Adaptive Technology

The Office of Disability Resources (ODR) offers various adaptive technology programs as appropriate accommodations to qualified students with disabilities. Below are some of our software program descriptions and several training videos showing key features and functions. For further information on qualifying for Adaptive Technology or to schedule a more in-depth technology training please contact ODR at 215-895-1401 or disability@drexel.edu.

Kurzweil 3000

Kurzweil 3000 is a program available for download on student's personal computer via a secured internet connection. Using this software, the pages of a book or article appear on the screen and are highlighted while being read aloud. Kurzweil also has several study skills functions.

Videos
Using Kurzweil to Read a Book File from ODS
Adjusting Reading Settings and Pages in Kurzweil
Using Kurzweil to Read the Web

Dragon Naturally Speaking

Dragon Naturally Speaking (DNS) is a voice to text program currently available to students in the Haggerty Library Adaptive Technology Center. After a brief training, DNS allows a person to speak into a microphone and have their voice automatically transferred into text on the computer. DNS can be used for any text-based document (ie: Word documents, interactive PDF files, online forms, Excel, etc)

Video
Getting Started with Dragon Naturally Speaking

Read and Write Gold

Read and Write Gold is a text to speech program similar to Kurzweil 3000 and currently available for PC users via portable USB drive. With Read and Write Gold a person can view and listen to PDF files as well as access a variety of study skills and mind mapping tools. The program also features word prediction, grammar check, and spelling tools.

JAWS

JAWS is a screen reading program used mainly by people with significant visual impairments and is available for download on personal computers via a secure internet connection. The program accesses material on the computer screen and reads it aloud.