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Student Accessibility Tools

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Joshua Hamblin
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A resource guide for the accessibility tools that students can utilize

This guide contains information and support documents regarding embedded accessibility tools all teachers and students have access to that can be used across digital platforms.


Please Note: Some linked resources are hosted on IUSD’s Support Center. To access staff help guides and tutorials, please sign in with your IUSD account. You can sign into the Support Center by clicking the “Sign In” option toward the upper right-hand side of the screen.

 

What are Accessibility Tools?

Digital accessibility tools refer to a range of technology with built-in customizable features that have been designed with the needs of many different users in mind. Computers and mobile technologies have accessibility features built-in so the technology can be used without additional software or hardware. 

 

This guide is designed to provide guidance and resources for utilizing accessibility tools in a general sense. For students with IEPs, 504 plans, and other specific needs, please refer to your Ed Specialist on-site.

Best Practices for Using Accessibility Tools with Students
  • Consider the task the student is asked to do and what the challenge might be to best pair with a tool or strategy.
  • Partner with other educators who share the same students to streamline the accessibility tools students are being asked to use.
  • Avoid Googling all of the different tools that are out there. Some might need paid licenses, while others might not within the particular context of IUSD. Refer to the recommended products listed in this document first, then refer to the Vetting Digital Resources Guide for the potential use of additional programs. 

Embedded Chromebook Accessibility Tool Overview and Details

Support Documents are available on support.iusd.org under "Assistive Technology"

I need a tool to Read Text: Chromebook Select-to-Speak



Support Document

What Does It Do?

Allows the user to hear parts of a page, including specific words, read aloud

How to Access 

Step 1: Turn on Select-to-speak

  1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time, or press Alt + Shift + s
  2. Select settings > Accessibility
  3. Under “Text-to-Speech,” turn on Select-to-speak

Step 2: Select & hear text

Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key   or the Launcher key as a shortcut. 

Option 1

  1. Press and hold the Search key
  2. Drag the pointer over an area of text

Option 2

  1. Highlight the text to be read
  2. Press the Search key + s

Option 3

  1. At the bottom right, select the Select-to-speak icon
  2. Drag the pointer over an area of text

To stop Select-to-speak while it’s reading, press Ctrl or the Search key . You can also select stop from the controls.

Tip: Learn how to change the language, voice, and volume for text read aloud

I need a tool to Provide Closed Captioning: Chromebook Live Captions



Support Document

What Does It Do?

Live Captions automatically creates real-time captions for any audio or video played on the Chrome browser.

How to Access 

  1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time, or press Alt + Shift + s
  2. Select Settings > Accessibility
  3. Under “Audio and captions,” select Captions

Turn on Live Caption

I need a tool to Type with my Voice: Chromebook Dictation


Support Document

What Does It Do?

Dictation allows you to speak to enter text in most places you can type.

How to Access 

  1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time, or press Alt + Shift + s
  2. Select Settings > Accessibility
  3. Under “Keyboard and text input”, turn on Dictation
  4. Tap or select where you want to type
  5. Select Speak
You can also press Search + d or press Launcher + d

 

District Approved Non-Embedded Tools

Overview

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following list provides additional, non-embedded tools used to address various areas of need. Non-embedded resources are not integrated into the computer’s operating system and require visiting a website to install or downloading an application to a user's profile on Chrome.  

Please note: The tools listed below are whitelisted for current staff and student use and installation. Many additional tools for similar purposes exist, however, they may not have been vetted for quality, require a data privacy agreement with the company, and/or paid licensing.  It is highly recommended that teachers start from the whitelisted tools first before looking for additional tools.

Area to

Support






 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Text
  • Read&Write for Google Chrome - Free Text Reading Feature
    • This support resource is a YouTube video from outside of IUSD that walks users through using Read&Write generally, as well as the text reading feature.

Translating Text

Digital Library
  • Sora by Overdrive (K-12)*
    • Students have access to a rich collection of digital books in Sora by OverDrive. Stuents have access to Irvine's 24/7 library and to connect to OC Public Libraries' Sora without a library card. 
  • MackinVIA (K-12)*
    • MackinVia is a platform that includes eBooks and the ComicsPlus database of graphic novels, an exciting collection of non-fiction and fiction titles in graphic format.

Typing/Annotating PDF Documents
  • Kami - Free to add text and drawings 
    • This support resource is linked to IUSD’s Assistive Technology site.

Spelling, Editing, & Efficiency
  • Grammarly 
    • This support resource is linked to IUSD’s Assistive Technology site.

Executive Functioning - 

Tools to Support Planning & Organization

 

 

*Staff and/or student accounts managed by IT

 

This document was created for Irvine Unified School District by the Information Technology Department.

If you have any questions, submit a new ticket or email us at helpdesk@iusd.org. 

 

 

 

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