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Reading & Literacy

The following Free or Low-Cost Assistive Technology programs, software, website, and apps focus on different forms of Reading and Literacy Support.

Reading & Literacy

ABBYY TextGrabber

ABBYY TextGrabber + Translator

Features:

  • Using the camera of your device, capture text and translate it using OCR
  • Easily extract text from books, magazines, newspapers, ads, etc.
  • Use VoiceOver (iPad only) to listen to your document in a text-to-speech format
  • Captured text can be edited and/or copied to another source
  • More Information: ABBYY TextGrabber Website

Cost: Free with in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS; Android


Beeline Reader

Beeline Reader Logo

Features:

  • Monochrome color text reader with Open Dyslexie Font
  • Read PDF files, webpages and convert ebooks to PDF files to be read with this program
  • Monochrome color text helps eyes to track lines of text for easier, faster reading by eliminating “line transition errors.”
  • Various monochrome color schemes for personalized use
  • More Information: Beeline Reader Website

Cost: $4.99 – iOS app; browser extensions free

Compatibility: Browser Extension: Chrome & Firefox; iOS


Bookshare

Bookshare Logo

Features:

  • Largest online library of accessible reading materials for people with print disabilities
  • Accessible books, textbooks, newspapers and magazine are available
  • Individuals with Print Disabilities can sign up for a membership
  • Books available for download can be read on DAISY players, with Screen Readers, Refreshable Braille Displays, and other Assistive Technology Programs
  • More Information: Bookshare Website

Cost: Free FREE for qualified U.S. students and schools, and less than $1 per week for other members

Compatibility: Online Resource


Capti Voice

Capti Narrator Logo
Features:

  • Convert documents and webpages into text-to-speech
  • Upload documents from Dropbox, Google Drive, Clipboard, or Web Browser
  • Listen to document immediately or save it to your playlist for future listening
  • Adjust speech rate along with the choice of built-in voices; additional voices for purchase
  • More Information: Capti Voice

Cost: Free with in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS; Chrome Browser Extension


Cometdocs PDF Converter

Cometdocs PDF Converter Logo

Features:

  • Create and convert PDF documents to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Images, and other formats
  • Use within Google Drive with the converted documents waiting for you there
  • Use the web application, desktop app or app on your iOS device to convert documents too
  • More Information: Cometdocs Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS; Android


Claro PDF Pro

Claro PDF Pro Logo

Features:

  • Listen to your PDFs read aloud using the built in voices on iOS as well as 4 high quality voices
  • Convert images to fully accessible PDF files that can be spoken, searched, copied, or highlighted
  • Change the background color of document and invert the text colors
  • Annotate and mark up your document using highlights, underlines, strike outs, notes, drawing, insert images, audio, video and more
  • More Information: Claro PDF Website

Cost: $9.99

Compatibility: iOS; Android


Claro ScanPen

Claro ScanPen Logo

Features:

  • Listen to printed material on the spot
  • Take a photo of your printed document, select text with your finger, and have it read back to you
  • Compatible with Voiceover
  • Multiple languages
  • More Information: Claro ScanPen Website

Cost: $9.99

Compatibility: iOS; Android


CamScanner

CamScanner Logo

Features:

  • Use your camera phone to scan documents, notes, whiteboards, business cards or any other document
  • Use the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature to convert images to readable text
  • Add annotations to your scanned documents
  • Sync documents across devices
  • More Information: CamScanner Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: iOS; Android


Dolphin EasyReader

Dolphin EasyReader app logo

Features:

  • Reading app with customizable settings for the reader’s preferences
  • The app offers magnification, bookmarks, change in font size and color, and text audio
  • Works with a variety of file formats: HTML, Text files, DAISY files, Word documents, PDFs, and copied text
  • Syncs with Bookshare
  • More information: Dolphin EasyReader

Cost: Free

Compatibility: iOS; Android


Fokus

Fokus Logo

Features:

