This is the updated Powerpoint with just a few minor changes

1. Text-to-Speech and
Word Prediction:
Technology Supports for
Struggling Readers and
Writers
Hindie Becker Dershowitz
Tricia Peters
1/24/2-12

2. Reasons for Not using Text To Speech
1.

3. Reasons for Not using Word Prediction
1.

4. Justification

5. Consideration Tools for Reading
• Protocol for Accommodations in Reading
– Oral Reading
– Adult Reading
– Text Reader
• Computer
• Mobile device
– Likert Scale
• http://www.donjohnston.com/products/par/index
.html

6. Support
• Online support
– http://atcollective.com
• Remedial Teachers
• Special Education Teachers
• Educational Diagnostician
• IRI: Informal reading Inventory

7. Written Productivity Profile
• Handwriting and Keyboarding Comparisons
• Alphabet
• Copy sentence or passage
• Writing Prompt
– picture,
– Jar Journal
– Discussions
• Dictated Sentence
• Word Prediction
• http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departm
ents/hiat/resources/wpp.shtm

8. ARD Paperwork
• IEP Goals/objectives
• Accommodations
• STARR testing

9. Spelling Issues
• STAAR and STAAR Modified Reading (English
I, English II, and English III*)
• STAAR, STAAR Spanish, and STAAR Modified
Writing (grades 4 and 7, English I, English II, and
English III*)
• Spelling Assistance may be used on written
compositions.

10. STARR Accommodations
Check with your campus administrator

11. Spelling Accommodations
• spell check function on a word processor
• word-prediction software
• text-to-speech software or devices
(i.e., software or devices that read aloud
student-generated text)
• speech-to-text software (i.e., software that
converts the student’s spoken language into
print)

12. Print Disability
• Print Disability
– Chafee Amendment
• Accessible Instructional Materials
– IDEA
• National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials
– AIM Explorer
• http://aim.cast.org/experience/decision-
making_tools/aim_explorer
– AIM Navigator
• http://aim.cast.org/experience/decision-
making_tools/aim_navigator

13. AIM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcPIMlOJJkc#

14. Resources
• Life Binder
– http://www.livebinders.com/play/play/611449
• Learnist Boards
– http://learni.st/users/5997/boards/6646-text-to-speech-and-
word-prediction-technology-supports-for-struggling-readers-
and-writers
• Pinterest
– http://pinterest.com/hindie/text-to-speech-resources/
• SlideShare

15. Features to consider
• Works within own program
• Works as addition to Word and/or PDF
• Reads locked PDFs
• Reads the internet
• Works with BookShare books
• Types of word prediction
• Types of Dictionaries
• BYOT options

16. Features
WYNN Kurzweil Snap & Read Read Write Gold

17. WYNN
• WYNN Tip Sheets
– http://www.freedomscientific.com/lsg/products/wynn
_tipsheets.asp
• Pearl Document Camera

18. Read Write
• Read & Write Gold Tutorials
• http://www.texthelp.com/north-america/our-
products/readwrite/educator-
resources/documentation/
• Loudon County Public School
• http://www.lcps.org/cms/lib4/VA01000195/Centr
icity/Domain/116/reference%20cards/RWGtaskc
ards10.pdf

19. Kurzweil
• Kurzweil Versions
– Professional
– Learn
– FireFly
• How To Videos
– http://www.kurzweiledu.com/how-to-videos.html
– http://www.youtube.com/user/CambiumTech

20. Snap N Read
• Windows or Mac
• USB Flashdrive
• Floats over applications
• Docs
• PDF
• Websites
• http://www.donjohnston.com/products/snap-
read/index.html

21. Snap & Read
• Click and drag over text
• Speaker
• Click on triangle to open settings
• You can adjust speech, highlighting
colors and background transparency

22. CoWriter
• Word Prediction
• Click on arrow to flip to tools
• Topic Dictionaries
– Display words from Dictionary
• Create Custom Dictionaries

23. Adobe PDF
• Someone needs to have Adobe Pro
– Enable editing
– Save and share file
• Select View Menu > Tools > Forms
• Create

24. Adobe PDF
• Enable editing in Adobe Pro
– http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/documents/r
esourcebank/V-
2CreateinteractiveFormsAdobeProfessional.pdf
– http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/acrobat
/pdf/acrobat-xi-accessible-forms.pdf
• Students can use form on any computer

25. Idevices PDF options
• Prizmo - Scanning, OCR, and Speech
• Good Reader
• Take Picture to Speak
• Remarks
• Type on PDF
• iWorksheet
• PDF Expert

26. Read&Write for Google Docs
• Free in Chrome Webstore
• Google Docs
• ttps://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/read%
26write-for-google-
doc/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd

27. FireFox Extenstions
• Talking Clipboard
– http://talkingclipboard.com/
• Accessibar
– https://addons.mozilla.org/en-
us/firefox/addon/accessibar/?src=search

28. Safari
• Handout from www.billziegler.com
• Set the computer up to read text
– System Preferences: Speech:Text to Speech- Select
your System Voice & Rate.
• You can re-set the HOT key that triggers the speech
• De-clutter text on Safari web pages
• Use Cover Flow and Top Sites to allow struggling
readers to locate folders, documents and
Internet sites

29. Free Text to Speech Tools
• Edu Apps, My Study Bar
– http://eduapps.org/?page_id=7#
• AT Bar
– http://www.atbar.org/
• Balabolka
– http://balabolka.en.softonic.com/
• Natural Reader
– http://www.naturalreaders.com/download.php

30. iPad Accessibility
• Speech with highlighting
• https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5KeW-
3vYr1XQ3VSa19xSC1ZQjQ/edit
• Guided Access
• https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5KeW-
3vYr1Xbi05ZWRKOGt2aTA/edit
• Voice Over

31. Word Prediction Apps
• Predictable
• Brevity
• Modified keyboards
– Panther Writer
– iSwipe
– Fleksy

32. Accessible Apps
• iWordQ
– Word prediciton
– Text To Speech
– http://www.goqsoftware.com/en/writing-
products/iwordq/
• Verbally
– Reads Text
– http://www.voicedream.com/

33. Pinterest Boards
– http://pinterest.com/hindie/text-to-speech-
resources/
– http://pinterest.com/hindie/mobile-devices-writing/
– http://pinterest.com/hindie/mobile-devices-reading/
– http://pinterest.com/hindie/assistive-technology/
– http://pinterest.com/hindie/android-apps-and-
information/

34. More Information
• hindiebdershowitz@gmail.com
• Slide Share
http://www.slideshare.net/hindie/text-to-speech-and-
word-predicition-16023785