Text-to-Speech Resources

1. Login onto your desired Canvas course
2. Identify the course document you’d like to read in an alternative format, look for the blue icon of a figure in a circle to the right of the document title
   1. PDF/Source File- freeze content for consistency across devices
   2. Text File- will generate HTML in a new browser tab, can be copy and pasted into a Word document
   3. Immersive reader- TTS tool that will read text aloud and offers customized reading settings such as voice, speed, font, and text size, spacing/contrast. Immersive reader uses an integrated highlighting function that highlights words as it reads. (Does not currently support images/tables)
   4. Gradient reader- Colors the text in a ombre pattern to enhance focus when reading across lines of text
   5. EPUB- similar to PDF, but content is automatically adjusted for the given device and offers seamless integration of highlighting and note taking. (Requires an EPUB reader)
   6. Audio Podcast- generates audio file in a new browser tab enabling users to adjust the file speed
   7. Language Translation- can view source document in your preferred language
   8. Math Formats- for math related material, users can generate a document in: LaTex, Math Immersive Reader, Math Text, Math Audio, and MathML
   9. OCR Semantic Text- generates automatic optical character recognition of a document to improve the computer’s interpretation of the text, particularly for TTS software (results depend heavily on the quality of the source document)
   10. Braille- generates a file compatible with braille reading software

*Please note: if the above options do not appear in the alternative formats pop up window, the selected format is unavailable due to the quality of the source document. Send the document to the alternate format team (accesstext@uic.edu) and we will convert it and upload it to your Box folder.

Video demonstrating how to locate and operate Canvas Alternative Formats

1. Follow the Kurzweil 3000 registration link provided by your disability services specialist or alternate format team to create a Kurzweil account and ensure you can access your account.
2. Fill out the Kurzweil registration form with the following information:
   1. Your name
   2. UIC email
   3. Select “University of Illinois-Chicago” as the school org
   4. Create a username for the “external id”
   5. Click “add new.”
   6. Navigate to your email where you’ll find an email from Kurzweil titled “Kurzweil 3000 Account Activated!” prompting you to create a password for your account.
   7. Login to your Kurzweil account

1. Login to your Kurzweil account
2. To create a folder in Kurzweil, right click on an existing folder (ex: “private”) and select “add folder,” name the folder for the course or week (ex: bio_203 or w1) NOTE: Kurzweil does not recognize capitals or spaces in titles
3. Click on the folder you want to upload to (ex: bios_110 or w1) so that it is highlighted in an aqua blue color.
4. Click the orange upload button on the top right corner which will open your finder and you can choose the document you’d like to upload
5. Opening the file in the pop up window will start the upload into Kurzweil and soon after, a window will pop up to say “upload successful!”
6. You can read the document as soon as it is fully loaded into Kurzweil and able to open
7. To rename a document, click on the white box next to the title and select the white “rename” button on the right side of the screen.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a tool used to control the access and distribution of copyright material. It may prevent users from downloading content, sharing content, or convert them to different formats. This will affect Kurzweil users if they purchased an ebook through a publishing company and e-retailer because it will likely contain DRM and therefore, be incompatible with Kurzweil because Kurzweil requires uploads to be converted into .kesi to be read by the program. 

Google Chrome’s Reading Mode is an integrated TTS tool, easily accessible when users right click on any word and select “Open Reading Mode.”

Reading Mode will open as a split screen and you’ll be able to set the speed, voice, voice highlight, enable or disable links, font and font size, as well as color theme, line height, and letter spacing.

If you’d like to pin Reading Mode for future use, select the gray thumb tack in the upper right hand corner and the book icon will appear in your plug in bar.

*Check that your Chrome is up-to-date to ensure Reading Mode runs efficiently

Microsoft Edge’s Read Aloud and Immersive Reader are both integrated tools in the Microsoft browser that can work together or separately to enhance the accessibility of user experience while browsing.

Read Aloud is the TTS tool that can narrate select webpages. Within Read Aloud, a toolbar will appear at the top of the website giving users the ability to pause, read previous paragraph, skip to next paragraph, and customize voice options to adjust speed and voice. Read Aloud can be accessed as a stand alone feature or within Immersive Reader mode.

