Read&Write
Use as a browser extension or desktop application. Read webpages and Google docs aloud, highlight them, export highlights into Google docs, and create a reading ruler for focused reading. Available to all students, faculty, and staff.
Assistive Technology
Why Assistive Technology?
For students with disabilities, assistive technology creates more equitable learning experiences and social environments. At Macalester, we also offer many of our assistive technology tools to students, faculty, and staff without official accommodations, to support learning, teaching, and research.
A Few Key Terms
- Assistive Technology
- any tool “that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of [individuals] with disabilities” (Disabilities Education Act of 1990, Public Law 101-476).
- Text-to-Speech Software
- a type of assistive technology that uses a synthesized voice to read digital text out loud
- designed to read the content of documents and webpages
- users typically navigate using their cursor
- Screen Reader
- a type of assistive technology that converts digital text, buttons, images, and other elements into synthesized speech or braille
- unlike text-to-speech software, screen readers can perceive everything on a computer screen; they can move into and out of windows and among tabs or windows
- users typically navigate among elements using a keyboard
Assistive Technology Software
Tools for Reading Text Aloud
Kurzweil3000
Access through a web browser. Read PDFs aloud, highlight them, and export highlights to create study guides. Import books from Bookshare to read aloud and annotate. Available to all students, staff, and faculty.
OrbitNote
Use as a browser extension or desktop application. Read PDFs aloud, highlight them, and create a reading ruler for focused reading. Available to all students, faculty, and staff.
Tools for Notetaking Support, Live Captioning, and Transcription
Genio
Use through your web browser, as a browser extension, or as a phone/tablet app. Create, annotate, and transcribe recordings. Take quizzes based on transcripts. Get real-time auto-captioning for in-person events. Available for students with official accommodations or interview-based coursework.
Zoom
Turn on auto-captions in Zoom meetings for real-time captioning. Record meetings and download meeting transcripts. Use the AI assistant to make notes from Zoom meetings. Available to all students, staff, and faculty.
STEM Tools
Equatio
Use as a browser extension or desktop app. Read equations out loud, create digital equations, digitize handwritten equations, and use built-in features like a graphing calculator, periodic table of elements, and molecule visualizer. Available to all students, staff, and faculty.
Document Accessibility Tools
Panorama for Faculty + Staff
Make files accessible before or after uploading to Moodle. Change how Moodle looks (larger text, higher contrast, wider spacing, etc.).
Panorama for Students
Access alternate formats of readings in Moodle. Change how Moodle looks (larger text, higher contrast, wider spacing, etc.).