Reading

The use of color contrast overlays may increase the legibility of a paper document, allowing the reader to more easily discern either printed images or words

Individuals with reading deficits may have difficulty reading manuals, outlines, or maps due to the complicated structure of the material and the size/type of font used in lettering. Color-coding this material can be helpful to people with learning disabilities. This accommodation improves efficiency, provides easy access to information, increases productivity, and makes information finding a simpler task. Ways to color-code include: highlighting, using a copy machine to copy information on to colored paper, using post-it notes and colored tabs.

Products and services to improve literacy skills.

Provide materials that are type-written, in a font that is not italicized; if handwritten material must be provided, use print, not cursive.  Double spaced text, as well as larger print may also be effective.

Software or a physical attachment onto a computer screen that helps the user measure items on the screen.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology allows people with a vision impairment to scan printed text and receive a synthetic speech output or save it to a computer. Currently, OCR technology cannot convert handwriting to voice output.Optical Character Recognition (OCR) has three factors: scanning, recognition, and reading text. First a camera scans the printed document. Next, OCR software converts the image into recognizable characters/words. Then the user can store the information in electronic form to a computer or the OCR system itself.

A portable handheld reader combines a digital camera, optical character recognition software, and text-to-speech technology. The reader takes a picture of printed text on paper---such as a memo, receipt, or restaurant menu. The text is then converted to speech. This means that the device uses a synthesized voice to speak the information. The reader includes a headphone jack for privacy.

A reader is someone who can read out loud from hardcopy material or from a computer screen for an employee who is unable to read because of a disability. There are no national standards or accreditation for a reader, but the reader must be qualified to read at the required level. A reader does not interpret the information, but may need specialized knowledge, for example to pronounce technical words correctly so the employee with the disability can understand the information.  A reader is often used for testing situations when a job applicant cannot read the test. Because they help with work-related functions, it is typically the employer’s responsibility to hire and pay for readers.

Products include voice output (screen reading capabilities) and other tools to enhance the reading for individuals with reading difficulties. Other features may include: screen highlighting, study skills, test taking, and Internet tools.

The Reading Pen is a portable device that has the ability to scan a word or a line of text. It then repeats the word out loud and displays the definition of the word. The Reading Pen is designed to accommodate people with reading difficulties such as dyslexia.

The following products include screen magnification and screen reading in one software product.

Screen Magnification Software can be installed on a PC to magnify both the text and graphics on the computer screen. Features may include: Magnification from two up to 32 times normal size; reverse color contrast; cursor enhancement; auto tracking; option for screen reading capabilities; and automatic scanning of text documents.

Screen Reading Software can be installed on a computer to allow text to be converted into computer synthesized speech. With this software, the computer basically reads aloud the text that appears on the screen. The hardware that provides the actual "voice output" is a speech synthesizer. This can be an internal sound card or an external speech synthesizer device. The screen reading software “tells” the speech synthesizer what to say.

Read text by scanning print material into a computer using optical character recognition. Features include voice output, hightlighting of text.

People with reading limitations may have difficulty transferring information from one medium to another. Problems can occur when hand-copying written information from another source, when reading charts or lists, or when taking notes on information that is provided verbally. Using a word processor may help organize ideas, use correct spelling or grammar, compare lists, create documents, make signs, or otherwise communicate through written words.