Use an app to keep up with reading assignments

Is your child struggling to keep up with her reading assignments? There are great new apps that can read text to students. When combined with a site like Bookshare, that offers free access to students with dyslexia or visual issues, students can enhance their vocabulary and enjoyment of many books. What I like most about these apps is that they highlight the words as they read, encouraging students to read along.

Here are some options: These descriptions of the programs are from their iTunes preview pages.

Dolphin EasyReader: Description

EasyReader is a FREE accessible reading app for readers with dyslexia, low vision or blindness. Browse & download from the World’s largest collection of talking book and newspaper libraries. Or copy text from anywhere on your phone & hear EasyReader read it back to you. Experience perfectly synchronized text & audio. Or for text only titles, EasyReader can add a human sounding voice of your choice. Boost comfort or contrast – choose colours, text size and highlights to suit your visual needs.

Make your books’ text as big as your eyes require. Unlike other mainstream reading apps, there’s no restriction with EasyReader. Zoom in with a standard 2 finger pinch or make fine adjustments with the simple sliders. There’s never any blurry text or fuzzy fonts – your books’ words are always crystal clear and always easy on the eye.

Speech Central: Text to Speech Description

Fully featured text to speech app. The first app ever to feature the interactive web on the go. Users can interact with web sites and RSS feeds and pick articles to be read aloud by using headphone or Bluetooth hands-free buttons.

Functions of those audio buttons can be customized which results in high productivity and accessibility. The app is tested to be accessible with VoiceOver by legally blind users. It can be used as an assistive technology and helper for people with visual impairments and disabilities like dyslexia (dyslexia friendly font is included in the app). Bookshare, an accessible online library is integrated into the app.

Voice Dream Reader                   Description

Featured as Best New App in 81 countries including the United States and Apple App Store Permanent Collections in Education.

Supported Document Formats
– PDF, Plain text, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, RTF, and Google Docs.
– Web articles.
– EPUB eBooks. (DRM-free books only. Kindle and iBooks are not supported.)
– Bookshare Books.
– DAISY text-based books and audiobook.
– Audiobooks in MP3, MP4 or zipped MP3 format.
– Experimental rich text and image support for all documents.

Text-to-Speech

Reading Styles
– Tee-up a list of articles and play while you drive, walk or run.
– Spoken word is highlighted to improve comprehension and retention.
– Auto-scrolling and full screen, distraction-free mode to help reader focus.
– Finger reading. For beginners to read by at running a finger under each word.
– Pac-Man. Harvard and MIT developed speed-reading method for everyone to read at 2x speed with no loss of comprehension.
– High contrast and large font size for low vision readers.
– Optimized for VoiceOver, Braille and switch control.