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General
Learning Disabilites
Gifted & Talented
ESL
Text-To-Speech, Audio Books
- 5 Best Resources for Mac & Apple Device Users with Disabilities
"If you or someone you know has a disability that makes using a Mac computer a challenge, you might not be aware of the many default assistive technology resources and tools available in Mac OS X and Apple mobile devices."
- About: Special Education
From About.com, one of their well-organized lists of annotated subject-area links.
- Complete Disability Resource Guide
Very nice subject-organized set of links about disabilities, disability rights, support groups, government agencies, and other resources.
- Council for Exceptional Children
"The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted."
- Deaf Resource Library
"The Deaf Resource Library is a virtual library -- an online collection of reference material and links intended to educate and inform people about Deaf cultures in Japan and the United States; as well as deaf and hard of hearing related topics."
- Google Accessibility: How to use accessibility features
Describes accessibility features such as text-to-speech, speech to text, captions, and other options.
- Intervention Central
Tools and strategies for academic and behavioral intervention for children and youth.
- SERI: Special Education Resources on the Internet
Extensive, well-organized, annotated links to resources about disabilities, learning disabilities, parent and teacher resources, physical challenges, gifted and talented, and other related topics.
- All Kinds of Minds
"The All Kinds of Minds’ mission is to help students who struggle with learning measurably improve their success in school and life by providing programs that integrate educational, scientific and clinical expertise."
- Bookshare.org
"The Bookshare.org library provides print disabled people in the United States with legal access to over 37,300 books and 150 periodicals that are converted to Braille, large print or digital formats for text to speech audio."
- Disabilities: Learning Disabilities
Links to sites for parents, students, and teachers.
- Great Schools - Special Education
"GreatSchools is committed to helping you understand your child's learning difficulties, including those that can be diagnosed - learning disabilities, AD/HD, autism and Asperger's syndrome - and other difficulties without a diagnosis."
- LDA: Learning Disabilities Association of America
"LDA is the largest non-profit volunteer organization advocating for individuals with learning disabilities." The website has information about this subject for parents, teachers, professionals, and others.
- LD Resources
Lots of articles and links for people with learning disabilities. Includes bulletin board (discussion) area and newsletter.
- LDOnline.org
Information and resources about learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and kids.
- Misunderstood Minds
Companion website to the PBS Special about students with learning disabilities.
- National Center for Learning Disabilities
Provides information, resources, and referral services for children and adults with learning disabilities.
- New York State: Special Education
Information about Special Education in New York State, from regulations to links to resources.
- English as a Second Language
"A starting point for ESL learners who want to learn English through the Web."
- English at Home
"Learn English grammar, vocabulary, verbs and speaking with games, an English newsletter and more."
- ESL Basics
"We ... provide hundreds of ESL videos on our site. Plus, if you're an ESL/EFL teacher, you can check out helpful videos and job postings in our ESL/EFL teachers section."
- Internet TESL Journal
"For Teachers of English as a Second Language - Articles, Research Papers, Lessons Plans, Classroom Handouts, Teaching Ideas & Links"
- Repeat After Us
" RepeatAfterUs is an award-winning online library with the best collection of copyright-free English texts and scripted recordings. Our free audio clips provide an excellent resource for students and literature lovers of all ages."
- Learn English with Audio and Transliterations
"The site is a free, on-line, educational resource for ESL and EFL students to learn English words. The flash site incorporates 40 topics, along with over 1,500 English words and phrases. When you click on a word or phrase you can hear it spoken."
- TESL/TEFL/TESOL/ESL/EFL/ESOL Links
A number of useful links for students to help themselves learn English, and teachers of students learning English as a second language.
- Tower of English
Links to web resources for ESL students and teachers. Organized by subject.
- UsingEnglish.com
"A large collection of English as a Second Language (ESL) tools & resources for students, teachers, learners and academics. Browse our grammar glossary and references of irregular verbs, phrasal verbs and idioms, ESL forums, articles, teacher handouts and printables, and find useful links and information on English."
See also eBooks for general-audience electronic texts and audio books
- 5 Best Free Online Text To Speech Converters
September 2010 article discussing some of the better online tools for text to speech conversion.
- Adobe - Read Out Loud
Explanation of the built-in text-to-speech feature in Acrobat Reader versions 7 and later. (multiplatform)
- Bookshare
"Bookshare® is an online library of digital books for people with print disabilities." Free for students.
- Kurzweil ($$$$)
"Award-winning software that makes printed or electronic text readily available to people who are blind or visually impaired. It combines accessibility, communication and productivity tools..."
- iSpeech (online)
"Simply cut and paste the text you wish to convert to speech into our text box and click convert text. Or, upload any supported document, website, blog, etc. and click convert file or the listen button."
- Ivona ($$)
Ivona offers several quality text-to-speech products.
- Learn Out Loud
A directory to "free audio books, lectures, speeches, sermons, interviews, and many other great free audio and video resources" on the internet.
- NaturalSoft
This company offers a free as well as pay versions of their text to speech software. (Mac, Win)
- ReadPlease
"Developer of award-winning text-to-speech software for Windows® based operating systems." Available in free and 'Plus' editions. (Win)
- ReadTheWords.com (online)
"A free, web based service that ... can generate a clear sounding audio file from almost any written material. We generate a voice that reads the words out loud, that you request us to read."
- RFB&D: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
"Available in every grade level and most subjects, RFB&D textbook and literature titles are used nationwide. In addition to the classics, RFB&D’s digital library provides current editions of state adopted texts ensuring students learn from the same versions as their classmates."
- vozMe (online)
Free basic online service - paste text into a box and click a button to hear it read out loud. Site also offers a browser bookmarket with a text-to-speech function.
- YakiToMe (online)
"Free text to speech. Uses the world's best text to speech (TTS) software.
Upload documents, cut and paste text or link to feeds. Text reader converts text to speech automatically. Download audio and podcasts."
this page last updated January 31, 2012