As a dyslexic high school student my iPad, with a number of assistive apps, has become a very valuable tool. With my iPad I can read and fill out a PDF using text-to-speech, read a book with Voice Dream Reader, or map out my ideas with Inspiration Maps. The iPad mini is a perfect size for my needs allowing me to read sitting up, or reclining comfortably while listening to a book. Before I got the iPad I would either be tied to a computer to read using text-to-speech, or reading on the tiny screen of my iPhone. Here's a list of my favorite iPad apps and how I use them to help me both in and out of the classroom.
Voice Dream Reader is a text-to-speech reading app that allows users to read a wide variety of files through the app. The app includes the ability to buy very high quality text-to-speech voices for use with the app. Voice Dream Reader allows you to highlight important parts of a passage as you read along.. One of my favorite features is the ability to download and read Bookshare books from within the app. Currently Voice Dream Reader does not support Bookshare books with images, but hopefully will add that feature in the near future. In all Voice Dream Reader is a must have for anyone who prefers reading with text-to-speech.
Click here to read a full review of Voice Dream Reader.
Read2Go is another app for reading Bookshare books. Bookshare provides accessible digital books to members. Using Read2Go users to keep their books at their finger tips all the time. The app has a choice of two text-to-speech voices. While Read2Go does not have as many features as Voice Dream Reader the support it has for books with images is a plus.
Click here to read more about Read2Go.
The free Learning Ally Audio app allows Learning Ally members to download and listen to their audio books on the go. The app has useful features such as bookmarking and playback is easy to control and customize. Learning Ally is starting to add digital text to some of their books so users can follow along with the text while listening to the human narrated audio book.
Click here for more information about Learning Ally Audio app.
Click read more below to learn about many more great apps.
PDF Expert 5 is a new addition to my iPad home screen. The app includes polished annotation, editing, and management with easy to use built in text-to-speech. Using the app I am able to read a PDF worksheet with text-to-speech and complete the worksheet with the annotation features. PDF Expert can also connect to your Google Drive or Dropbox for easy upload and download.
Click here for a complete look at PDF Expert 5 from Readdle.
Inspiration Maps is a mind mapping app perfect for pre-writing and getting your ideas out onto paper. Inspiration Maps makes it easy to make great looking webs and outlines on the go. I like using Inspiration Maps to get my ideas flowing when I have to write about a difficult topic. Inspiration Maps also has a more kid friendly version called Kidspiration Maps.
Click here to learn more about Inspiration Maps.
Prizmo is one of my all time favorite apps. With Prizmo you can take a picture of text in a document and Prizmo will recognize the text using optical character recognition (OCR) then the app can read the text back to you using text-to-speech. Prizmo also is a great scanner allowing you to snap a picture of a document and save or share it as a PDF.
Click here if you want to learn more about Prizmo.
Apple's iWork suit is the Apple equivalent of Microsoft Office for the iPad. While Microsoft Office has more features iWork has everything you need to complete basic tasks. These apps allow you to use your iPad for productivity and adds a lot of functionality to your device.
Podcasts is an app for managing and listening to Podcasts. Podcasts are audio or video shows from a number of provides. Podcasts can be put out by well known news organizations such as NPR, New York Times, ABC News, CNN, and many other lesser know sources. As an auditory learner I enjoy listening to Podcasts to learn more about topics that interest me.
Click here for more information about Podcasts.
iTunes U is another Apple app that allows you to explore and follow classes from various institutions that interest you. You can follow a history class at Yale or a computer science class an Stanford. Once you subscribe to a course you can view videos of the lectures, PDFs of the slide shows, and other course material. iTunes U is an easy way to learn new things from home on the iPad.
Click here for more on the iTunes U app.
iBooks is reading app from Apple. The app is somewhat sparse in terms of accessibility features so I tend to use it sparingly. Unfortunately, iBooks is difficult to use for people who prefer text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting. Speak Selection allows iBooks users to read one page at a time with text-to-speech and synchronized highlighting, but users must highlight each page manually in order to have Speak Selection read it. VoiceOver is another option for text-to-speech within iBooks, but it does not include the synchronized highlighting that is helpful to many with dyslexia.
