We make a variety of Accessibility tools available to our PALCS students. This guide will introduce you to them.
Text to Speech - Canvas ReadSpeaker and Chrome Extension
Often in can be very helpful to hear the words on screen aloud. Built into Canvas is a tool called "ReadSpeaker." This can be activated by clicking this icon at the left side of the navigation options.
Clicking that button will launch the tool. Clicking the green play button will cause it to read start reading things on the screen. (Without selecting anything, it may just read page/module titles and not all of the content, depending on how the page is laid out.)
Once the tool is activated, you can highlight most text (and images as long as the teachers have set them up properly) and click on the "Listen" option.
It will begin reading the text out to you.
If it is too quick, you can adjust the reading speed by adjusting this bar.
For resources outside of Canvas, we generally recommend using a text to speech Google Chrome Extension. We have found this specific one to be reliable - Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader Navigate to the Chrome Web Store link and click on the blue "Add to Chrome" button and then "Add extension" option.
This will add the extension to your Google Chrome browser.
You can also "pin" this add-on so it is easily available by pressing the puzzle piece icon in the top right of Google Chrome, then pressing the pin icon next to the Read Aloud extension.
Activating the extension by clicking on the pinned extension will bring up another window as it reads the text.
Press the stop button and then the gear icon to open the menu.
We recommend changing from the default robotic voice to "Google US English" as it is a much more natural voice to listen to. (The Google UK options also work for some fun variety!) The additional voices may not work as they are premium features/require additional subscriptions. So stick with either the default or "Google US."
You can also use this settings menu to adjust pitch, speed and volume.
This tool will be able to read most other websites and resources. For example, it can read most PDFs that have been shared with you and are open in Google Chrome.
Google Chrome Reading Mode
Google Chrome also has a built in tool called "Reading mode." (Use reading mode in Chrome - Computer - Google Chrome Help) When you visit some sites, it may offer to use Reading Mode like this.
If that prompt doesn't show up, you can click the three dots at the top right and look inside of "More tools" and select "Reading Mode." (Or use the shortcut Alt + Shift + R.)
This will open up a much more visual friendly version of the website while also having a built in narration tool.
Clicking on the play button will begin to narrate the page.
Clicking on the gear icon will let you change many options (colors/themes, font size/spacing, text to speech voice.)
Line Focus can also further help to increase focus on what you are reading by dimming the part of the text that is not actively being read.
This tool may not always grab all of the correct content on the website, so be aware that it might accidentally trim out useful sections of the webpage.
Similar tool is available on Android devices - Use Listen to this page mode in Chrome - Google Chrome Help
Changing Default Fonts - OpenDyslexic Chrome Extension
For students that are having trouble reading text it might be possible to improve reading by changing fonts. While there is some debate (Do Dyslexia Fonts Actually Work? | Edutopia) it is certainly worth trying since everyone is different and you never know what will work for your student.
You can make use of the "OpenDyslexic" font. (OpenDyslexic) "OpenDyslexic is a typeface designed against some common symptoms of dyslexia." The easiest way to take advantage of this tool is the OpenDyslexic for Chrome Extension. Navigate to the Chrome Web Store link and click on the blue "Add to Chrome" button and then "Add extension" option.
This will add the extension to your browser. You will likely want to pin this extension, click on the puzzle piece icon and then click the pin next to the extension.
To enable it on a website, make sure it is not set to "Off", click on the
Once it is enabled, it will swap out the fonts that the browser displays with this much more Dyslexia friendly font.
This will not work on everything but can be very helpful for those who read better with this font.
Because it's changing the appearance of the website, it might cause spacing and layout to get messed up. (We've seen this cut off Canvas quiz answers when combined with a zoomed in screen.) It will NOT work on some Google Products unfortunately (Drive / Google Docs) but will work on Gmail.
A similar font inside of Google Docs is "Lexend."
Canvas also has a similar font available in their interface. Click on the "Account" navigation icon at the top left and select "Use a Dyslexia Friendly Font" and refresh the page.
That will change just Canvas' fonts and not other websites.
Font changes are not a panacea/cure all for reading issues/dyslexia. Sometimes selecting more legible fonts can improve reading. (Do Dyslexia Fonts Actually Work? | Edutopia) But do not be discouraged if these "dyslexic friendly" options do not improve things, because EVERYONE is different. These tools might be helpful, so give them a shot and see.
Speech to Text - Chrome Extension & Voice Typing
Some students can struggle with typing, for those students we make available a few Google Chrome extensions that might be helpful. Speech to Text (Voice Recognition) is an easy one to use. Navigate to the Chrome Web Store link and click on the blue "Add to Chrome" button and then "Add extension" option.
This will add the extension to your browser. You will likely want to pin this extension, click on the puzzle piece icon and then click the pin next to the extension.
To use the extension itself, click on the icon next to the puzzle icon. The first time you open the extension, it will ask for microphone permissions, click "Allow while visiting the site."
Once it has been allowed, click on the microphone option at the bottom left.
You can copy and paste this text into whatever thing you are working on (Google Doc/Canvas text submission box, etc.)
Another tool that's built into Google Docs is Voice Typing - Type & edit with your voice - Google Docs Editors Help.
Clicking on that tool will pop out the Voice typing window. The first time you run it, it will ask for permission to your microphone. Click "Allow while visiting this site."
Once you've granted access to your microphone you should be able to speak and it will type into the Google Doc for you.
Other Tools Built into Windows and Browsers
Discover Windows accessibility features | Microsoft Support - There are MANY accessibility tools and features made available in Microsoft Windows.
You can also take advantage of a few tools built into Windows that we've covered in the following guides that we've made.
Improving Readability on PALCS Laptops - Adjusting Font sizes, scaling settings and browser zoom/magnifier.
Reducing Eye Strain on PALCS Laptops - Utilize various "dark mode" and night light settings to reduce eye strain.
Using the On-Screen Keyboard - Software based keyboard that might be helpful in some circumstances.
Google Translate Extension
By default, we have the Google Translate Chrome Extension installed on all PALCS devices. It will automatically activate when alternate language pages are detected and offer to translate into another language.
What really makes this tool powerful is that it does not have to translate the page into English, it can instead be changed into another language instead.
This could be extremely helpful in families where English is a second language. (However, it is important to point out that these translations will NOT be perfect, but at least can help aid in communication.)