Turn on Microsoft Edge’s Read Aloud for Websites

1. Navigate to desired website and the three dot menu on the toolbar to the right of the URL
2. Select “Read Aloud” or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl +Shift + U to start reading the webpage from the beginning
3. To start reading from a different section in Read Aloud, users can highlight words and right click to “Continue to read aloud from here” or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl +Shift + U

Turn on Microsoft Edge’s Read Aloud for Searchable PDFs

1. On users’ desktop, right click on the desired searchable PDF and select “Open With” Microsoft Edge
2. When users open a searchable PDF in the Microsoft Edge browser, a toolbar will appear below the URL
3. Navigate to and select the Read Aloud icon (a capital “A” with some lines like a speaker; located between the “Add text” and “Translate” icons) to turn on the feature
4. Set user preferences accordingly

Immersive Reader can adjust visual settings for a personalized experience by simplifying webpage content. User settings include font and size, column width, and background color. Immersive Reader is available on websites, but not searchable PDFs opened with the Microsoft Edge web browser.

Turn on Microsoft Edge’s Immersive Reader

1. Navigate to desired webpage and the three dot menu on the toolbar to the right of the URL
2. Select the first option, “Immersive reader” (the book icon) located to the right of the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut F9
3. Users can select “Read Aloud” or adjust Immersive reader settings in the toolbar below the URL

Speech is Safari’s built-in TTS software that reads aloud highlighted passages.

Turn on in the Safari browser

1. Highlight a webpage passage user wants to be read aloud
2. Right click and select, “Speech” and “Start Speaking”
3. A popup window will appear allowing users to set preferences and control the audio
4. Users can expect the popup window to disappear once the highlighted speech has been completed

Set preferences for Speech on Mac

1. Locate “Accessibility” within the “System Settings” app
2. Select “Read & Speak”
3. Toggle on “Speak Selection”
4. Select the “i” info icon to the right of the toggle to further customize Speech preferences
5. Select “OK” to set preferences

Select to Speak is a feature of Google’s Android Accessibility Suite that is either preloaded onto your smartphone or will require users to install the latest version from the Google Play store.

Set up Select to Speak

1. Navigate to and select the settings app
2. Select “Accessibility”
3. Navigate to and select “Installed apps”
4. Click on “Select to Speak”
5. Toggle on “Select to speak short cut”
6. Give access and set preferences on how user would like to access shortcut

Turn on Select to Speak

1. Access shortcut for Select to Speak
2. In supported apps, tap the desired text to read aloud. When enabled, a green outline appears around the perimeter of the screen and begins to read the full page or users can tap on select of text to read
3. While the feature reads, a pop up menu will appear that can take users to set reading preferences

Microsoft Word Desktop App has a robust feature across their platform, called “Read Aloud” that enables users to listen to content aloud in the language and settings of their choice.

Turn on Microsoft Word Read Aloud (Desktop App)

1. Open desired document
2. Navigate to the “Review” tab
3. Place curser where user would like Read Aloud to begin speaking
4. Select “Read Aloud,” and a black pop up window will open where user can set voice and speed
5. Close pop up window to close Read Aloud

Microsoft Word Web Browser has a built-in text-to-speech feature called “Immersive Reader” that also enables users to listen to content aloud

Turn on Microsoft Word Immersive Reader (Online)

1. Open Microsoft Word Online
2. Navigate to the “View” tab
3. Select Immersive Reader, which will open the selected document in Immersive Reader
4. Select user preferences and play

Microsoft Outlook Desktop App and Online have the same built-in read aloud feature called, “Immersive Reader.”

 Turn on Immersive Reader

1. Open Outlook and select an email to read
2. Navigate to the “View” tab
3. Select Immersive Reader, which will open the selected email in Immersive Reader
4. Select user preferences and play

Microsoft Powerpoint for Windows has built-in TTS on both their Desktop App and Online that enables users to listen to content aloud.

Set up Speak on Powerpoint for Windows (Desktop App)

1. Open Microsoft Powerpoint
2. On the bottom of the left panel select “Options”
3. Select “Quick Access Tool Bar” in the left panel
4. Under “Choose commands from,” click the drop down menu and select “Commands not in ribbon”
5. Click “Speak”
6. Click Add and then Okay

Once added, it will be located on the very top ribbon next to “start from the beginning.” Select the text users would like to have read aloud and select “Speak selected text”.

