by Kindy Segovia
Assistive Technology Coordinator at Kent ISD, Grand Rapids, MI
When was the last time you or your students took a look at built-in accessibility settings for your Chromebooks? Google regularly updates these features, and they are available to ALL students to enhance the digital experience, not just those with disabilities.
One notable feature, the built-in text-to-speech, is worth exploring – it’s simple to use, no extensions necessary.
Select to Speak is activated through the Accessibility Settings. Then all you need to do is hold down the “Search” key (magnifying glass) and draw a box around the text you wish to hear.
Learn the 3 quick ways to access it in this video: Select to Speak for Chromebooks at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofs4AiyUF0w
Explore all of the other accessibility features below:
Use the Chromebook Accessibility tools for access to:
- display and appearance
- screen magnifier
- voice dictation
- on-screen keyboard
- switch-access
- using a Braille device
Kindy Segovia, OTR, is currently the Assistive Technology Coordinator at Kent Intermediate School District, Grand Rapids, Mich. She has worked as an occupational therapist in both schools and pediatric rehabilitation for over 25 years. She has provided educational training for teachers, parents and administrators over the past 15 years with a focus on adapting curriculum, classroom accommodations, and integrating technology into instruction. She is also an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University. Find out more from Kindy at kindysegovia.com.