Assistive technology for reading

Here’s an overview of the most useful AT tools for reading.

Text-to-speech (TTS) lets you see text and hear it read aloud at the same time. To use this tool, you click on or highlight words, and the words are read by a computer-generated voice. TTS works with any digital text.

Audiobooks and digital TTS books let you hear books read aloud. Audiobooks are read by human voices.

Optical character recognition (OCR) reads aloud text from pictures and image files. You can use OCR with worksheets and paper documents by scanning or taking photos of them. Like TTS, OCR uses computer-generated voices.

Graphic organizers are visual tools that help you keep track of information as you read. Graphic organizers can be digital or pen and paper.

Other tools to try:

• Annotation tools let you take notes and write comments while reading.

• Display control changes the font, font size, color, and spacing of text on screens.

• Dictionaries and thesauri let you look up words you don’t understand when reading.

You can find low-tech tools like sticky notes or highlighter pens at any store that sells school or office supplies. Schools or teachers might provide tools too, like reading guides or graphic organizers.

You can look at your local library for tools like books on tape or CD (they require an audio player to use). There are also places to find free or low-cost audiobooks and digital TTS books.

AT tools for reading are also part of many computer platforms.

• Desktop and laptop computers typically have built-in AT options, like TTS. You can download AT software programs for reading to add more functions to computers.

• Mobile devices (like tablets and smartphones) also have built-in AT. You can add more reading tools to mobile devices with apps.

• Chromebooks (and Chrome browsers on any device) also have built-in AT. You can add Chrome apps and extensions to help with reading even more.

To make the best use of AT tools for reading, start by understanding what kinds of tools are available. It’s helpful to get the big picture.

Then try to understand what the reading challenge is and match the right tool. If you don’t know where to start, try text-to-speech. Find out why one expert suggests text-to-speech as the first AT tool to try.

Watch a mom and expert explain how text-to-speech and other AT tools helped her son with dyslexia.