Turn on Microsoft Immersive Reader Powerpoint for Windows (Online)

1. Open Powerpoint Online and select slide to read
2. Navigate to the “View” tab
3. Select Immersive Reader, which will open the selected email in Immersive Reader
4. Select user preferences and play

Set preferences for Speech on Mac

1. Locate “Accessibility” within the “System Settings” app
2. Select “Read & Speak”
3. Toggle on “Speak Selection”
4. Select the “i” info icon to the right of the toggle to further customize Speech preferences
5. Select “OK” to set preferences

Use Speech on Mac

1. Open compatible desktop application (for Safari instructions, see web browser Safari above)
2. To turn on Speech either:
   1. Use chosen keyboard shortcut to read selection aloud or
   2. Highlight chosen selection, right click, and select “Speech” and “Start Speaking”
3. While the computer reads, a pop up window will appear where you can pause and adjust other settings

Apple Speak Selection

Enables iPhone and iPad to read aloud any highlighted text on device and Safari.

Set up Speak Selection

1. Select the “Settings” app
2. Navigate to “Accessibility” and “Read & Speak”
3. Select  and toggle on”Speak Selection”
4. Select and toggle on “Highlighting”
5. Set highlighting preferences

Turn on Speak Selection

1. Hold selection of text user would like to hear read aloud on compatible app
2.  Pop up menu will appear and select “Speak”
3. Selected speech will read aloud

Apple Speak Screen 

Enables iPhone and iPad to read all content on a screen aloud aloud

Set up Speak Screen

1. Select the “Settings” app
2. Navigate to “Accessibility” and “Read & Speak”
3. Select and toggle on”Speak Screen” which will reveal a transparent menu icon on screen
4. Select and toggle on “Highlighting”
5. Set highlighting preferences
6. Users can choose to toggle on “Show Controller” to have quick access on touch
7. Set user preferences for Controller Action
   1. Controller Action settings will determine how to turn on Speak Screen

Apple Accessibility Reader

Opens a full screen view application on iPhone and iPad for reading content aloud. Settings can be customized for user preferences including font, text, layout, and background colors.

Set up Accessibility Reader

1. Select the “Settings” app
2. Navigate to “Accessibility” and “Read & Speak”
3. Toggle on “Accessibility Reader”
4. Users can choose to toggle on “Autoplay in Accessibility Reader” to play speech in background
5. On Home screen, swipe down from the top right corner to reveal the Control Center
6. Hold down on the bottom of the Control Center to edit and select “Add a Control”
7. Scroll down to the section titled “Accessibility” and select the “Accessibility Reader” to add to Control Center
8. Swipe up to exit Control Center edits
9. Selecting “Accessibility Reader” will open the app

Turn on Speak Selection in the Accessibility Reader

1. Hold selection and choose “Select” from the pop up menu or highlight text user would like to hear read aloud on compatible app
2. Swipe down from top right corner to reveal the Control Center
3. Select the “Accessibility Reader” icon
4. Highlighted selection will appear in Accessibility Reader and begin reading aloud

Microsoft Word Desktop App has a robust feature across their platform, called “Read Aloud” that enables users to listen to content aloud in the language and settings of their choice. It operates the same on Apple and Windows.

Turn on Read Aloud (Desktop App)

1. Open a document
2. Navigate to the “Review” tab
3. Place curser where you’d like Read Aloud to begin speaking
4. Select Read Aloud, a black pop up window will open where user can set voice and speed
5. Close pop up window to close Read Aloud

Microsoft Word Web Browser has a built-in text-to-speech feature is called “Immersive Reader” that enables users to listen to content aloud

Turn on Immersive Reader (Online)

1. Open Microsoft Word on web browser of choice
2. Navigate to the “View” tab
3. Select Immersive Reader, which will open the selected email in Immersive Reader
4. Select user preferences and play

Microsoft Outlook and Powerpoint Online both have the built-in read aloud feature “Immersive Reader.”

 Turn on Immersive Reader (Online) in Outlook

1. Open Outlook and select an email to read
2. Navigate to the “View” tab
3. Select Immersive Reader, which will open the selected email in Immersive Reader
4. Select user preferences and play

 Turn on Immersive Reader Powerpoint for Mac (Online)

1. Open Powerpoint Online and select slide to read
2. Navigate to the “View” tab
3. Select Immersive Reader, which will open the selected email in Immersive Reader
4. Select user preferences and play

Microsoft Outlook/Powerpoint for Mac does not have a read aloud feature, refer to the above section about “Speech on Mac”

The UIC Library has compiled a comprehensive ebook resource page that outlines the accessibility of a variety ebooks platforms and devices.

Adobe Acrobat’s Read Aloud is the built-in TTS feature identified in Adobe Acrobat by a headphone icon.

