Text-to-Speech as an Accommodation – An Essential Tool for Many Learners

Approximately 10 to 15 per cent of post-secondary learners live with a visible or invisible disability. Many learners with disabilities have functional limitations impacting reading and require text-to-speech as an accommodation. This may or may not be specified on the Accommodation Letter as an accommodation.

Below you will find more useful information as an introduction to text-to-speech:

  • In addition to being a convenient tool built into our phones, tablets and computers and more, text-to-speech tools are essential to learners experiencing disability-related functional limitations in areas such as reading comprehension, processing speed, decoding and attention.  
  • Learners who are unfamiliar with text-to-speech options, may be referred by an Accessibility Consultant to meet with an Accessible Learning Advisor to receive training based on the functional limitations.  
  • Text-to-speech support is available in devices and software you use every day. Please check out the links below to learn more about how to access text-to-speech: 

Have you ever heard a learner refer to the use of Read and Write software? Learners can access it for free.

In addition to built-in tools, all Humber and Guelph-Humber students and staff can access Read and Write software free of charge. This tool can be installed on Windows and Mac computers or used as an extension in Chrome or Edge web browsers. Please view the instructions below for how to install this software/extension: 

For more information on these and other assistive technology tools, please see this link for our Assistive Technology Resource Booklet.

Visit our ALS Information for Faculty website to learn more about accommodating learners with disabilities.