural Reader
– http://www.naturalreaders.com/download.php

27. iPad Accessibility
• Speech with highlighting
• https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5KeW-
3vYr1XQ3VSa19xSC1ZQjQ/edit
• Guided Access
• https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5KeW-
3vYr1Xbi05ZWRKOGt2aTA/edit
• Voice Over

28. Word Prediction Apps
• Predictable
• Brevity
– Copy Text
– Email Text
– Voice OVer

29. Accessible Apps
• iWordQ
– Word prediciton
– Text To Speech
– http://www.goqsoftware.com/en/writing-
products/iwordq/
• Verbally
– Reads Text
– http://www.voicedream.com/

30. Apps
• WebReader
• iBooks
• Read Me Stories
• Evernote
•

31. Accessible Apps
• Say Text
– Take a picture of text and OCR
– Works with Voice Over
– http://www.docscannerapp.com/saytext/