Turn on Read Aloud

1. Open desired PDF in Adobe Acrobat
2. Navigate to and select the headphone icon on the top right corner
3. Set user preferences including speed and voice
4. Select “play” or skip to the next or previous page

Please note: Read Aloud will only work with searchable PDFs. If you try to select the headphone icon and play, there will be an error message at the bottom of the screen that reads, “Read Aloud isn’t yet available for scans.”

The Amazon Assistive Reader feature is available on Amazon Kindle app and devices version 5.18.4.0.1 and later that allows users to hear texts read aloud after the Kindle is connected to bluetooth (Kindles do not have built-in speakers).

Set up Assistive Reader

1. Select desire text on app or kindle device
2. Choose the Aa icon and select “more”
3. Toggle “Assistive Reader” on

Turn on Assistive Reader

1. Hold down desired selection of text until highlighted and menu appears
2. Select “play” to read
3. Tap page to pause reading and view assistive reader menu

Please note: not all books and documents able to be loaded onto Kindles have the Assistive Reader feature available. If it is unavailable, when a user goes into the settings to turn on the feature, it will be grayed out with a message that reads “Text-to-speech is not available for this book.”

The Assistive Reader supports books that are:

• Purchased from the Kindle store; or
• Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited or Prime Reading, or other official Kindle partner sources; or
• Shared with you in your Family Library.

To determine if your desired text has this feature enabled before purchasing:

1. Search the desired text on Amazon.com
2. Select “Kindle” as your desired format
3. Scroll down to the section titled, “Product details”
4. Navigate to “Accessibility” and select “learn more”
5. If the feature is enabled, under “non-visual reading,” it will read: readable in read aloud

VitalSource Bookshelf is an eReader platform and marketplace for digital course material. Users purchase ebooks from VitalSource and view them through Bookshelf.

Their TTS tool Read Aloud is available for many titles found in the VitalSource marketplace and offers user preferences including text size, background color, margin, line height, and even font. There are a variety of selectable fonts including Open Dyslexic.

The Read Aloud feature in Bookshelf is located on the bottom right menu bar identified by the speaker button. Once selected, users can control the audio and set preferences.

VitalSource also has companion apps compatible with a variety of OS and smartphones that allow users to read content offline.

How Do I know if my VitalSource ebook has TTS enabled?

Prior to purchasing your desired ebook:

1. Search for desired ebook on VitalSource
2. Navigate to and read  the “Accessibility” tab located below the ebook information on VitalSource
3. If “Read Aloud” is mentioned in the Accessibility tab, TTS is enabled.
4. If TTS is not enabled, please fill out the Alternate Format Request Form

Macmillian Read Aloud is a built-in feature in Macmillan Achieve ebooks.

Turn on Macmillan Read Aloud

1. Navigate to desired ebook
2. Select the “Read Aloud” icon located on the top right corner to control feature
3. Follow the link above for more details

McGraw Hill has a built-in Read Aloud feature available across their various platforms including their Connect ebooks and ReadAnywhere App.

The Read Aloud feature is easily accessible in the top right hand corner identified by the speaker button or selecting the three dots and “audio playback.”

Pearson Revel is a digital learning platform and app that professors can choose to use for their course with an accompanying Pearson textbook that includes a built-in TTS feature.

Audio Playback is the TTS feature in the Revel platform. The feature is located in the top right hand corner identified by the headphone icon. Select the icon to set user preferences and control the audio.

Cengage Read Aloud is a built-in TTS feature available within the Cengage eReader platform (MindMap and WebAssign) and mobile app.

Users who purchase Cengage eBooks can view texts online or download the app for free to access their texts on or offline.

Turn on Accessibility Settings and Read Aloud in eReader Web-Based Platform

1. Open desired ebook in web platform
2. Navigate to and select the speaker icon on the left column to set user preferences and controls and start read aloud
3. The setting wheel icon contains various accessibility settings including content size, style (font), and  media (enabling alt text descriptions on images)

Turn on Accessibility Options and Read Aloud in eReader Mobile App

1. Open the app and desired ebook
2. The bottom menu contains both “accessibility options” identified by the T icon and and the built-in Read Aloud feature identified by the icon of the person with the speaker
3. The accessibility options include: text size, font (including Open Dyslexic), and alt text
4. Navigate to desired page user would like read and select the Read Aloud icon, the page will automatically start reading top of page
5. User settings are available in Read Aloud view by selecting arrow on the left