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Assistive Technology
AccessibleNU makes more broadly used assistive technology tools, such as Read&Write, Snap&Read, and SensusAccess available to the entire campus community via site licenses. When more specialized assistive technology is required as an accommodation, AccessibleNU provides access to registered students.
Please contact AccessibleNU to schedule an appointment with Jim Stachowiak if you have further questions.
Examples of software and equipment
- Text-to-speech software (Read&Write, OrbitNote)
- Note taking tools (Echo Smartpen, Glean)
- Speech-to-text software (Built-in tools, Google Voice Typing, Dragon Naturally Speaking)
- Screen-enlarging software (ZoomText)
- Screen-reading software (Jaws)
- Accessible textbooks
- FM assistive hearing devices
- Braille translation software and embossers
- CART and other captioning
This is not an exhaustive list and AccessibleNU will work to obtain needed technology that would not be considered a personal device.
Texthelp's Read&Write for Education
Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ has purchased a site license of Texthelp's Read&Write for Education tools. Anyone with a Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ NetID can access to use these tools. These tools allow students to have digital text (Word, HTML, PDF, ePUB) read aloud while offering various annotation support to improve the learning experience across platforms. Here are the tools available through Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ's license:
OrbitNote
Texthelp's OrbitNote is a cloud-based PDF reader accessed via your browser. This powerful study tool allows students to:
- Listen to text in a PDF
- Highlight text in a PDF and move it into another document for note taking purposes
- Annotate a PDF via highlights, underlines, text, notes, etc.
- Click "Start Using OrbitNote" or "Open OrbitNote" (most common) to use the web application or Install OrbitNote to Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge
- When prompted to sign in, choose the appropriate method (Google = Students, Microsoft = Faculty and Staff) and enter your Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ email and password.
OrbitNote Help
OrbitNote is easy to begin using. The Texthelp Academy provides a and its features to help students maximize it's effectiveness.
Note: OrbitNote can only read text-based PDFs. Should OrbitNote not be able to read your document, try converting it with SensusAccess first.
Read&Write Desktop
The Read&Write desktop software reads text aloud within text editors, PDFs, and online. This software is a toolbar that sits on top of the screen and works within other software programs on the computer. Read&Write Desktop is helpful if you are wanting to use the tool within several different types of documents. If you are primarily reading PDFs, OrbitNote offers a smoother interface. To obtain Read&Write, complete the following steps:
- .
- Follow the prompts to load it on your computer
- When prompted to sign in, choose the appropriate method (Google = Students, Microsoft = Faculty and Staff) and enter your Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ email and password. Once you've signed in with your Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ credentials you have access via our site license
Read&Write for Google Chrome
Read&Write for Google Chrome is a Chrome extension toolbar that provides text reading and learning support tools within the Chrome browser. This is most helpful on Canvas, Google Docs, and websites.
To obtain Read&Write for Google Chrome, complete the following steps:
- .
- Follow the prompts to load the extension into your Chrome browser
- When prompted to sign in, choose the appropriate method (Google = Students, Microsoft = Faculty and Staff) and enter your Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ email and password. Once you've signed in with your Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ credentials you have access via our site license
Read&Write Desktop and Chrome Help
Visit the Texthelp Academy for .
also offers courses on specific aspects of the Read&Write tools for those wanting more in depth training.
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact Jim Stachowiak at james.stachowiak@northwestern.edu or 847-491-2960.