  • Highlight only the text you want to read while Fokus dims and darkens the rest of your Chrome or Firefox window with an overlay
  • Highlights the paragraph you’re reading with the ability to change the opacity of the background overlay
  • Easy to install extension with the ability to turn the feature on or off
  • More Information: Fokus Chrome Extension

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension and Firefox Add-On


GhostReader

GhostReader Logo

Features:

  • Text-to-Speech app for Mac computers
  • Reads your text aloud with the ability to customize voices and modify the pronunciation of words so it sounds correct when reading
  • Ability to zoom and highlight words
  • Covert text to audio files for on-the-go listening
  • Import text from a variety of formats including Text, Word, HTML, PDF & RTF
  • More Information: GhostReader Website

Cost: $14.99-$19.99

Compatibility: Mac


Go Read

Go Read Logo

Features:

  • Download and listen to your Bookshare books on your Android device
  • Read DAISY and EPUB books with voice navigated and text-to-speech
  • Connects directly to online libraries, and Bookshare for quick download
  • Optimized for visually-impaired readers but usable for anyone
  • More Information: Go Read

Cost: Free.

Compatibility: Android


HelperBird

HelperBird_Logo

Features:

  • Text-to-speech and speech-to-text options
  • Customizable styles & colors, including high contrast
  • Includes features for assistance with color blindness and zoom features
  • Overlay to reduce bright white light
  • Other features: dictionary, Google translate, underlining, ad removal, dyslexia font, notes and more
  • More information: HelperBird Chrome Extension

Cost: Free version and $6.99/month for Pro Plan

Compatibility: Chrome Browser Extension


Immersive Reader

Immersive Reader Logo

Features:

  • Built-in text decoding solutions for students to assist with reading
  • Enhanced dictation, focus mode, immersive reading, font spacing, short lines, parts of speech supports, syllabification, and comprehension mode
  • More Information: Immersive Reader

Cost: Free add-in through Office Suite

Compatibility: Edge Browser, iOS, Windows


Mercury Reader

Mercury Reader Logo

Features:

  • Remove clutter from webpages for easier reading
  • Customize the size of the test, the font, and if it’s a light or dark themed background
  • Send the reading to Kindle for reading on that device
  • More Information: Mercury Reader Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


NaturalReader

Natural Reader Logo

Features:

  • Text-to-Speech software which converts Microsoft Word, Webpages, PDFs, and Email into spoken text
  • Customize reading voice and speed for your readings
  • Floating toolbar to read text in other applications
  • Online Text-to-Speech program with options to input text from various sources on your computer
  • More Information: NaturalReader Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Windows; Mac OS; Online Resource; Chrome Extension


NaviDys

Navidys app logo

Features:

  • Adapt and adjust webpages to your own reading preference settings
  • Adjust the font to one of 10 available fonts including Dyslexie font
  • Adjust font size, letter spacing and line spacing of the webpage you’re reading
  • More Information: NaviDys Website

Cost: $5.99

Compatibility: iOS and Mac


Open Library

Open Library Logo

Features: 

  • A collection of ebooks
  • Browse by subject, book title, or author
  • Ability to create an account
  • More Information: Open Library Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Online Resource


Pro Scanner > Prizmo 5

Prizmo Logo

Features:

  • Take a picture and have immediate conversion into text with this OCR program for text-to-speech
  • Ability to change the voice and interactive reading display with words highlighted as they are read
  • 10 different languages built in with over 30 addition for download
  • Ability to edit the OCR results to correct spelling errors or reorder text
  • More Information: Prizmo Website

Cost: Free and in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS


Read Mode

Read Mode Logo

Features: 

  • Remove distractions from reading on the internet with this app
  • Click the Chrome Extension for clean reading with black text on white background
  • Ads and flash animations removed by the click of a button
  • More Information: Read Mode Chrome Extension

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


ReadMe!

