Written by Katie Guild, Assistive Technology Trainer and Advisor, Amethyst Demonstration School
Students who are identified with a learning disability (LD) that results in difficulties with the development and use of skills in reading and writing will often have computer supports listed as an essential accommodation in their IEP. This will lead to the student being provided with a high-tech device by their school board, typically a Windows laptop or Google Chromebook, to support their access to the curriculum.
This technology is funded by the Ministry of Education through a Special Equipment Amount claim referred to as SEA. These SEA-funded devices typically include specialty software that provides text-to-speech and speech-to-text tools used to support reading and writing.
The computer and software provided are pieces of assistive technology that can be used by the student to increase or maintain their level of functioning in the classroom. As a class teacher, having assistive technology in the classroom may bring up some questions for you. I have compiled a tip sheet to help educators set their students up for success when faced with a reading or writing task on their device.
Why it is Important for Teachers to Learn:
These tips will familiarize teachers with assistive technology tools built-in to Chrome operating systems, as an additional option to specialty software. With this knowledge, you can better support all students, with or without an LD, to use assistive technology tools more effectively. This will also help normalize the use of assistive technology in the classroom. Empowering yourself with how to access and navigate these built-in assistive technology tools will be invaluable to all your students.
Assistive Technology Tools:
The most up-to-date high-tech devices include the following built-in assistive technology tools:
Speech-to-Text
This tool converts speech to text and is also referred to as speech recognition, voice-to-text, voice typing or dictation. It enables students to write with their voice instead of handwriting or typing, resulting in producing written work more aligned with their capabilities. Students can organize and record their thoughts and ideas quicker and more easily, by reducing the cognitive load of written or typed text production through the use of dictation.
TIP: Students should use a noise canceling microphone, which reduces background noise, to reduce their word error rate resulting in greater speech recognition accuracy.
Text-to-Speech
This tool reads digital text aloud and is also referred to as speech feedback or read-aloud. It aids in reading comprehension by reading aloud a word or selection of text a student may be having difficulty decoding. Students can also use text to speech to listen to their own writing for editing purposes, making it easier to identify typos and improve sentence structure. Students should adjust the reading speed to fit the purpose of the tool.
TIP: Using a speech feedback tool that includes highlight tracking, highlighting words as they are read aloud, will increase a student’s attention to the text as it provides both auditory and visual information.
Operating Systems:
Windows Laptops and Chromebooks are two common types of portable computers found in the classroom and each one uses a different operating system.
Google Chrome Operating System:
If you are unable to access the following tools, you may need to update the Chrome Operating System
Resource Link: Update Your Chromebook's Operating System
Chromebooks run on a Google Chrome operating system and include access to a web version of the Google Workspace software suite, including Google Docs for word processing and Google Slides for slide shows. These software applications can be accessed from most web browsers and are optimized for the Google Chrome browser. The Chrome operating system and Google Docs for the web include several built-in speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools.
Speech-to-Text - Dictation
- The Dictation tool is an accessibility feature located in Chromebook Accessibility Settings
- A microphone icon will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen once Dictation is enabled
- Use this tool to dictate text from where you insert your cursor, including directly in Google Slides
- An internet connection is not required to use Dictation
- Click the microphone icon or press the Search key + D key to activate Dictation
- The microphone icon will change colour and a beep will sound when Dictation is activated
- A speech bubble displaying the spoken text and suggested voice commands will follow the cursor
- The displayed spoken text is inserted after a brief pause in speech
- Click the Dictation icon to turn it off or it will turn off automatically after 20 seconds
Resource Link: Type Text With Your Voice
Text-to-Speech - Select-to-Speak
- The Select-to-speak tool is an accessibility feature located in Chromebook Accessibility Settings
- A speaker icon will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen once Select-to-speak is enabled
- Use this tool to read selected text aloud on any webpage including Google Docs and Slides
- An internet connection is not required to use Select-to-speak
- Click the speaker icon and drag the pointer over text or tap text on a touchscreen to listen to it
- Alternatively, you can select text and press the Search key + S key to activate Select-to-Speak or right click selected text and click ‘listen to selected text’ when select-to-speak is enabled
- The speaker icon will change colour and a border will appear around selected text when activated
- Use the Select-to-speak navigation controls to pause, adjust reading speed, and move line by line
- Stop the reading and close the navigation by clicking the speaker icon, Search key, or Ctrl key
- Highlight tracking is on by default and the color can be changed in the Select-to-Speak settings
Resource Link: Hear Text Read Aloud
Google Docs:
Speech-to-Text - Voice Typing
- You must be signed into a Google account to access the Voice Typing tool in Google Docs
- Voice Typing works with the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, and Safari browsers
- An internet connection is required to use Voice Typing
- Use this tool to dictate text into a Google Doc or Google Slides Speaker Notes
- This tool is located in the ‘Tools’’ menu and can also be accessed by pressing Ctrl + Shift + S
- Click the microphone pop-up window icon to turn Voice Typing on and off
- Allow the microphone to access the webpage when prompted
- The spoken text is inserted as you speak
- Use optional voice commands to edit and format the document with your voice
Resource Link: Type & Edit With Your Voice
Recommended Google Chrome Built-in Assistive Technology Tools That Support Students with an LD
Speech to Text | Text to Speech | |
Google ChromeOS | Dictation
Docs/Slides |
Select-to-Speak
Docs/Slides/Chrome browser |
Google Docs
Web |
Voice Typing
Docs/Slides *Slides speaker notes only |
About the Author:
Katie Guild has dedicated her extensive career to supporting students with exceptionalities for over twenty years. She spent six years teaching and consulting in London, England in the special education field, with a focus on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Katie became a leader in the field of low and high-tech AAC supports, including eye gaze technology and sign support systems, leading to her providing AAC-based training to parents and educators across the UK. Since returning from overseas, she has continued to expand her experience working in schools as both an assistive technology trainer and advisor. She has been designing and delivering assistive technology training to students and educators for the past ten years and has become an expert in the field. Most recently, she has been servicing Amethyst Demonstration School in London Ontario; a school for students with severe reading disabilities. Her proven expertise in tailoring training to an individual’s abilities and empowering others to navigate technology with ease has led to more efficiency and confidence in classrooms. Katie can currently be found expanding her technical knowledge and support across the wider Provincial and Demonstration Schools branch.