[Athen] [External] Re: Text to Speech products recommended?

[Wershing, Alice D.]

Hello,
We are using Kurzweil 3000 and Readspeaker TextAid for Brightspace.  Readspeaker Textaid is an add on for Learning Management Systems as for Text to speech.  Both Kurzweil and Textaid have ways to share alternate format book files.  Kurzweil's dictionary is more robust, in that words within a definition can be defined by easily selecting the definition option.  Readspeaker uses a different dictionary look up, so copy and paste is required to define other words.  Kurzweil has writing templates, there now is a folder for Higher Education that offers mindmaps, outlines and a split screen for writing from an outline.

Some students like having Readspeaker within the LMS, because there is no need install software.  Readspeaker is also available to all students and faculty, where our Kurzweil License is used mainly by students registered with Disability Services.  We have offered Kurzweil to other departments, it's a case by case basis.

Before adding Readspeaker,  students would have to download the Word, PowerPoint or PDF files from the LMS and then open them in Kurzweil.  Now the docreader in Readspeaker allows students to listen to the document as well as highlight and extract notes.  Kurzweil also allows for note extraction, and it adds another feature that can extract a word list with definitions.

I show both products as well as how to use Immersive Reader in Office to make sure that students can choose what works best for them.  Some students are trying both products, but again having Readspeaker closely within the LMS makes that a bit easier.  Students who are taking content heavy courses like History, Philosophy, some sciences like having the extract words with definitions within Kurzweil.

Hope this is helpful.
Alice



Schedule a training session <https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/PellissippiStateDisabilityServicesAliceWershing@livepstcc.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/>

Alice D. Wershing, M.Ed., A.T.P., C.P.A.C.C.
Disability Services, Technology Specialist
Pellissippi State Technical Community College
865-694-6751

PSCC Accessible Format Facebook Page<https://m.facebook.com/psccdisabilityservices> (PSCC-Disability Services)

PSCC Access4All Twitter Feed<https://twitter.com/Access4allPSCC> (@Access4allPSCC)


East TN Region Accessibility Specialist<http://www.tnecampus.info/specialists>

Tennessee Board of Regents-TNeCampus

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________________________________
From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Kluesner, Bryon <Bryon-Kluesner at utc.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2022 3:49 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [External] Re: [Athen] Text to Speech products recommended?

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As is Susan, we are a Kurzweil campus, and it is easily managed. When we renew for 2 years, we get a decent discount.



Bryon



Bryon Kluesner RhD, ATAC



Adaptive Technology Coordinator

Disability Resource Center

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

615 McCallie Ave., Dept. 2953

Chattanooga, TN 37403

423-425-5251



Please use this link to schedule appointments with me.



https://utcemsa.as.me/DRC-BK-AA60



Supplemental Accommodation - https://utcemsa.as.me/DRC-BK-SAU30



From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Susan Kelmer
Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2022 11:24 AM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Athen] Text to Speech products recommended?



We are a Kurzweil campus and management is pretty easy.  I can add student users, remove student users, view their usage, etc.  It is cheaper than Texthelp.



Natural Reader is good too, but that would be individual licenses, so much tougher to manage.





Susan Kelmer

Alternate Format Production Program Manager

Disability Services

Health and Wellness Services

T 303 735 4836

www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colorado.edu%2Fdisabilityservices&data=05%7C01%7Cbryon-kluesner%40utc.edu%7C5eba434753764e22df6f08daa7af0214%7C515813d9717d45dd9eca9aa19c09d6f9%7C0%7C0%7C638006667345437380%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rHjlneq0pHWu8PycnU0vD5JXpwEDv92JTaADPj5z5F4%3D&reserved=0>





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From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Kevin Price
Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2022 9:02 AM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: [Athen] Text to Speech products recommended?



Hi,

We are reevaluating our Text to Speech solution (highlighting, speech, etc.)  that we support on our campus for those using e-text reading (not screen reading we have JAWS for that).  We are considering our current solution, Read & Write, but also looking into Kurzweil 3000 and Natural Reader.  We are looking towards free software we can give out or software licensing where we can manage the licenses on our end such as Kurzweil 3000.  Any feedback would be appreciated in helping us make a decision on what solution has worked best for your campus.

Thank you,

Kevin

Kevin Price, MSW
Assistant Director of Accessible Technology
Student Accessibility Services
Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement

University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd Ferrell Commons, Room 155B
Orlando, FL 32816-3661

Office: 407.823.2371
kevin.price at ucf.edu<mailto:kevin.price at ucf.edu>
sas.sdes.ucf.edu

Please note: Florida has a very broad open records law (F.S. 119). Emails may be subject to public disclosure.
SAS acknowledges the value of expressing identity-first (disabled person) and person first (person with disability) language in our communication.


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