Digital accessibility: Reading

Erasmus University web pages have the text-to-speech tool ReadSpeaker webReader built in. Use the webReader to listen to the HTML text of web pages and news items.

Select text

A pop-up menu allows you to:

• Select a word and look it up in a dictionary
• Listen to selected phrases and paragraphs
• Translate selected phrases and paragraphs and listen to the translation

Reading tools

• Enlarge Text - the text is displayed at the bottom of the page in large font
• Page Mask - a horizontal bar moves with the lines being read and shades the rest of the screen
• Text Mode - content is shown in plain text mode for distraction free reading
• MP3 Download - download an audio version of content for offline listening
  Important! The Download mp3 feature is disabled on Erasmus University web pages.

Tools and access keys

In the Toolbar you can activate reading tools and choose settings for highlighting, font, font size, colours and more.

Information on how to use the features in ReadSpeaker webReader can be found in the Help tool which can be accessed from the webReader toolbar. The Help tool also contains information on access keys.

To open the toolbar on Erasmus University web pages use the access key:
Chrome    ALT+1
Edge    ALT+1
Mozilla Firefox Shift+ALT+1

The ReadSpeaker webReader reads HTML text in Canvas so it will read all text used in menus, buttons and Canvas pages.

Tools and access keys

Open/Close toolbar
Click on the three horizontal lines to the left of the Listen button.This is the open/close toolbar button.
It works like a toggle switch by alternating between showing or hiding the lower toolbar.

You can also open the toolbar using the access key:
Chrome    ALT+1
Edge    ALT+1
Mozilla Firefox Shift+ALT+1

Reading Language
Open the toolbar then choose the language in which webReader should read the text. Simply select the language you wish to use from the drop-down. Currently you can choose between Dutch or English.

Keyboard access: Modifier + R

Notes

• The Download mp3 feature is enabled in Canvas LMS
• The Click and Listen tool functions like the Read on Hover tool in the ReadSpeaker webReader built into Erasmus University websites
• The Form reading feature is not available

ReadSpeaker video tutorials contain US English closed captions.
To translate the closed captions from US English to Dutch.

1. Click the cog wheel to access the video settings
2. In the video settings menu click Subtitles/CC
3. Select Auto-translate
4. Then select Dutch from the drop-down menu

TextAid is a program specially developed for people with dyslexia. It speech-enables any text making it accessible to all. TextAid works via the Readspeaker Cloud.

Use of TextAid for home study

TextAid also offers the possibility to create an account for home study. This way you can easily read long texts at home with the help of reading software. If you would like a personal account for home study, send an email to smf@eur.nl.

TextAid for exams

In some cases, the use of TextAid during exams can be assigned to students with dyslexia. Contact the study advisor of your study program to see whether this is a possibility for you.

The ReadSpeaker webReader does not read Word documents, PDFs or the cells in Excel sheets. For these file types you can use the text-to-speech tools built into operating systems, web browsers, PDF readers and Office apps.Here are some ways to have these files read aloud.

First download the file from Canvas LMS to your own device.

Word documents

Immersive Reader

1. Open the file in Word
2. Click the View tab in the ribbon
3. Click the Immersive Reader button
4. Then click the Read Aloud button
5. To close, click the Close Immersive Reader button (marked with an X)

The desktop version of Word makes use of the voice(s) installed on your device n the Language settings
For a greater choice of reading voices sign into to your EUR student O365 account at Office.com and open the document in Word Online.

PDFs

Microsoft Edge

Edge is a chromium browser that has a built-in Read Aloud tool for reading PDFs and web pages.

1. Right-click the PDF file and choose Open with Microsoft Edge
2. Click Read Aloud

Tip: Once activated Read Aloud displays a player and a menu Voice options. In Voice options you can choose a reading voice from a drop-down menu and adjust the reading speed.

Adobe Reader DC / Acrobat Adobe Reader DC

The Adobe reader has a built in Read Out Loud tool that makes use of the voice(s) installed on your device in the Language settings

1. Open the PDF in Adobe Reader DC or Acrobat Adobe Reader DC
2. Click View
3. Then click Read Out Loud

Excel

Dedicon is a Dutch organisation that makes text and images accessible to people with a visual impairment or dyslexia. For higher education and university Dedicon has a collection of more than 7.500 study books, for instance in spoken form or in enlarged form. Dedicon can convert textbooks for visually impaired students to a desired reading format on request. Students with dyslexia can make use of what is already available in the collection at Dedicon.

Educatief.dedicon.nl collection and webshop

Tip: Click the button ZOEKEN to view all titles. Select the filter Hoger onderwijs and the educational levels  hbo and wo and use reading format filters to refine your selection.

Once logged into the webshop you need to create a user account with a separate e-mail for the print disabled user, that could be yourself or another person. To prove to Dedicon that the user has a print disability, you need to upload a Verklaring Leesbeperking (Statement Reading Restriction).

Verklaring Leesbeperking (Statement Reading Restriction)

Which documents are valid as a Verklaring Leesbeperking (Statement Reading Restriction)?
The following documents are valid as Verklaring Leesbeperking (Statement Reading Restriction):

• a copy of an official dyslexia statement (issued by a psychologist or remedial educationalist with a GZ endorsement),
• a copy of the registration Cluster 1 (visual impairment),
• a statement signed by an expert that the student has a reading disability and that indicates that adapted teaching material is necessary,
• a statement signed by an ophthalmologist or general practitioner.

Please be aware Adobe Reader doesn't work with EPUB files

EPUB

Text will automatically reflow and resize to fit your screen and can be used for text-to-speech.
On some devices, this format can be read aloud with in-built software and needs no additional tools.
Otherwise use with the following reading tools:

Seeing AI uses the device camera to identify people and objects, and then the app audibly describes those objects for people with visual impairment.
It can:

•     Recognize friends
•     Describe faces and emotions
•     Scan bar codes
•     Describe a scene