Assitive Technology in the Home - Reading

Reading

Screen Reading Software

Screen reading software reads text that appears on a computer screen via speech synthesis technology. Most screen reading software programs these days come with advanced features including word processing, word prediction, and visual word/ sentence highlighting functionality.

Screen Readers help with:

• word recognition
• reading comprehension
• fluency
• independent reading

1. Use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology
   
   Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software and/or devices will convert paper based text into electronic text for use with screen readers. With OCR software, a scanner is needed to scan materials from books or other paper-based text. The text that has been scanned is opened using the OCR software which then digitizes the scanned material into electronic text, which then can be brought into a screen reading program for voice output. OCR Handheld/Portable Devices Handheld OCR devices look similar to a pen and act as a scanner which will scan materials by dragging the pen over the paper based text.
   
   
2. The Project Gutenberg Online Book Catalog contains a selection of over 18,000 electronic Public Domain books (books wherein the copyright has expired and therefore are open to public use) that can be accessed and downloaded directly through the Project Guttenberg Website.You may search books by author or Title. Some of the books I recently found on a very quick search, which I know are widely taught in schools:
   
   
   • The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
   • Dracula by Bram Stoker
   • The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
   • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
   • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
   • The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

   Select this link to go to the website

3. Check with your school board about course texts that are available in electronic format. If you have text that is not available in electronic format. Most school boards are required to provide either pre-scanned material or scan material that is not already scanned for students who need to access materials in electronic format. You may also want to check with the publishers to see if they can provide electronic versions of text.

General tips for the classroom teacher

1. Try out the screen reading software or device extensively so that you have a good grasp of its features and functionality
2. Scan the course text or book you are using for your lesson plan
3. Set your student up with the scanned content and headphones so as not to disturb the rest of the class
4. Make sure your student has had practice using the software and/or technology before hand

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