iPad Accessibility Options and Apps to Support Reading & Writing

Kelly Key’s Top Picks

AT Coordinator, Barrington 220

Supports for Reading

Enable Text-To-Speech with additional Highlighting Feature

• Settings > General > Accessibility 
• Speak Selection: On  
• Highlight Words: On
• Tap and highlight what you would like read out loud 
• Tap Speak
• Click here for step by step directions 

Prizmo App
This app allows you to take a picture of a document, and it has text-to-speech, highlighting, notes, and more. This app translates and reads out loud, too! You may also send content to another app to read and annotate on it, i.e., use iAnnotate to read, highlight, type, and write. Also get quick access to the dictionary, Wikipedia, Google, etc.  Click here to learn more about Prizmo

Read2Go App
Pull books from bookshare.org and read them out loud. The student will need a Bookshare account (and an IEP or 504 plan). If you have a student that you would like to have access to digital text, please send me their first and last name to set up an account. Click here to learn more about Read2Go and Bookshare

Supports for Writing

Word prediction is built into the iPad keyboard and part of iOS (the iPad's operating system).

Siri Microphone for Speech-to-Text

• Built into the keyboard for text-to-speech. Tap the mic icon and speak text directly into a Google Doc or any other app that allows typing.
• For more tips on how to teach speech recognition skills to your students click here to access the e-book I co-authored.

Alternative Keyboards such as Keeble
This is one of the many options of alternative keyboards you can load for students to use. The Keeble keyboard is designed for users with fine motor challenges, switch users, and users with vision impairments to type in any app. It also has a more sophisticated word prediction capabilities, as well as the ability to customize the look of the keyboard (i.e., color, font, etc). Click here for more information on the Keeble keyboard

Co:writer App

• This is the most sophisticated word prediction application. It recognizes spelling attempts and corrects common spelling errors.
• Includes text-to-speech as you type,
• Adds a topic dictionary option.
• Click here for more information on Co:Writer

Supports for Worksheet Completion

Snap Type Pro

• Very simple app that takes a picture, types (or speaks) answers, and shares.
• Click here for more information on Snap Type Pro

If you would like more options, the student can send their document to:

Type on PDF App

• Complete a worksheet in this app (type, write, use speech to text, circle, highlight, etc), and send to Google Docs.

Additional Options to Consider

Guided Access
This feature allows you to lock a student into an app or hide features within an app. Access the feature by tapping Settings > General > Accessibility. Turn Guided Access On, set a pass code, open the app, triple-press the home button, circle buttons you want to hide, and push start. To end Guided Access, triple-press home, type the passcode, and tap end.

Larger Type
When this is turned on all apps that support this feature will increase the text size.

Additional Resources

• Visit our District AT website www.barrington220.org and sign in. Select Staff > Assistive   Technology > Resources > iDevice. (A new AT Google Site will be available in the Fall!)
• Check out this terrific resource by iCALL iPads for Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning. Click here for the handout titled: iPad Apps for Learners with Dyslexia/ Reading and Writing Difficulties
• Infinitec App Search! Go to http://www.myinfinitec.org/ and click on the App Search tab
• Contact me! Kelly Key kkey@barrington220.org
• Find Free (and low cost) apps on Fridays at www.smartappsforkids  or www.appfriday.com