Use Accessibility Tools and Software
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| Summary | Use accessibility tools and software on your Riverdale devices |
| Author | Maintained by Matthijs van Mierlo |
| Help | Get help with this article |
| Status | Up-to-date for the 2024-2025 school year. |
Accessibility tools can help with reading text aloud, converting speech to text, and more. This guide covers key accessibility features across popular platforms, as well as useful library resources and tools for academic support.
🔊 Text-to-Speech Tools
Text-to-speech tools read on-screen text aloud, making it easier to consume information without needing to read directly. This can be helpful for users with visual impairments, dyslexia, or those who prefer auditory learning.
macOS
macOS offers Speak Selection and VoiceOver, screen readers that speak items on the screen and provide descriptions of what is happening.
To enable Speak Selection, see Apple’s guide on having your Mac speak text that’s on the screen.
To use VoiceOver, see Apple's guide on using VoiceOver with your Mac.
iPad
iPads support VoiceOver and Speak Screen to read text aloud. To enable this, see Apple’s iPad accessibility guide.
Windows
Narrator is Windows’ built-in screen reader, which provides text-to-speech for reading on-screen items. To enable Narrator, see Microsoft's Narrator support page
Chromebook
Chromebooks offer Select-to-Speak for reading selected text aloud. To enable this, see Google’s Chromebook accessibility page.
🗣️ Speech-to-Text Tools
Speech-to-text tools allow users to dictate text rather than typing, which can be beneficial for users with physical disabilities or those who find typing challenging.
macOS
macOS provides Dictation, a feature that converts spoken words into text. To use this feature, see Apple’s dictation support page.
iPad
On the iPad, Dictation allows users to speak text instead of typing. To use this feature, see Apple’s guide on dictating text on iPad.
Windows
Windows includes Voice Typing, allowing users to convert speech into text. To use this feature, see Microsoft's voice typing support page.
Chromebook
Chromebooks have a Dictation tool for converting speech to text. To use this feature, see Google’s Chromebook support page.
👀 Screen Magnification
Most operating systems and mobile platforms have a built-in screen magnification tool. This makes it easier to zoom in on content without having to zoom in and out of resources manually (i.e. websites). This is particularly helpful to zoom in on buttons, menu items and more within the operating system.
macOS
Apple has a built-in accessibility tool called Zoom. There are full screen and picture-in-picture options (amongst others). To learn more about this, refer to Apple’s support article here for macOS Accessibility Zoom.
iPad
Apple has a built-in accessibility tool called Zoom. There are full screen and picture-in-picture options (amongst others). To learn more about this, refer to Apple’s support article here for iPadOS Accessibility Zoom.
Windows
Windows has a built-in accessibility tool called Magnifier. To learn more about this, refer to Microsoft’s support article here for Magnifier.
Chromebook
ChromeOS has a built-in accessibility tool called Full screen magnifier. To learn more about this, refer to Google’s support article here for Full screen magnifier.
Most operating systems and platforms have built-in voice control and navigation options for accessibility. These features help navigate computers/mobile devices using one's voice (i.e. clicking on buttons, navigating through menus, etc.).
macOS
Apple has built-in voice control for macOS called Voice Control. To learn more about this, refer to Apple’s support article here for Voice Control on macOS
iPadOS
Apple has built-in voice control for iOS and iPadOS called Voice Control. To learn more about this, refer to Apple’s support article here for Voice Control on iOS/iPadOS
Windows
Microsoft has built-in voice control for Windows 11 called Voice Access. To learn more about this, refer to Microsoft’s support article for Voice Access on Windows 11
🛠️ Read & Write Extension (Chrome)
The Read & Write extension for Google Chrome offers comprehensive accessibility features such as text-to-speech, word prediction, and tools for Google Docs and web content. To install this extension:
- Visit the Read & Write extension page
- Install the extension
When you are in a Google Doc or on a compatible website, you'll be able to use the Read & Write extension's text-to-speech feature to read aloud page content. This tool is useful for students and faculty who need additional reading and writing support while using Chrome.
📚 Library Resources
Riverdale’s library resources include tools for research, note-taking, and citation management that can assist in academic work:
- Library Resources – Access various databases and materials.
- Padlet Resources – Use Padlet for organizing and sharing ideas visually.
- Access Canva – Create presentations, posters, and other visual content.
- Access NoodleTools – An excellent resource for managing citations and creating notecards for research projects.
💡 Additional Support
For help with accessibility tools or library resources, reach out to the Tech department or the Library. They can provide tips and tricks on using these tools effectively for your work at Riverdale!