Reading can be hard, but luckily assistive technology is here to help. Lots of kids need extra help with reading. For some it is because of a diagnosed disability. For others, it just takes extra time and practice to crack the code. And for many, this struggle can last well into teenage years (and beyond!). The good news is that no reader has to struggle in the 21st century! Thanks to assistive technology, there are incredible resources available to give students the boost they need to become confident, successful readers.
1. Audiobooks
Human voice-recorded audiobooks are great resources for students who love stories but have a hard time reading them. Many parents assume that giving their children access to audiobooks will hamper their progress. While listening to audiobooks doesn’t necessarily give students practice decoding (unless they are closely and purposefully following along with the text), audiobooks are a great way for kids to learn about fluency, expression, and story structure. Libby is an especially great audiobook resource. The app connects users to thousands of audiobook versions of titles that are available in their public library. Just sign up using your library card.
2. Chromevox
Most students this year have received a computer from school, and most of those computers are Chromebooks. These devices have a built-in feature called Chromevox, which easily allows users to select text for the computer to read out loud. This tool makes it easier for students to read and understand directions. As a result, they can focus energy on the assignment and complete it with more accuracy.
3. BookShare
BookShare is another ebook library that allows users to customize their reading experience. Students can choose the voice they listen to and can easily follow along with highlighted text that keeps kids focused on the words as they are reading. Moreover, they can choose text size, color, contrast, and reading rate. A paid option is also available for non-qualifying K-12 students as well as adults.
4. Dolphin Easy Reader
The Dolphin Easy Reader app, which is a free version of BookShare, has a huge collection of texts. Readers can listen to books while easily following along through highlighting that is synchronized with the audio, and they can adjust the formatting of the text. These features are great for students who are visually impaired and for those with dyslexia and other reading disabilities.
5. Kurzweil 3000
Kurzweil 3000 is a comprehensive literacy tool with the potential to differentiate any text or writing assignment. The program includes tools like virtual sticky notes, highlighting, translating, and dictionary definitions to help students navigate any text. Furthermore, their writing program comes with word prediction, a talking spell-checker, and tools for organizing ideas, summarizing, note-taking, and outlining.
For a more comprehensive list of assistive technology resources, this post has accumulated some of the best of what’s out there: http://www.techpotential.net/ATtoolbox. Happy reading!
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