CAST: "Research shows that the way people learn is as unique as their fingerprints."

So...

Each learner requires a unique set of effective learning tools.

Many high quality digital learning tools are already in our schools, or are readily available to learners everywhere.  The purpose of this presentation is to increase awareness of some of these powerful options.  These tools have the potential to benefit all learners, especially many of those with what we refer to as high incidence special needs.

Free and Effective Text-to-Speech Tools 

Text-to-Speech (TTS) software tools are similar in that they speak text on a computer.  However, they vary widely in functionality.  When evaluating which program would be best for you, think about the set of features that will give you the support you need to support your students (CAST - Center for Applied SpecialTechnology) 

Below is a table that lists a few free and effective Text-to-Speech options.  These are only a few of the many that are available.  It is intended to provide an overview of some text-to-speech programs and in which programs text-to-speech can be used. 

If you want to learn more about these Free Text-to-Speech programs discussed in this presentation click on the link to download the PDF.

Please Note:  ALL text-to-speech readers are only as good as the voices on the computers.  To make these programs work schools would likely need to buy voices to add to their computers.  www.nextup.com sells voices and will negotiate school district pricing.

MS Word Features to Help Students with Reading and Writing

During the presentation you were introduced to a few of the features in MS Word that can support students with reading and writing.  Below is a more comprehensive list of the features that support reading and writing.

MS Word Features to Support Reading

• Text-to-Speech - Word Talk (PC Version) 
• Auto-Summarize
• Bookmark
• Find - Skim by Highlighting and Using Find Feature

MS Word Features to Support Writing 

• Text-to-Speech - Word Talk (PC Version) 
• Autocorrect
• Auto Text
• View Side-by-Side
• Spelling and Grammar
• Track Changes
• Highlighter
• Voice Comments
• Graphic Organizers
• Math - Equation Editor
• Chem4Word

Free Tools and Downloadable Programs from the Web

• Show what you know with Multimedia Tools
• Photo Story 3 - below are a links to a few examples
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiZNungPYTc - mini project a young woman did for her Junior English class about LEAF, a festival in Black Mountain North Carolina
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgOCVAVOAo0 - This video is a sample introduction to using Photostory 3.  Math is Everywhere by Willie Kjellstron.  
• Here is a link to a few examples on Paul Hamilton's UDL4All wiki
• Voice Thread - Below are links to a few examples from Paul Hamilton'sUDL4All wiki
• http://udl4all.pbworks.com/VoiceThread

Resources

Text-to-Speech

1. The Center for Applied Special Technology  (CAST) has created a wonderful resource on using Text-to-Speech technology.   Using Text-to-Speech a Resource Guide provides background information about the technology, ideas for how to use it, information about acquiring digital text, and  future directions in Text-to-Speech Technology.
2. For a more indepth look at text-to-speech applications check out the article at Dyslexic.com.  The article that was written by Abi James in August 2004 and published in 2006.  It outlines the most popular commercially available applications of text-to-speech and compares their features and benefit. http://www.dyslexic.com/textcomp
3. Another site that has some good information on Text to Speech software is Robin Good's MasterNewMedia site.  Click on the link and check out the article Text to Speech:  A Mini Guide.  Scroll down the page and you will see a chart that has shows a comparison between the various Text to Speech Tools - http://www.masternewmedia.org/text-to-speech/text-to-speech-tools/guide-to-best-text-to-speech-tools-20070701.htm - most of the tools mentioned here are free.

Word Accessibility

1. This is nice resource that outlines some of the accessibility features of MS Word 2007.  WordAccessibilityResourceSheet_2007.pdf
2. Tools for Literacy:  Technology to Support Comprehension and Vocabulary was written by Kathleen McClaskey and Joan Sedita.  They demonstrate how 6 programs can be used to improve reading and writing.