Helpful Accessibility Tools by: Emily Faragher


Through my Web Tools class, I learned about some helpful accessibility tools I want to bring to my classroom when I become a teacher.  

  1. ListNote Speech-to-Text Notes: Whether students just want to talk rather than typing or they feel more comfortable this way, this is a great app to introduce to my future students. Students learn in diverse ways and may prefer assorted styles of learning. I want my classroom to be inclusive of all students. 
  1. Speechify: Some students may grasp texts more when the text is read to them rather than when they read it on their own. This could also be helpful if the student wishes to multi-task. For example, the student could go for a walk while listening to their audio book for homework.  
  1. Assignment Calendar: I would let my students know about this tool, and I am even interested in trying it myself. This tool separates big assignments into smaller, more manageable sections. Personally, I am someone who procrastinates and sometimes feels overwhelmed when starting large assignments. This program could help with anxiety. 
  1. Print Friendly & PDF: If I were to print out an article for my students or wanted my students to find an article to turn in, this program would be extremely helpful. This way, we could take out all the extra pictures and advertisements along the side that do not have anything to do with the given article. It could help students or teachers focus on what is important. 
  1. Special education and accessibility resources for remote learning with Microsoft Education: On this page, Microsoft provides many videos about different programs that people can use and how to use them. They talk about programs that can help people that struggle with math, reading, writing, hearing, vision, mental health, and English speaking. 
  1. Visor extension for Chrome: I would introduce this tool to young students. If students feel like it would help them focus and be less overwhelmed by the large article, I encourage them to try it. The program makes it much easier to just focus on one line or paragraph at a time. 
  1. Grammarly: This program is especially beneficial for students that struggle with grammar. However, all students make grammar mistakes and could benefit from some helpful feedback. It would also mean less grammar checking for me as a teacher. 

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