Today, I am here to tell you 7 of my favorite accessibility tools that I believe to be very beneficial for students of all ages who have specific accessibility needs.
Tool #1: Microsoft Teams Reading Coach
Microsoft Teams Reading Coach is valuable for both students and educators due to its ability to provide personalized reading exercises, interactive learning activities, immediate feedback, and progress tracking. It even offers accessibility features such as text-to-speech functionality, ensuring inclusivity for all learners. By tailoring reading experiences to individual needs and leveraging technology for engaging activities, Reading Coach enhances comprehension, retention, and overall reading proficiency in students.
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Tool #2: Kurzweil
Kurzweil provides a comprehensive set of tools specifically designed to support students who struggle with literacy. With features catering to reading, writing, and study skills, the program aims to foster independence and active engagement in education. Kurzweil offers text-to-speech features, aiding students with disabilities or preferring auditory learning. With this tool students are also capable of highlighting and note-taking and its customizable settings accommodate individual preferences. Its accessibility and versatility make it a valuable resource for learners of all backgrounds and abilities, enhancing comprehension and engagement across various educational materials.
Tool #3: Dragon Naturally Speaking
Dragon Naturally Speaking significantly enhances students’ learning experience by providing accessibility for those with physical disabilities, boosting productivity through efficient dictation capabilities, aiding writing with support for spelling and grammar, accommodating diverse learning modalities, and fostering independence in academic tasks. By accommodating diverse learning modalities, such as verbal expression, Dragon NaturallySpeaking caters to individual student needs, promoting a more personalized and engaging learning experience.
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Tool #4: Read&Write
The Read&Write tool is a valuable resource for students, offering a wide range of benefits to support their individual academic experiences. With text-to-speech functionality, it assists in reading comprehension, particularly for students with learning difficulties. Additionally, its writing support features, such as word prediction and spell check, help students improve their writing skills and produce higher-quality work. Read&Write also aids in studying by providing highlighting and note-taking tools, while its accessibility features ensure that all students can access digital content effectively. Furthermore, with support for multiple languages and translation tools, it caters to diverse student needs, making it an indispensable tool for promoting academic success and inclusivity.
Image link: https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/lrc/images/RW-RGB.jpg
Tool #5: Sonocent
Sonocent is a powerful tool designed to revolutionize note-taking and learning for students. By allowing users to record lectures and presentations, it promotes active listening and reduces the need for extensive note-taking during class. Its structured approach to organizing recorded content enhances comprehension and retention, benefiting students of all abilities. Sonocent’s accessibility features make it especially valuable for students with disabilities, while its review and revision capabilities aid in reinforcing learning. The platform also facilitates collaboration by enabling students to share notes and recordings with peers, creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
Image link: https://www.sonocent.com/static/company-logo-b35c88032b9cde567c56b64c2ed036ed.png
Tool #6: OneNote Accessibility Features
OneNote offers unique accessibility features to accommodate diverse user needs. These include extensive keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation and editing, screen reader compatibility for visually impaired users, and an Accessibility Checker to identify and address potential issues. The Immersive Reader feature provides a distraction-free reading experience with text-to-speech functionality and customizable text settings. There are also dictation tools to facilitate note-taking for individuals with mobility impairments or those who prefer verbal communication. With inking and drawing tools, cross-platform compatibility, and a commitment to inclusivity, OneNote ensures that all users can effectively create, organize, and interact with their notes, enhancing accessibility and usability across various devices and operating systems.
Tool #7: JAWS
JAWS, short for Job Access With Speech, is a special software that helps people who have trouble seeing use computers. In schools, it’s super helpful for students with vision problems. JAWS reads out loud what’s on the computer screen in a clear voice or turns it into Braille. This means students can listen to their lessons, read digital books, and do their homework online just like everyone else. It works with lots of different programs and files, making it easy for students to keep up with their schoolwork and be independent learners. With JAWS, students with vision challenges can do well in school and be part of classroom activities just like their classmates.
