• Our Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 866 (82nd Texas Legislature) and it became law. This law contains a section stating that "The agency shall establish a committee to develop a plan for integrating technology into the classroom to help accommodate students with dyslexia." This page was built to support the tech plan brought forth by the committee. 
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  • Website Decluttering Extensions

    The following extensions remove ads and distractions, leaving only text and images for a beautiful reading view on any site.

    Clear Read 

    Just Read

    Mercury Reader

    Fluency Tutor

  • Audiobooks

    Voice recordings of the text of a book that you listen to rather than read.

    We have two audiobook options for students in Plano ISD (Learning Ally and Bookshare):

    Learning Ally icon

    Learning Ally is a multi-sensory reading accommodation that levels the playing field for students who struggle to read due to a learning difference. The benefits of Learning Ally include:

    • High-quality, human-read audiobooks
    • Track students' reading progress
    • Teacher focused tools and resources

    Watch this 5-minute video showing Learning Ally at work in the classroom

    Bookshare icon

    Bookshare is an ebook library that makes reading easier. Listen to books, follow along with karaoke-style highlighting, read in braille or large font, and customize your reading experience with ebooks in formats that work for each student. Click here for more details.

    Please contact Fern Johnson for more information about using audiobooks with your dyslexic learners.

  • Text to Speech

    A form of speech synthesis that converts text into spoken voice.

    Read & Write - Works best with Google Docs

    Immersive Reader - Integrated into the Office suite as well as programs such as Flipgrid, Nearpod, Wakelet, and more!

    Unofficial Immersive Reader Extension - Works best with webpages. Also includes a picture dictionary.

    Select and Speak - Works best with webpages

    Screenshot Reader - Works best with PDFs

    Fluency Tutor - Educators can choose from existing reading passages or create your own. Ability to assign passages to students for them to read and record. Extra help such as text-to-speech, picture dictionaries, and translating tools. 

    Read Aloud - Best with webpages

    SpeakIt! - Works best with Chrome webpages. Can read over 50 languages.

    Natural Reader - Upload text and documents (including PDFs) and listen.

    Textbook TTS supports - Most online textbooks have text to speech tools already embedded in their program.

  • Speech to Text

    The process of converting speech input into digital text, based on speech recognition.

    Google Voice Typing

    Written Instructions

    Open a Google Doc in the Chrome Web Browser and select Tools > Voice Typing. Watch the video below for instructions on how to use this tool.

    Fluency Tutor

    Fluency Tutor (Chrome extension)

    Students can install the extension so they can choose which content they want to read and read independently
    of the teacher.

    Google Voice Search Hotword

    Google Voice Search Hotword (Chrome extension)

    Say “OK Google” on Google’s search page to speak your question, which Google will then search and answer
    aloud.

    Voice Recognition

    Voice Recognition (Chrome extension)

    Voice recognition app that allows the user to dictate the text of a document, then save the text to Google Drive
    or send as an email.

    SpeechPad

    Voice to Text Notebook (Chrome extension)

    Voice recognition app that allows the user to dictate the text of a document, then copy and paste the text to
    another application as needed

    VoiceNote

    VoiceNote II (Chrome extension)

    Voice recognition app that allows the user to dictate the text of a document, then copy and paste the text to
    another application as needed

    iPad App

    Prismo Go app

  • Digital Annotation

    Allows students and teachers to label and mark up text, images, songs, websites, videos, and more.

    Kami - See the Kami Page on the Hotspot

    Mote - Add voice notes (30s) to comments in Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, and more.

    Web Paint - Annotate web pages using this extension

    Loom - Screencasting extension with drawing tools

    Talk and Comment - Create voice notes inside Google Docs, Classroom, and Forms

    ReadWorks - Reading comprehension support that includes annotation, assessments, and is integrated with Google Classroom

    Jamboard - An online collaborative whiteboard that is integrated with Google Drive

  • (Digital) Oral Administration of Tests

    Record your voice reading the test questions. Students will have the ability to play/rewind/repeat.

    Habla Cloud - Specifically designed and optimized for use with Google GSuite and Chromebooks.

    Voice Recorder App - Record your voice and download as an mp3 file to use with Google Slides.

    Audio Recorder in Nearpod - Use audio recorder in Nearpod to narrate your slides.

  • Dyslexia-Friendly Gaming Tools

    Quizizz

    Nearpod - View the Nearpod page for more information

  • CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE DIGITAL TECH TOOLS PLAYLIST!

    This curated playlist contains step by step directions on how to use digital tools more effectively with your dyslexic learners. New videos will be added as needed. Please email fern.johnson@pisd.edu for future video requests.