Early Childhood Special Education and Assistive Technology Blog

--> By: Alexa Splagounias, EC-SEAT Scholar Speak4Me I looked at a text to speech app called Speak4Me .   This is a free application for an iPhone or iPad in which you can type out what you want to say and the app will read it out loud.   I found this device in the App Store on my iPad.   This would allow someone who is non- verbal to be able to communicate through typing out what they want to say and having the app say it for them.   I downloaded the app and played around with the different voice tones, etc. to familiarize myself with the app.   I found this device to be very easy to use for anyone from a young children to adults.   Something positive about this device that I really liked is that you can adjust the speed at which the app reads and says what you wrote.   You can also add common phrases to your “favorites” so that you do not have to type it out each time.   You can also choose from many different voice opt...

By: Alexa Splagounias, EC-SEAT Scholar Speech to Text- Voice to Text I explored a speech to text app called Speechto Text- Voice to Text. This app can be used on iPhones and iPads. The cost of this app is free to download. This voice to text app provides continuous speech recognition that allows the user to create long essays, posts, or notes using only the user’s own voice. It also: Transcribes videos and voice memos into text.  Allows for speech typing and taking notes. It helps someone who experiences a physical disability because if they are unable to grip a writing utensil or are unable to use their arms, this app would allow them to still be able to type without having to actually move their body at all. Trying Out the App When I found this app, I had in mind a high school student I met who experiences a physical disability and is in a wheelchair. He is a quadriplegic and is paralyzed from the chest down, so he is unable to walk or use his arms, but he is a...