AHEAD: Association for Higher Education Access & Disability
Creating inclusive environments in education & employment for people with disabilities.

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Texthelp Software

Cost: One Off Paid Application and has a free one-month trial. | Platform: Desktop and Laptop version.

Most useful for: People who find reading, writing, spelling and grammar a challenge.

Texthelp is a widely used literacy support application that supports reading and understanding of text in multiple ways. This description will tell you about the Desktop / Laptop-based version of Texthelp.

The screenshot below of Texthelp demonstrates how the application sits above Word and has a range of spelling, grammar and reading support tools.

The Texthelp Navigation bar with all the tools from read aloud, spelling and grammar supports and more.

Its key features are:

  • Support with your writing on almost any Word document and website you would enter text on.
  • It has a Text to Speech tool that enables you to select text and it will read it aloud.
  • Another great tool is an MP3 tool that offers you the option of converting text into a sound file. Select the text in a Word document and select the ‘Speech Maker’ option in the Texthelp menu, and follow the simple steps it will convey and, in a few moments, you will have an MP3 of your Text document.
  • Reading supports tools such as a Screen masking tool that colours your screen which can help with reading. Your screen can be coloured with a tint of blue, pink, green or other colours, and this can make text easier to read on the screen.
  • Live feedback about spelling and grammar as you write in your work.
  • Support with improving your writing style over time to make it more engaging and effective.
  • Grammarly identifies your most common writing errors over time and offers modifications and suggestions to help you improve on them.
  • Helps to improve your vocabulary by pinpointing and fixing contextual writing errors.

Our Top Tip

The MP3 feature in the option called ‘Speech Maker’ gives you a good quality sound file version of a Word document. Try using this option, transfer the MP3 to your Smartphone then put on your headphones and listen to your assignment, study notes, lecture notes, articles, webpage material that you placed in the Word document and converted into an MP3.

Demonstration of Texthelp

Video source: Texthelp YouTube channel – an overview of the Texthelp application.

Go to the Texthelp Website>

Get More Advice: 

  • If you are a student in Higher Education, speak to your Assistive Technology Officer or Disability Officer /Learning Support Officer. 
  • If you are a Student in the FET/ETB then it may be possible to speak to an Educational Needs Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Student Access Officer, Student Support Coordinator or a Disability Support Officer for more information about assistive technology. 
  • If you are an Employee and are interested in this technology then speak to your Disability Liaison Officer (public service) or your Line Manager to start the conversation.

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Creating Inclusive Environments in Education and Employment for People with Disabilities

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