ARCHIVED: Resources for assistive technology tools at IU

For up-to-date information, see Resources for assistive technology tools at IU.

• Overview
• Engage eReader
• Ally alternative formats
• Microsoft Editor
• Microsoft OneNote
• Microsoft Immersive Reader
• Microsoft 365 Dictation
• Voice Control (macOS, iOS, and iPadOS)
• Voice Access (Windows)
• Assistive technology training and support

Overview

Below is a list of tools freely available at IU that can help students, faculty, and staff with reading, writing, note taking, annotating, and work on computers, tablets, and smart devices.

Engage eReader

IU uses the Engage eReader to deliver eText to students in Canvas. Engage provides tools for adjusting the appearance of text, adding bookmarks, accessing text-to-speech, and creating annotations. For more about Engage eReader tools, see Engage Tutorials: The Student Guide to IU eTexts.

• Documentation:
  • Getting Started (RedShelf Solve)
  • Using Your eBook (RedShelf Solve)
  • IU eTexts (and Engage) help and resources for students (IU Knowledge Base)
• Tutorials:
  • RedShelf eReader: Features Overview (YouTube)

Ally alternative formats

Ally's alternative formats feature lets students access course materials in a variety of formats, such as Microsoft Word, ePub, and MP3 audio. Instructors can easily generate alternative formats by ensuring their original files are designed for accessibility. Ally's alternative formats can benefit all learners, regardless of their learning styles, abilities, and preferences.

• Documentation:
  • Instructor help for Ally alternative formats (Blackboard)
  • Guide to alternative formats in Anthology Ally (City University of London)
• Tutorials:
  • Ally for Instructure Canvas (YouTube)

Microsoft Editor

Microsoft Editor, an AI-powered service, offers features such as spellchecking, grammar suggestions, and text prediction in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Edge, and as a browser extension in Chrome. Editor supports more than 20 languages.

• Documentation:
  • Microsoft Editor checks grammar and more in documents, mail, and the web (Microsoft Support)
  • Microsoft Editor (Wikipedia)
• Tutorials:
  • Proof your document with Editor (LinkedIn Learning)
  • Microsoft Editor: Online Courses, Training and Tutorials (LinkedIn)

Microsoft OneNote

OneNote serves as a digital notebook, providing a space for storing your notes, research, and information. Each notebook is organized into sections that contain pages where you can add text, images, drawings, screen clippings, audio, and video. OneNote can enhance students' note-taking experience in class by letting them link notes to PowerPoint slides and sync audio with their notes. Notebooks are stored in the cloud, allowing easy access from mobile devices.

• Documentation:
  • OneNote help & learning (Microsoft Support)
  • Microsoft 365 Quick Starts (Microsoft Support)
  • Microsoft 365 for Mac Quick Starts (Microsoft Support)
• Tutorials:
  • OneNote: Online Courses, Training and Tutorials on LinkedIn Learning (LinkedIn)
  • OneNote Video Training (Microsoft Support)
  • Microsoft 365 (YouTube)

Microsoft Immersive Reader

Microsoft Immersive Reader is a tool that enhances reading and writing experiences by allowing users to customize the appearance of Word documents. It provides options for adjusting column widths, changing page color, focusing on specific lines, altering text spacing, breaking down syllables, and reading text aloud.

• Documentation:
  • Use Immersive Reader in Word desktop (Microsoft Support)
  • Use Immersive Reader in Word (Microsoft Support)
• Tutorials:
  • Introduction to Immersive Reader (Microsoft Learn)
  • Immersive Reader (Ally Anthology)
  • Ally Immersive Reader (Ally Anthology - YouTube)
  • Immersive Reader: Online Courses, Training and Tutorials (LinkedIn)

Microsoft 365 Dictation

Microsoft 365 Dictation is an add-in that converts speech into text within Word, Outlook, OneNote, and PowerPoint. It is especially beneficial for anyone who needs help expressing their ideas effectively.

• Documentation:
  • Dictate your documents in Word (Microsoft Support)
  • Dictate in Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Support)
• Tutorials:
  • Use a screen reader to dictate in Microsoft Word (Microsoft Support)
  • Get Productive with Microsoft Word (YouTube)

Voice Control (macOS, iOS and iPadOS)

Voice Control is an integrated speech-to-text software in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS that lets you use your voice to interact with your device. It can type and edit text, launch applications, and navigate the web, all in response to your spoken commands.

• Documentation:
  • Use Voice Control on your Mac (Apple Support)
  • Use Voice Control on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch (Apple Support)
• Tutorials:
  • Using Voice Control and other accessibility features (LinkedIn Learning)
  • How to use Voice Control on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (Apple Support - YouTube)
  • How to use dictation and edit text with Voice Control on your iPhone (Apple Support - YouTube)

Voice Access (Windows)

Voice Access is speech-to-text software built into Windows 11 that lets you use your voice to interact with your device. It can type and edit text, launch applications, and navigate the web, all in response to your spoken commands.

• Documentation:
  • Set up Voice Access (Microsoft Support)
  • Get started with voice access (Microsoft Support)
  • Voice access command list (Microsoft Support)
• Tutorials:
  • New Voice Access tool (LinkedIn Learning)

Assistive technology training and support

To request workplace or classroom accommodations, contact the designated accommodations office on your campus. For more, see Requesting accommodations.