Targeted Populations
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Students with Disabilities / Software Features
What it is:
Section 508 of the Rehabiliation Act addresses access to information technology. Many software manufacturers are motivated to be in compliance. Section 508 compliant software may have:
- Commands that are accessible via the keyboard (for those that can't use a mouse)
- Information conveyed by an image that is also conveyed by text
- Operation is not dependent upon hearing
- Support for assistive technology functions of operating system, such as high contrast.
- Support for the use of other assistive technology, such as a screen reader or single switch.
Text to speech can help meet some of these requirements. Text to speech is included in software such as Inspiration, Kidspiration, KidPix Deluxe, Storybook Reader Deluxe, and the Living Books series.
Speech recognition is also being used by educational manufacturers, such as Riverdeep, as in their Let's Go Read or Imagination Express series.
The Accessible Search function in Google is a new feature for people with visual impairments who want to locate sites that will work with a talking browser.
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