Computer-Based Assistive Technology, continued

More comprehensive software programs that include scanning, optical character recognition (OCR) provide text to speech and also have a variety of other study and learning features such as spell checkers, definitions, syllabification, book marks, verbal and written notes and much more include:

Read & Write Gold. This is a program that incorporates screen reading and integrates easily with all Windows programs. Sold by textHELP! Systems (http://www.texthelp.com).

Scan and Read Lite. This is a scanning, OCR software and reading package that contains its own voice synthesizer. Allows the computer to magnify text up to 400 percent. Available from Premier Assistive Technology (517-668-8188, http://www.readingmadeeasy.com).

WYNN (What You Need Now). This is a reading system that includes scanning, OCR and text to speech from Freedom Scientific, Inc., Learning Systems Group (1-888-223-3344, http://www.freedomscientific.com/lsg).

Kurzweil 3000. This reading system incorporates scanning, OCR and text-to-speech. It is available from Kurzweil Educational Systems (http://www.kurzweiledu.com).

(Note, none of the above software programs include the hardware necessary for scanning. Scanners must be purchased separately.)