Apple Reminders - Included
Reminders is an app that comes included with the iPad. It is a simple way to keep track of my homework assignments and other tasks. With Reminders I can enter a homework assignment on my iPhone and it appears on my computer and iPad as well.
Quizlet is a website where users can create, share, and study flashcards. Users can make a study set on the internet and then study them on a computer or using the free Quizlet iOS app. Teachers can also make a study sets for their classes. Quizlet also offers pre-made flashcard sets for popular vocabulary books, SAT vocabulary, and more. Flashcards can also include images to aid in studying. Once the study set is open you can view the terms in list mode or in flashcard mode. Quizlet includes text-to-speech allowing users to hear the content of their flashcards. The text-to-speech helps me learn my vocabulary words more quickly and also helps me pronounce the words correctly.
WolframAlpha is a powerful reference services that can answer complex queries as well as provide useful graphs and visuals. I like using WolframAlpha to double check my math calculations and to research interesting topics. You can also use WolframAlpha from a web browser by visiting WolframAlpha.com.
Click here for more information about WolframAlpha.
The Livescribe+ app is the brains of the Livescribe 3 smartpen. The pen sends your notes to the app over Bluetooth and then processes the handwriting and turns it into digital text. The app makes it easy to review notes in a page view or list view. Because the app turns handwriting into digital text, it is simple and fast to search through your notebook. You can search by keyword and easily find all associated notes. Once your handwriting has been converted to digital text you can use the built in iOS Speak Selection feature to have your note read aloud with text-to-speech.
Click here to learn all about the Livescribe 3 Smartpen.
Kurzweil 3000-firefly - Free
Kurzweil 3000-firefly - Free
Kurzweil 3000-firefly is a app that allows you to view and read Kurzweil documents that you store online. The app is free for users that have a Kurzweil 3000-firefly licence. Users can save a Kurzweil document to firefly from their computers and then view and read the document using text-to-speech. The service is helpful for people that use Kurzweil frequently and want to read documents while on the go. Firefly can also make sharing Kurzweil documents to multiple people much easier.
Click here to read more about Kurzweil 3000-firefly.
Very nicely articulated. Thanks for taking the time to write this useful post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I really like the attached youtube videos as it's great to see a demo of what the app actually looks like and the function it has. You mentioned in the post that you use an external keyboard for your iPad. Can I ask what model? I've been looking for one myself recently...
ReplyDeleteI am using the iPad mini 2 in this video. It's a great device and very portable. Perfect for students who will be bringing in to classes everyday!
DeleteGreat post! I really like the youtube videos attached to your posts as they give a better overview of the products you're reviewing. You mentioned that you use an external keyboard for you iPad. May I ask what model?, I've been looking for one myself recently...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the question. I use the Macally Lightning Wired Keyboard. It's a wired keyboard that plugs directly into the iPad via the lightning port. It's a good keyboard but a Bluetooth keyboard might be better for most. Hope this helps.
DeleteBrilliant well done and thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good info. However, does anyone know of any good assistive technology for younger, struggling readers? How can we keep them motivated and engaged while they're working harder than others who learn reading so much easier and faster? I'm not that technology savvy, so any help would be appreciated! I'm a tutor of struggling (most as yet to be diagnosed or in process of being diagnosed as dyslexic) K, 1st, and 2nd graders. Thanks in advance for any help with anything I could use myself, or recommend to parents.
ReplyDeleteThe Reading Rainbow app is great for struggling readers. It reads aloud to them, highlights as it reads, and has additional video to expand beyond the book. It is 29.99 for a 6 month subscription but WORTH EVERY PENNY!!
DeleteMy 10 year-old son thanks you deeply.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of the new Voice Dream writer app and noteability? We are just starting our high schooler on IPAD for her technology and those were some suggested. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks for the question.
DeleteVoice Dream Writer will be better from writing essays. It has a lot of tools like voice feedback, homophone checker, and the ability to look up words by meaning that are really helpful for writing.
Notability is better suited for handwritten notes that do not require perfect spelling and grammar. Also with Notability you lose the ability to read back your writing with text-to-speech if you choose to hand write your notes.
Hope this helps answer your question and please let me know if you have any other questions.