Reading Supports

Text-to-speech (TTS) is a form of speech synthesis that converts text into spoken voice output. Students can use TTS to access text or listen to their work as part of the editing process. TTS can be used with books, emails, and websites. TTS is built-in to all Apple computers and iPads.

View Apple's Accessibility website for more information.

All students and teachers can access the Chrome extension Read&Write for Google for free text-to-speech support at school or home. Students can use the text-to-speech feature to listen to any selectable text, such as Google Docs and articles on websites. R&W also uses highlights each sentence and each word as it is read aloud to help the reader follow along. Use the Chrome browser, search for the Chrome Web Store, and search for Read&Write to add the extension to a Newton account. All teachers can sign up to get a premium yearlong subscription for free. Students without a license will be able to use the premium features for 28 days but will be able to continue to use the text-to-speech for free after the trial period.

See here for more information.

Kami is a PDF annotator, but it also has text-to-speech built-in. Use the Chrome browser, search for the Chrome Web Store, and search for Kami to add the extension to a Newton account. Here is a video on how to use the text-to-speech feature.

The Newton Public Library has many services and resources available to provide books to children.

Many school and public libraries, including Boston and Newton (with the Minuteman Library Network), offer books in audio format such as audiobooks, Playaway, and Overdrive Read-Along. Overdrive offers the ability to download a book in MP3, ePub or stream online at no charge for a two or three week period. Books can be accessed via a computer or mobile device using apps like Kindle, Nook, iBooks, Overdrive, Libby or iTunes.

The Commonwealth eBook Collection is a statewide initiative to expand access to eBooks to all residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Students can use Sora to access the books available on their Chromebooks, Macs or PCs. Students should use their LASID and select Newton Public Schools from the list.

Tarheel Reader is a large library of open-source, accessible, texts created for individuals (with disabilities but available to everyone) of all ages with a wide range of fiction and non-fiction topics. Books can be read aloud and saved as PowerPoint presentations. Modified books are available for many popular books such as Hatchet and The Call of the Wild.

Audible is offering free audiobooks on various children’s books for as long as schools are closed. The stories can be streamed on multiple platforms and are available in six languages.

Massachusetts has provided funding for membership to Learning Ally, which provides human voiced access to books with some text support. Learning Ally services are limited to individuals with documented learning disabilities, vision impairment, or physical disabilities that impede the ability to process standard print. Login information has been shared with families already. If families did not receive a login, please contact case managers for student logins.

Click here for information about eligibility.

Students with qualifying print disabilities can be registered for Bookshare to access copyrighted books in online digital format. Books can be assigned by a teacher or added by a student. Teachers may download books as a Word Doc or in ePub format and share individual files with students. Students can use Bookshare Web Reader on a computer or Chromebook, or Voice Dream Reader on a tablet.

Click here for more information.