Did you know that you could make your computer read to you? Try out free programs like Natural Reader, or any of the programs below, to listen to websites or PDFs while you do dishes, stretch or reorganize your sock drawer.

These programs were developed to allow folks with disabilities to use technology, work, learn and study. However, they end up being widely useful: people learning English, people with dyslexia, people are tired of staring at screens, or multi-tasking academics! Speech to text tools (AKA Voice typing) are also useful. Built for people who can't type, they're great for anyone who finds it easier to say their ideas out loud than write them down (or anyone who is dealing with a broken arm, or a newborn)!

Sharing tools like this with your students allows them to access course content in a way that works for them- a big part of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) philosophy. As UDL designers say, "necessary for some, useful for many!" Most devices have built-in accessibility features - some easier to use than others - but here are some tools to get started with:

Text to Speech: Natural Reader (works for PDFs and websites). Some other tools are Chrome extensions like Read and Write for Google Chrome and Read Aloud. The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AIM) also offers more resources on Personalizing the Reading Experience
Speech to Text: The voice typing feature on Google Docs works surprisingly well. For more voice typing tools, see AIM's article Personalizing the Writing Experience.