ReadMe! Logo

Features:

  • Read PDF and ePUB files on your tablet when you upload them to your bookshelf
  • Spritz Reader is integrated into it – a tool for speed reading showing one word at a time to the reader
  • Beeline Reader – polychromatic text color reader integrated into pay option of app
  • More Information: ReadMe! Website

Cost: Free and in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS; Android


Rewordify

Rewordify Logo

Features:

  • Rewordify replaces higher-level vocabulary with words that are
  • easier to understand
  • Help build understanding within readings and builds vocabulary
  • Difficult words are replaced and highlighted
  • Click on the words that were replaced to see the original word in
  • the text
  • More Information: Rewordify Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Online Resource


Select and Speak- Text to Speech

Select and Speak app logo

Features:

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


Speechify

Speechify Logo

Features:

  • Have text read out to you in natural-sounding human voices using AI technologies.
  • Upload documents into the application
  • Have your text read in a variety of languages
  • More Information: Speechify Website

Cost: Free and in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS; Android; Online Resource


Spreeder App

Spreeder Logo
Features:

  • Free online web application to help you read faster
  • Copy and paste text from any source into the online application and spreed!
  • Words will flash at a words per minute rate as you read along and increase your reading speed
  • Ability to adjust words per minute speed, chunk size/number of words flashed, background color and more
  • More Information: Spreeder Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Online resource


Spritz

spritz Logo

Features:

  • Test your reading speed using Spritz to find your optimum reading speed to use in partnership with Readsy
  • Increase or decrease the test reading speed to find your balance of speed and comprehension
  • Spritz custom interface called the Spritzlet, adjusts word position and red letter placement for increased focus, attention and comprehension
  • Various website and apps have the Spritz Spritzlet embedded in it
  • More Information: Spritz Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: iOS; Android


SwiftRead

Swiftread app logo

Features:

  • Train yourself to increase your reading speed with SwiftRead
  • Assists with focus, visual tracking, and reading at a faster pace
  • Speed read online text
  • More Information: SwiftRead Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Chrome Extension


Text2Speech

Text2Speech.org Logo

Features:

  • Enter text from any source and have it read out loud by this online resource
  • Ability to download file to an mp3 file
  • Customize voice and speed
  • 4000 character limit to text read
  • More Information: Text2Speech Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: Online Resource


vBookz PDF Voice Reader

VBookz PDF Reader Logo

Features: 

  • Read PDF files with this app
  • Interactive cursor allows readers to follow along with text
  • Use annotation tools such as highlighting, text, notes, and bookmarks to help support your reading
  • Read books in text mode with the option for Dyslexie Font
  • Import PDFs using email, Dropbox, or through iTunes
  • More Information: vBookz Website

Cost: Free and in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS


Voice Dream Reader

Voice Dream Reader Logo

Features:

  • Text-to-speech app to read books with the ability to customize your screen for preferred reading options
  • Read by listening to the text, visually or both at the same time
  • Supports PDF, Word Docs, EPUB, DAISY, eBooks, Web pages and more with the ability to integrate your Bookshare books or books in Dropbox, Evernote, Pocket, Gutenberg and more
  • Includes multiple language options along with various fonts, including Open Dyslexic font, and voices, including the option to purchase additional voices
  • Highlight information in the reading and export it to other programs and apps
  • More Information: Voice Dream Reader Website

Cost: $19.99 iOS; $9.99 Android

Compatibility: iOS; Android (Legere Reader)


Voice Dream Scanner

Voice Dream Scanner App logo

Features:

  • Optical character recognition scanner app
  • Once a document is scanned, in-app text-to-speech is available with adjustable settings
  • Exports documents into a PDF or plain text format that works with other apps such as Voice Dream Reader
  • More Information: Voice Dream Scanner Website

Cost: $9.99

Compatibility: iOS


Yuzu eReader

Yuzu eReader app logo

Features:

  • Read your textbooks on the go – anywhere
  • Annotate your readings with highlights, sticky notes, and flags in your textbooks
  • Filter your notes and highlights onto one screen
  • More Information: Yuzu Website

Cost: Free

Compatibility: iOS; Android


Download a printable copy with live links of the list of Free and Low-Cost Assistive Technology for Reading & Literacy Support, please click on the following link: Reading & Literacy Support AT

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