Assistive Technology Built in to Windows Devices

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Written by Katie Guild, Assistive Technology Trainer and Advisor, Amethyst Demonstration School

Students who are identified with a learning disability (LD) that results in difficulties with the development and use of skills in reading and writing will often have computer supports listed as an essential accommodation in their IEP. This will lead to the student being provided with a high-tech device by their school board, typically a Windows laptop or Google Chromebook, to support their access to the curriculum. 

This technology is funded by the Ministry of Education through a Special Equipment Amount claim referred to as SEA. These SEA-funded devices typically include specialty software that provides text-to-speech and speech-to-text tools used to support reading and writing.

The computer and software provided are pieces of assistive technology that can be used by the student to increase or maintain their level of functioning in the classroom. As a class teacher, having assistive technology in the classroom may bring up some questions for you. I have compiled a tip sheet to help educators set their students up for success when faced with a reading or writing task on their device. 

Why it is Important for Teachers to Learn:

These tips will familiarize teachers with assistive technology tools built-in to Windows operating systems, as an additional option to specialty software. With this knowledge, you can better support all students, with or without an LD, to use assistive technology tools more effectively. This will also help normalize the use of assistive technology in the classroom. Empowering yourself with how to access and navigate these built-in assistive technology tools will be invaluable to all your students.

Assistive Technology Tools:

The most up-to-date high-tech devices include the following built-in assistive technology tools: 

Speech-to-Text

This tool converts speech to text and is also referred to as speech recognition, voice-to-text, voice typing or dictation. It enables students to write with their voice instead of handwriting or typing, resulting in producing written work more aligned with their capabilities. Students can organize and record their thoughts and ideas quicker and more easily, by reducing the cognitive load of written or typed text production through the use of dictation.

TIP: Students should use a noise canceling microphone, which reduces background noise, to reduce their word error rate resulting in greater speech recognition accuracy.

Text-to-Speech

This tool reads digital text aloud and is also referred to as speech feedback or read-aloud. It aids in reading comprehension by reading aloud a word or selection of text a student may be having difficulty decoding. Students can also use text to speech to listen to their own writing for editing purposes, making it easier to identify typos and improve sentence structure. Students should adjust the reading speed to fit the purpose of the tool.

TIP: Using a speech feedback tool that includes highlight tracking, highlighting words as they are read aloud, will increase a student’s attention to the text as it provides both auditory and visual information.

Operating Systems:

Windows Laptops and Chromebooks are two common types of portable computers found in the classroom and each one uses a different operating system.

Windows Operating System:

Windows 10 and 11 operating systems are the most commonly used at the time this article was written.

Windows computers run on a Microsoft operating system and include access to a desktop version of the Microsoft 365 software suite, including Microsoft Word for word processing and PowerPoint for slide shows. A web-based version of these software applications can also be accessed from most web browsers and is optimized for the Microsoft Edge browser. The Windows Operating System and Microsoft Word for desktop and web include several built-in speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools. 

Speech to Text - Dictation/Voice Typing

• Windows 10 refers to speech-to-text as Dictation and Windows 11 refers to it as Voice Typing
• To access Dictation In Windows 10, you must enable the Online Speech Recognition Setting
• An internet connection is required to use Dictation/Voice Typing
• Write with your voice any time the cursor is in a text box on a Windows device
• Use a keyboard shortcut to enable this tool by pressing the Windows key + H key

Resource Link: Use Voice Typing to Talk Instead of Type on your PC - Windows 10/11

Microsoft Word:

The following tools apply to the desktop and web versions of Microsoft Word unless otherwise stated. 

Speech to Text - Dictate

• You must be signed into a Microsoft 365 subscription to access the Dictate tool
• Windows 10 and above support the use of the Dictate tool
• An internet connection is required to use Dictate
• This tool is located in the ‘Home’ tab
• Right-click the Dictate tool to add it to the quick access toolbar located in the top left corner
• Use this tool to dictate text from where you insert your cursor in a Word document
• The language and microphone source can be adjusted by clicking the Dictate Settings icon
• Use optional voice commands to edit and format the document with your voice

Resource Link: Dictate Your Documents in Word

Text to Speech - Read Aloud (Desktop)

• An internet connection is not required to use Read Aloud for the desktop version
• This tool is located in the ‘Review’ tab and the Immersive Reader interface is in the ‘View’ tab
• Right-click the Read Aloud tool to add it to the quick access toolbar located in the top left corner
• Use this tool to read text aloud from where you insert your cursor in Word and pause it anytime
• The Read Aloud menu controls also allow you to navigate to the previous and next paragraphs
• The reading speed and voice can be adjusted by clicking the Read Aloud Settings icon 
• Highlight tracking is used with this tool

Resource Link: Listen To Your Word Documents

Text to Speech - Read Aloud (Web)

• An internet connection is required to use Read Aloud for the web version
• This tool is located in the Immersive Reader Interface in the ‘View’ tab
• Read Aloud can also read text in the Microsoft Edge browser by right-clicking on selected text 

Text to Speech - Speak

• Use this tool to read selected text aloud in Word, as well as, PowerPoint, and OneNote
• Add Speak to the quick access toolbar located in the top left corner of these tools
• Once added, select text and click the Speak icon to hear the text read aloud
• Click the Speak icon again to pause the reading

Resource Link: Add Speak to the Quick Access Toolbar

Recommended Windows Built-in Assistive Technology Tools That Support Students with an LD

About the Author:

Katie Guild has dedicated her extensive career to supporting students with exceptionalities for over twenty years. She spent six years teaching and consulting in London, England in the special education field, with a focus on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Katie became a leader in the field of low and high-tech AAC supports, including eye gaze technology and sign support systems, leading to her providing AAC-based training to parents and educators across the UK. Since returning from overseas, she has continued to expand her experience working in schools as both an assistive technology trainer and advisor. She has been designing and delivering assistive technology training to students and educators for the past ten years and has become an expert in the field. Most recently, she has been servicing Amethyst Demonstration School in London Ontario; a school for students with severe reading disabilities. Her proven expertise in tailoring training to an individual’s abilities and empowering others to navigate technology with ease has led to more efficiency and confidence in classrooms. Katie can currently be found expanding her technical knowledge and support across the wider Provincial and Demonstration Schools branch.