As the first trimester comes to a close, I wanted to send out the first installment of "pATh to Access," my new AT newsletter to highlight new tools, creative AT usage, and some tips and tricks. As the year goes on, I'll be looking for classes/students/staff to feature in this newsletter, so if you see something great happening, let me know!
This month, my focus is on one of my favorite tools...
Co:Writer Universal!
First things first, I want to talk specifically about the Co:Writer keyboard for iOS. I've had a couple people ask about how to make it speak more than just a word or a sentence at a time. In the app, there's a speaker button that you can use to read an entire document back to you. Unfortunately, the iOS keyboard does not feature the handy speaker button like the app. However, you haven't lost this function altogether. We just have to take an alternate route.
On your iPad, open Settings, and under General, go into Accessibility.
This month, my focus is on one of my favorite tools...
Co:Writer Universal!
First things first, I want to talk specifically about the Co:Writer keyboard for iOS. I've had a couple people ask about how to make it speak more than just a word or a sentence at a time. In the app, there's a speaker button that you can use to read an entire document back to you. Unfortunately, the iOS keyboard does not feature the handy speaker button like the app. However, you haven't lost this function altogether. We just have to take an alternate route.
On your iPad, open Settings, and under General, go into Accessibility.
In Accessibility, select Speech.
In the Speech menu, turn on Speak Selection. This will give you an extra menu option when you highlight text in a document, website, etc.
Then, when you're back in your document using your Co:Writer Universal keyboard, you can have your iPad read large sections of your writing back to you. Watch the short video below for a quick tutorial!
While we're on the subject of Co:Writer, I wanted to touch on another feature that a 4th grade student discovered for me while I was working with him. I have thought (and it's a concern I've heard from several teachers as well) that one of the biggest limitations to the Co:Writer app is that you can't preview the words in your word bank before selecting them. BUT IT TURNS OUT YOU CAN! When you're in the Co:Writer app or the iOS keyboard, swipe from left to right across the individual words in the bank to hear a preview before selecting them!
Here's a video of this feature on the Co:Writer app. Turn up the volume on your computer...it's pretty quiet!
Here's a video of this feature on the Co:Writer app. Turn up the volume on your computer...it's pretty quiet!
And here's an example of the keyboard in a Google doc.
That's all for this month! Watch out for the next edition! And remember to let me know if you have something you want featured.