Whether reading for leisure or learning, the ability to read opens a world of possibilities. For people with a print-based disability, accessible reading apps provide ways to read printed text, so more people can enjoy reading.
In this blog we explore how people who have a print impairment can read in comfort with accessible reading apps like Dolphin EasyReader.
Anyone can benefit from accessible reading apps, though they are particularly useful for people who have a print impairment. By definition, a ‘print impairment’ refers to difficulties with reading print-based materials effectively. This might be the result of:
Accessible reading apps offer a range of options, all designed to enable people who have a print impairment to read in comfort, so they can enjoy reading and retain information effectively.
Accessible reading apps open up access to millions of books through accessible libraries. These ensure that reading material is accessible in ways that benefit the reader and any additional needs they may have,
Accessible library services are established around the world to provide accessible titles for people who have a print impairment. They provide thousands of titles in an accessible format, including the latest bestsellers, non-fiction titles, textbooks, newspapers and more. These services are available to serve individuals and specifically people who have a print impairment.
With the latest accessible reading apps, it’s easier than ever for people who have a print impairment to make the most of these services. Dolphin EasyReader provides access to more than 40 accessible library services around the world, plus talking newspaper and magazine services.
Visit the Dolphin website for a full list of the accessible library services available in EasyReader App worldwide.
Accessibility can mean very different things for different people. A particular combination of colours or text font can make text instantly accessible for one person, but it could make the text even more difficult to view for another.
Accessible reading apps provide a number of options that help people with a print impairment to make the text comfortable to read, based on their individual needs. For example, Dolphin EasyReader enables users to:
Lots of people benefit from having text spoken aloud - the rise in popularity of audiobooks is a testament to this. Reading audibly can be very useful, especially when multi-tasking or enjoying an audiobook whilst in transit. For people with a print impairment, the primary benefit of hearing text read aloud is much more than a convenience – it’s the difference between the title being accessible and not.
Research shows possible links between listening to text while reading it visually and improvements in reading levels, vocabulary and comprehension, for people with a print-based disability. If you’re interested to find out more, we’ve included links to some useful research papers in the further reading section at the end of this blog.
EasyReader App can read aloud both audio and text-based content.
The speed of the voice for both audiobooks and text can be increased or decreased. This means anyone with a print impairment can read at a pace that is comfortable for them.
In addition to reading the text in a book, EasyReader also reads any alt-text descriptions that have been added to images. This is particularly important for understanding the contents of diagrams, graphs, charts and more. It’s an important accessibility feature for people with visual impairments.
Accessible reading apps include options that help users focus their attention on the words as they are read. Here are a few examples:
When reading text-based content, EasyReader highlights each word as it is read aloud by the voice. This strategy can help users to recognise each word as it is read out loud.
The latest version of EasyReader now includes a ‘Lines Visible’ option. This allows users to choose how many lines of text are visible on the screen whilst you read. Focusing attention on just a few lines of text can really help people with a print impairment to avoid distraction and retain information.
This option enables users to have individual words read back to them. Double tap (or double click) on any word and EasyReader reads it back. This is useful for helping users to recognise and decode words that they find particularly tricky
One of the great advantages of accessible, electronic content is that it is far easier to navigate than print-based materials. Accessible reading apps help to make the most of this, providing tools to help people with a print impairment find their place and navigate the text. With Dolphin EasyReader, users can:
Now you're aware of some of the many ways accessible reading apps help people with print impairments to enjoy reading.
By exploring the ways accessible reading technology enables reading - through text adjustment for comfortable viewing, by reading text aloud for accessibility or to aid understanding - you're more aware of the options available to help users focus and navigate books.
All these options are here to serve a purpose: to enable people who have a print impairment to enjoy reading what they want, how they want.
If you have a print impairment, or if you work with students or support clients who do, take time to explore the accessible library list and the features and benefits of EasyReader App. Open a world of accessible books from your smartphone, tablet or computer, and rediscover the joy of reading.
EasyReader is an accessible reading app designed to make reading a pleasure for people who are blind, partially sighted or have dyslexia. It provides direct access to the world’s largest collection of accessible book and newspaper services.
The EasyReader App is available free on iOS, Android and Kindle Fire. It can also be purchased from the Microsoft Store for Windows computers, laptops and tablets.
Find out more about Dolphin EasyReader.
A list of recommended resources that demonstrate the effectiveness of using text-to-speech for learning: