Reading Supports Windows

Text-to-Speech

Text-to-Speech (TTS) uses a computer to convert online text into spoken voice output, which “reads” aloud to a student with a reading disability, dyslexia, or document reading disabilities. TTS allows a student to independently select and change the level of reading support and to read single words, passages, or whole documents.

Read Aloud (MS Word & MS Word Office 365)

Read Aloud can be activated in most Microsoft applications.

In Word, you find it on the Review ribbon.
In Outlook, you find it on the message ribbon.

In PowerPoint, you will need to activate Speak. You can add Speak to your Quick Access Toolbar.

How to use Immersive Reader

A step-by-step tutorial on how to use the Immersive Reader, which is inclusively designed to help all people with reading. Built-in, mainstream, non-stigmatizing and free! The Microsoft Immersive Reader is part of Word, OneNote, Teams, Flipgrid, Forms, Edge, Minecraft, Whiteboard and Office Lens.

Define

Using a dictionary to enhance written assignments and reading comprehension, particularly for a student that struggles with comprehension, vocabulary or spelling.

Smart Lookup

Besides offering definitions of words, it can provide more information on the term you are researching.

Picture Dictionary in Immersive Reader

Built into Immersive Reader, Picture Dictionary enables students to view a picture representation of a word they click on. Students can combine with Read Aloud for multi-sensory processing, a technique to aid reading and comprehension.

Alter Text

Enlarging images or text. Providing focus on the text or images by magnification.

Fonts, Margins, Line Spacing

These options for altering the text are found on the home and layout ribbons in MS Word.

Immersive Reader

If you watched the first video on immersive reader view, you can see all the options available for altering the text. There are font option, line spacing options, and text background color contrast.

Focus on Text

Allows the student to better focus on text.

Screen Mask
Highlighting
Line Focus

Highlighting in MS Word

In MS Word there is no screen masking and no line focus. Highlighting is available.

Line Focus in Immersive Reader View

Line focus allows you to focus on only one or two lines at a time.

Clear Clutter

Simplify the material on the screen for fewer distractions.

Reading Mode MS Word

This not only works for reducing eye strain but also helps streamline and make it easier for students to focus.

Visit Microsoft's Accessibility for more tips and tools.

Back to Tools for Struggling Readers and Writers

You Try It!

Pull out your own technology and see if you can find these supports. You may already be using some of them to help you in your own life. You can look at the handouts on this page for suggested tools and where to find them.

Enlarge the text on your device
Find the tool that will read what you want to hear on your device.
Look up the meaning of a word
Create a text message using the speech recognition software in your device.
Does your email or your text have Word Prediction?
How does your technology help you know when something is misspelled?

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