Speech Resources

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Apple® Accessibility Features Vision built into all Macintosh computers provides adjustable keyboard, an ergonomic mouse, CloseView screen magnification software, Easy Access system software (StickyKeys, SlowKeys, MouseKeys), electronic documentation, key-repeat disable, text-to-speech synthesis and voice recognition (PlainTalk), sticky mouse, and visual alert cues. The VoiceOver spoken English interface for Mac OS X is a fully integrated, built-in screen reader technology providing access to the Macintosh through speech, audible cues, and keyboard navigation.
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
  • AAC Institute, a not-for-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the most effective communication for people who rely on augmentative and alternative communication.
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication Centers at the Barkley AAC Center and the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation at the University of Nebraska
  • Augmentative Alternative Communication Accessories and Devices assistive technology solutions from AbilityHub.
  • International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) a worldwide alliance working to create opportunities for people who communicate with little or no speech.
  • Methods for Augmentative and Alternative Communication This site presents aided and unaided methods of AAC—most individuals use a combination of systems/devices depending on the communication situation.
  • United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC) is dedicated to providing information and support on the issues, technology, tools, and advancements within the world of AAC. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) provides different communication methods for individuals who have significant speech impairments.
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking (Windows platform only)
• Job Access With Speech (JAWS) for Windows® screen reading software
• Mayer-Johnson Hand Held Voice®, a dynamic screen voice recorder from Ability Research
• MacSpeech DictateUses the Legendary Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition engine, works with other applications you have on your Mac. Won the Macworld Expo Best of Show 2008.
• Microsoft® Resource Guide for People with Language & Speech Impairments tutorials for keyboard filters, speech recognition systems, screen review utilities, touch screens, and speech synthesizers.
• Speaking Hardware and Software Resources is a short article about problems and solutions for blind users of the Web. It provides a list of resources that improve Web access.
• “Speech Technologies Impact the Accessibility Market”, an article in Speech Technology (06/05) Vol. 10, No. 3, P. 10; by Nancy Jamison “Speech technologies are being mainstreamed often to the exclusion of users of assistive technology (AT), which include the dexterity, sight, hearing, cognitive, and speech impaired—and this is ironic, given that handicapped users frequently drive technology development. Market drivers for speech technologies include the government, which has set up legislation designed to make the provision of accessible products or services both a requirement as well as an incentive for companies, and the development of accessible mainstream products. Mainstream vendors must play a key role in boosting product accessibility, partly through the incorporation of speech technologies into product design. AT types for people with certain impairments may not be suitable for people with other disabilities: Speech technologies for sight-impaired individuals are useful as tools for conveying information, while the hearing-impaired often use them for command and control. Examples of speech technologies well suited to the vision-disabled include text-to-speech, voice-activated dialing, and note taker products that incorporate Braille. People suffering from hearing loss can take advantage of interactive communication solutions that use software to convert speech to text and video sign language in real time. Dexterity or mobility-challenged people often use automated speech recognition (ASR) to command and control both keyboard and software functions; ASR eliminates the need to use the keyboard or mouse by enabling users to supply data to business and productivity applications and dictate text into others. People with cognitive, language, or speech impairments can use technologies that convert spoken input into graphical images and are helpful for people undergoing speech therapy.”
• Telephone Access for People with Speech Disabilities
• Text-to-Speech Synthesis From Bell Telephone labs. Type text in and hear it spoken in German (or other languages) by a computer voice.
• TTS: Synthesis of audible speech from text AT&T Labs’ Natural Voices™
• Vocally Voice Activated Dialer
• Web Talkster
  • How to Use the Web Talkster software application for Windows that gives you the option of having the browser “talk” the text content of a Web page, speak the clipboard content or the selected text by simply clicking the “Play/ Speak” button. In simple language, it is a talking Web browser. The software has been tested and “talks” most formats of Web sites. Note: Use the link below to download the Assistive Technology (A-TECH) package that includes Web Talkster.
  • Web Talkster is a talking web browser that is compatible with Windows XP and Vista. Web Talkster is an assistive technology software application for Windows that gives you the option of having the browser “talk” the text content of a Web page, speak the clipboard content or the selected text by simply clicking the “Play/ Speak” button.

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