Access & Equity Assistive Technology

ZoomText® is a program which was designed to help low vision and blind people use computers. The Baker Center's current version of ZoomText® is an advanced screen magnification program which makes all Windows applications, documents, Email, and the internet accessible to visually impaired students. In the Baker Center, whenever possible, we use ZoomText in combination with a large monitor screen. Whether typing a paper, reading an online course or filling out financial aid forms, this program will make things easier for the low vision or blind individual.

NVDA is a free, open source Windows-based screen reader used by people who are blind. It is able to read Windows screens and apps including Firefox, Google Chrome, email clients, internet chat software, music players, and office programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel. It also works with refreshable Braille devices and screen including Windows logon.

If you'd like to learn more information, go directly to the NVDA website.

The Livescribe Smart Pen is a both a digital recorder and writing tool in an all-in-one device. The Smart Pen allows you to record class lectures and take handwritten notes at the same time! The device will also sync your recordings to your notes, so you will not have to scroll through all of your recordings to find the one you want to listen to. The Smart Pen is especially useful for fast-paced classes as you are able to listen to the lecture and take additional notes after the class has ended!

If you have a need for this auxiliary aid, stop by the Baker Center to check out the LiveScribe Smart Pen and see if it works for you!

Read & Write is a reading, writing and productivity tool that is provided to students by TC3 for literacy help. This software is available on campus desktops and can be downloaded onto a personal computer. Students can use this program to read a PDF or website, turn readings into recordings, dictate ideas for a paper out loud, and turn thoughts into writing that can be read back to listen for errors. This is a great resource for students with writing or mobility disabilities. Students with academic adjustments may use the Baker Center scanning station to scan text books, lecture notes, and other class related materials and then may listen to the scanned materials with Read & Write.

Read&Write is a literacy support tool that offers help with everyday tasks like reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words, researching assignments, and proofing written work.

How to Install Read & Write

For Windows and Mac users

1. Make sure that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installed onto your computer. Read&Write may not work properly without it.
2. Go to https://www.texthelp.com/products/read-and-write-education from the Texthelp website. Click on the “Try Read&Write” button and select “Windows US” or “Mac” from the drop-down menu.
3. A pop-up will appear for installation. Click the “Accept and Install” button.
4. Once the install is complete, you will need to launch it. You can do this by searching for it in the Finder Bar.
5. Once Read & Write launches, it will ask you to log in. Make sure to click “Log in with Microsoft Account” as you will need to use your TC3 log in information.
6. Log in using your own @mymail.tc3.edu email and password.

For the Google Chrome Extension

1. Open Google Chrome and go to https://www.texthelp.com/products/read-and-write-education/for-google-chrome/
2. Click on the “Try Read&Write” button and it will send you to the Chrome Webstore. Select “Add to Chrome.”
3. Select the “Add Extension” button in the pop-up window near the Chrome bar.
4. Click on the Read&Write icon (a purple puzzle piece) in the top right corner of Chrome.
5. Select “Sign in with Microsoft” and use your @mymail.tc3.edu email and password.

Utilizing Read & Write

Reading a PDF

1. Open Read & Write and select “PDF Reader” on the toolbar.
2. Select which PDF you would like to be read.
3. Highlight the section of the text you would like to have read, and the screen reader will start.

Reading Content on the Web

1. Open the webpage you would like to have read aloud.
2. Open Read&Write and select “Screenshot Reader” on the toolbar.
3. With the crosshairs, select the area of the webpage you would like to have read aloud.
4. The Screenshot Reader will start reading from the selected area after it is done processing.

Reading a Word Document or RTF

1. Open both the document and Read&Write
2. On the toolbar, select the “Play” button and it will begin reading the document aloud.
3. To read a specific section of text, highlight the text with your cursor and then press “Play” on the toolbar.

Equatio is an accessible math application and extension (of Read & Write) that allows you to insert, edit, and interact with digital math in Microsoft Word and Google Suite. To have equations read aloud, you will also need to have Read & Write software downloaded. This software can be used by taking an image of a typed or written worksheet, downloading a PDF, or writing the equation into the program itself.

EquatIO is an accessible math application and extension that allows you to insert, edit, and interact with digital math in Microsoft Word and Google Suite.

Note: To have equations read aloud, you will also need to have Read&Write software downloaded.

How to Install EquatIO

For Windows and Mac users

1. Go to EquatIO and click on the “Try EquatIO” button. Select either “Windows” or “Mac” from the drop-down menu.
2. A pop-up will appear for installation. Click the “Accept and Install” button.
3. Once the install is complete, you will need to launch it. You can do this by searching for “EquatIO” in the Finder Bar.
4. After EquatIO launches, it will ask you to log in. Make sure to click “Log in with Microsoft Account” as you will need to use your TC3 log in information.
5. Log in using your own @mymail.tc3.edu email and password.

Downloading the Google Chrome Extension

1. Open Google Chrome Web Store and search for “EquatIO”
2. Select “Add to Chrome.”
3. Select the “Add Extension” button in the pop-up window.
4. Click on the EquatIO icon (a blue diamond) in the top right corner of Chrome.
5. Select “Sign in with Microsoft” and use your @mymail.tc3.edu email and password.

Note: The first time that you use the extension, you will be prompted to allow for permissions in both Google Docs and Google Forms.