Google Education Platforms

Students can speak their essays into Google Docs. Go to Tools > Voice Typing.

1. Live Captions (Hearing the Words)

• In a Google Meet: Click the CC icon at the bottom of the screen.

• In Google Slides: Press Ctrl + Shift + C while presenting.

• In Chrome Browser: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Live Caption (captions any video/audio).

2. Screen Reading (Hearing the Screen)

• Select-to-Speak: Hold the Search key (🔍) and press S, then highlight the text you want to hear.

• ChromeVox (Full Reader): Press Ctrl + Alt + Z to turn it on or off.

• Google Docs: You must go to Tools > Accessibility Settings > Turn on Screen Reader Support for these tools to work best in Docs.

3. Translation (Language Support)

• Translate a Webpage: Right-click anywhere on the page and select "Translate to [Language]."

• Translate a Document: In a Google Doc, go to Tools > Translate Document. It will create a new copy in your chosen language.

4. Helpful Shortcuts

Feature

Shortcut (Chromebook/Windows)

Zoom In/Out Ctrl and + or -

Reset Zoom Ctrl + 0

Voice Typing Ctrl + Shift + S (In Google Docs)

High Contrast Mode Search 🔍 + Ctrl + H

Google offers two ways for students to hear text read aloud. Choose the one that best fits your child's needs.

1. Select-to-Speak 

This tool is perfect for students who can see the screen but want to hear a specific paragraph or assignment read aloud to help with comprehension.

• How to turn it on: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Manage accessibility features > Toggle on Enable Select-to-speak.

• How to use it: 1. Press and hold the Search key (🔍) + S. 2. Click and drag your mouse over the text you want to hear. 3. The Chromebook will highlight the words as it reads them to you.

2. ChromeVox (Full Screen Reader)

This is a full screen reader designed for students with significant visual impairments. It will announce everything on the screen, including buttons and menus.

• How to turn it on/off: Press Ctrl + Alt + Z on your keyboard.

• Quick Tip: When ChromeVox is on, you will see a orange box around the item being read. You can use the Search key + Arrow keys to move around.

📝 Important: Enabling "Screen Reader Support" in Docs

Even if you turn on the tools above, you must tell Google Docs that you are using a screen reader for it to work perfectly.

1. Open any Google Doc.

2. Go to the Tools menu at the top.

3. Click Accessibility settings.

4. Check the box that says "Turn on screen reader support."

🛠️ Setting this up on your Google Site:

To make this look great on your page, I recommend using the "Collapsible Group" tool for each of these three sections.

1. Insert > Collapsible group.

2. Heading: "Option 1: Select-to-Speak (Reading specific text)"

3. Body: Paste the instructions above.

4. Repeat for "Option 2: ChromeVox" and the "Google Docs Settings."

For Text and Documents: Use the Google Translate Website to instantly translate written assignments, PDFs, or parent-teacher letters. Simply click the "Documents" tab at the top to upload a file.

Chrome Extension: Add the Google Translate Extension to your browser. Once installed, you can translate the entire website or any Google Classroom page with a single click of the icon in your toolbar.