TTS - Digital Text Sites

Using Technology to Support Diverse Learners

This resource from WestEd links a multitude of E-resources.

http://www.wested.org/cs/tdl/view/tdl_tip/40

Accessible Book Collection

Accessible Book Collection has listed books with reading level, grade level, and word count, and is particularly interested in those with a high interest/low reading level. Annual membership is under $50 for schools certifying that they will use books with students who have a disability.

http://www.accessiblebookcollection.org/

Bookshare.org

The Bookshare.org library provides print disabled people in the United States with legal access to over 36,050 books and 150 periodicals that are converted to Braille, large print or digital formats for text to speech audio.

http://www.bookshare.org

Digital Book Libraries

This page has links to over 90 sites of digital libraries.

http://www.ditext.com/etexts.html

Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg has over 6000 free e-books, mainly classic literature.

http://promo.net/pg/

University of Virginia's e-Book Library

Over 2100 free e-books. Can browse by subject, including a category for children’s literature.

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/ebooks/ebooklist.html

Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts

A collection of about 14,000 “classic” public domain documents from American and English literature. Browse by title or author.

http://www.infomotions.com/alex/

Fictionwise

Fictionwise sells individual titles (fiction and nonfiction) in a variety of formats, such as Adobe Reader, MS Reader, Palm Reader, and audio. 14 free titles.

http://www.fictionwise.com

TTS - General Information

Accessible Textbooks in the Classroom

An Educator’s Guide to the Acquisition of Alternate Format Core Learning Materials for Pre-K–12 Students with Print Disabilities.

http://nimas.cast.org/downloads/NIMAS-Accessible_Textbooks_in_the_Classroom.doc

Why, How, and For Whom We Need to Use Talking Word Processors

This article by William Peet, Ph.D. presents general benefits that were found when student used talking word processing.

http://www.drpeet.com/whyhow.htm

TTS - Text-to-Speech Products

Kurzweil 3000

Kurzweil 3000 is a scaffolded reading, writing, and study skills solution for struggling learners, including ELL students and students with special needs.

http://www.kurzweiledu.com/

Read & Write GOLD

Read & Write GOLD is literacy software that helps people who need support with reading, writing and learning.

http://www.texthelp.com/page.asp

WYNN

WYNN is literacy software tool designed to enhance success for individuals with reading challenges and writing difficulties.

http://www.freedomscientific.com/LSG/products/wynn.asp

SOLO

SOLO is a software tool set that builds learning skills in reading, writing, planning, organizing, revising and editing for students in grades 3 to 12. Includes Read:Outloud, Write:Outloud, and Co:Writer programs.

http://www.donjohnston.com/

Premier Assistive Technology

Premier has developed a complete suite of 23 products that address "reading, writing and information transfer" needs.

http://www.premierathome.com/

TTS - Text-to-Speech Programs

Natural Reader (WN)

NaturalReader is a Text-to-Speech software with natural sounding voices. This easy to use software can convert any written text such as MS Word, Webpage, PDF files, and Emails into spoken words. NaturalReader can also convert any written text into audio files such as MP3 or WAV for your CD player or iPod. Free version available.

http://www.naturalreaders.com/

Text-to-Speech Mac

Instructions for activating built-in Text-to-Speech on the Macintosh OSX system.

Text-to-Speech Mac (PDF)

Word Talk (WN)

WordTalk is a free plug-in for Word for Windows. It places a toolbar inside your word document that provides speech feedback with highlighting as well as a talking spell checker.

http://www.wordtalk.org.uk

This video clip demonstrates features WordTalk, a free text to speech add on for Word for Windows.

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4700cbf03cdc55e2daae

Read Please (WN)

ReadPlease. Free software that provides text to speech feedback.

http://www.readplease.com

Read Please: A video clip that demonstrates ReadPlease features and ways to use it with Microsoft Word.

http://www.learningtools.us/videos.htm

CLiCk, Speak

An open source, freely available extension for the Firefox web browser that will read web pages out loud. It is part of the CLC-4-TTS Suite of products, it features a mouse driven interface, and it reads web pages - hence its name. CLiCk, Speak is designed for sighted users who want text-to-speech functionality.

www.clickspeak.clcworld.net/index.html

PowerTalk

PowerTalk, a free program that automatically speaks any presentation or slide show running in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows.

http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/PowerTalk/?searchterm=powertalk

Describes applications and use of PowerTalk

http://fullmeasure.co.uk/powertalk/

Create Your Own Microsoft Reader eBooks

Create eBooks from Microsoft Word version 2002 or Microsoft Word version 2003 files at the click of a button. The Read in Microsoft Reader (RMR) add-in for Microsoft Word enables you to convert any Word document into a Microsoft Reader format eBook in just a few simple steps.

http://www.microsoft.com/reader/developers/downloads/rmr.mspx

Microsoft Reader

Download Microsoft Reader for Windows-based desktop and laptop PC(free). Note: To use Text-to-Speech features, please download the Microsoft Reader Text-to-Speech Package.

http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/pc.mspx