- Text to Speech
- Readability
- Reading Comprehension
- Focus
- Navigation
Some of the tools fit into more than one topic, but each is only listed once. Certainly this list does not cover all of the useful web extensions available for struggling learners, but it is a great place to begin. In addition to the list of extension, I have also linked in the video from a webinar I did a while back on "Google Tools for Special Needs".
Text to Speech extensions
1) Read&Write for Google Chrome
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
The "Swiss Army Knife" of extensions with tools including word prediction, dictionary, picture dictionary, text to speech, screenshot reader, speech maker, screen mask, translator, highlighters, voice note, and more. Works on webpages, PDFs, Google Docs, and Google Slides.
Note: There is a paid version with all the tools and a free version with a subset of the tools. Educators can get the paid version for a year at no cost by filling out the form at: https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/products/read-write/free-for-teachers/ Links to an external site.
2) Read Aloud
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This text-to-speech extension will read either the entire page or just the text that you have selected. In addition to the normal options to adjust the speed, pitch, and volume of the voice, the best feature is the wide collection of high-quality voices to choose from.
3) Voice Instead
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This is another good text-to-speech extension with high-quality voices. The only drawbacks are that you have to select the text you want read (rather than the entire page), and sometimes there can be odd pauses in the middle of a sentence.
4) Announcify
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This is another text to speech tool that not only reads a webpage, but also removes distracting elements from the site. The only drawback is the inability to select specific text to read, as the entire page is read aloud.
Speech to Text extensions
5) VoiceIn Voice Typing
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This speech-to-text extension allows the user to dictate text for any text box or text entry portion of a web page. You can either click the extension or right-click and choose "Start recording" to use it. Be sure to click the extension again to turn off the speech-to-text function when done.
Readability extensions
6) Mercury Reader
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Make any website easier to read by removing ads, comments, and all other distractions, so just the core content remains. Users can also adjust the font size and color scheme of the new text. (For a list of 10 more extensions that clean up webpages, see here: http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2016/11/10-readability-alternatives.html Links to an external site.)
7) OpenDyslexic
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Override all fonts on a webpage with the OpenDyslexic font, making the text more easily readable.
8) Dyslexia Friendly
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This extension replaces the fonts on a web page with either OpenDyslexic or Comic Sans, and provides a horizontal shaded bar to help the user stay on the correct line when reading. The only drawback is there is no easy way to toggle it on and off, so you will want to use an extension management tool Links to an external site. to let you turn it off when not in use.
9) BeeLine Reader
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This tool creates a more readable version of a web page by removing all the ads, comments, and other extra distracting items, and then applies a color gradient to the page text guide your eye from one line to the next. (Limit of 5 articles per day for free version.)
10) ATbar
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Toolbar with features including color overlays for webpages, dictionary, text to speech, word prediction, and more.
11) MagicScroll Web Reader
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Turn web pages into a flippable e-book with easy clickable or keyboard control, as well as control over font size and page color as well.
12) Readline
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Although originally designed as a speed reading tool, you can slow the WPM rate down so students can use this to focus on one word at a time when reading to not lose their place.
13) Visor
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This screen overlay tool darkens out the page except for a horizontal band you can move up and down as you read, helping the student focus.
14) High Contrast
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This tool can make webpages easier to read by changing the colors to increase contrast, invert the colors, or switch to gray-scale.
15) Color Enhancer
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
For people who are partially color-blind, this tool can help adjust and improve webpage colors.
16) CraftyZoom
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This extension give you a floating magnifying glass that you can move around the screen to make portions of the page larger. You can adjust the size of the circle and the level of the zoom.
Reading Comprehension extensions
17) Google Dictionary
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Don't get stuck on an unknown word. Double-click on any word to get a pop-up definition, as well as spoken pronunciation for many words.
18) SMMRY
Chrome bookmark link Links to an external site.
While not technically an extension, this tool functions very much like one and is launched from your Chrome bookmarks bar. Summarize any online article with a simple click of the SMMRY bookmark link. This will generate a simplified version with fewer sentences (7 by default) and just the most important information. Settings can be adjusted for longer or shorter summaries, as well as emphasis on certain desired words..
19) TLDR: Summarize Anything
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This extension will generate a summary of any web page you are on. There are three levels of summarization - short, medium, and long, in addition to the original full version of the page.
20) Resoomer
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This is another summarization tool for web pages. It opens up a new tab with a cleaned up version of the page, as well as three levels of summary.
21) Internet Abridged
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This article summary tool gives you a pop-up window with a short bullet list of the main sentences from the page.
22) Auto Highlight
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This extension takes a different approach to summarizing. Instead of removing the non-essential portions of the text, it highlights what is most important. This allows the reader to still look at the rest of the article if needed. Three levels of highlighting can be chosen.
Focus extensions
23) Simple Blocker
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This tool helps students to stay focused on their work by blocking distracting websites. The user can choose the sites to block, how long to block them, and optional password protection.
24) uBlock Origin
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
A simple but powerful ad-blocking extension to help remove distracting ads from websites, making pages less cluttered and easier to read.
25) Move It
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
For students who need a break, this extension can be set to periodically have them stop working and do something physical for a moment.
26) Google Keep
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Keep allows users to save and retrieve any information they come across including text, links, pictures, speech, handwriting, doodles, and more. The tool works as an extension, web site, Android app, and iOS app, and integrates into Google Docs, Slides, and Drawings.
Navigation extensions
27) CrafyCursor
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This extension makes it easier for the user to find and track the mouse cursor by putting a highlighted circle around it. The user can choose between several colors for the cursor spotlight.
28) Click-free Browsing
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
For users who have a difficulty clicking a mouse, this extension adds on-screen navigation buttons the user can simply hover over to use.
29) Vimium
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Provides keyboard shortcuts for navigation and control for someone with difficulty using a mouse.
30) CrxMouse
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
Use mouse gestures to navigate including forward, backward, scrolling, refreshing, switching tabs, and more. The user can even program their own custom mouse gestures to open programs and perform other tasks.
31) Caret Browsing
Chrome web extension link Links to an external site.
This extension gives you a movable cursor in any web page, allowing you to move through the text with your arrows keys and select text with the keyboard.
