As part of our Learning Resources series, we’re continuing our focus on literacy to help our kids build critical thinking skills and work toward reading goals. In our second installment, we take a look at apps and online resources specifically geared toward AAC users and readers who utilize text-to-speech technology. We’ve also indicated price, age range, and learning needs so you can easily find the resources that will work best for your child.
AAC Language Lab provides free resources, lessons, and activities for students who use an AAC device. Their annual subscription includes full access to all materials including guided lesson plans, an updated activities section and language screener, and more. Their course curriculum includes Literacy Through Unity, which provides accessible lessons on word recognition, decoding, spelling, and icon sequencing.
Snap&Read from Don Johnston Learning Tools is a multifunctional app that allows students to have both accessible and inaccessible text read aloud from websites, PDFs, and Google Drive documents. It also levels vocabulary for comprehension and offers translation services.
Storyline Online is an award-winning website that provides videos of celebrities reading children’s books along with creative illustrations. Each book is listed with the suggested grade level and includes printable teacher guides with activities and lesson plans to accompany the reading. There is also a free app, available on Android, iOS, and Chrome.
Tar Heel Reader offers a collection of user-generated books that allow students to implement a variety of alternative access methods. Books can be searched by topic and by rating (such as E/Everybody and C/Caution). Per their description, “The site can be accessed through a mouse, touch screen, alternative pointing devices, AAC devices with serial output, the IntelliKeys, or with switches.” The books are accompanied by pictures that can be used on an AAC device.
Utilizing advanced text-to-speech and a highly configured screen layout, Voice Dream Reader is designed to suit every reading style from completely audio to completely text. The app lets the user highlight text that is then read to them.
Are there other resources you rely on for text-to-speech? Let us know!
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