Text-to-Speech: An Integrated Literacy Solution for Life

For those who are living with dyslexia, are English language learners, or blind and vision impaired, text-to-speech technology, like kurzweil 3000, boasts many benefits inside the classroom and out. Functioning as an assistive technology, educators can integrate this into their classrooms so students who have challenges with reading can keep up at the same pace as their peers. By reading text aloud while students follow along, this literacy solution helps boost learners' confidence and performance in the classroom.

Using Text-to-Speech Technology

There are multiple facets of text-to-speech, including choosing the right assistive technology and getting students to properly comprehend and retain learning materials using these tools. Kurzweil Education's text-to-speech software offers a multisensory approach and multiple means of access to text—whether in print, online, or in digital formats—to support better learning at school and at home. Kurzweil literacy software and products give reading disabled, blind and vision impaired users access to classroom curriculum, workplace documents, emails, and personal reading, all while having the freedom to read and write without the need for a tutor or human assistant.

Selecting the Right Assistive Technology with Text-to-Speech

Whether you are a student or educator, there are countless benefits of using and selecting the right text-to-speech technology to better support learning. Kurzweil Education's suite of literacy products offer key advantages for both learners and teachers, including:

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR): This high quality software reproduces scanned print documents with the exact layout and format found in the original, allowing the technology to read the document aloud. Both students and educators can know that the materials they are using are accurately being conveyed and at the pace of the other peers in the classroom.
• Unique Text-to-Speech Voices: Choosing a text-to-speech voice that matches up to each individual student is vital for learners' comprehension and retention of written materials. Kurzweil's text-to-speech software uses natural, high-quality acapella voices and provides 18 languages and dialects to choose from. Educators who are integrating text-to-speech technology into their classrooms can be assured that students are listening to a voice that best fits their cultural background, ensuring optimal learning.
• Customization: Assistive technology is something that is used every day to help improve learning. Being able to customize your tools to better support your teaching or learning style is important for achieving success. Kurzweil Education provides a high degree of customization including tailoring the user experience to students' individual needs, providing robust support for individuals with learning disabilities, supporting research based instructional practices, and more.

Funding Text-to-Speech Technology in the Classroom

Applying for various types of grants to bring assistive technology into your classroom or school, helps alleviate some of the financial costs associated with using additional tools to support better learning. Public schools that are K-Postsecondary education and vocational rehabilitation centers for adults are eligible to receive grant funding. These stipends cover most or all of the costs associated with bringing assistive technology into your classrooms, allowing schools to focus on budgeting for intermittent upgrades. Visit Kurzweil Education’s grants & funding page to learn more and apply!