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Assistive Tools & Apps

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Assistive tools and apps can help reduce barriers to learning and support your academic success. Any McGill students can benefit from the assistive software, apps, and resources shared below.

Students who have an academic accommodation plan may have access to additional assistive technology resources through Student Accessibility and Achievement.

Software, Apps, & Extensions

Text-to-Speech Support(Web Extension)

Text-to-speech (web extensions) MyCourses quiz compatibility (Without lockdown browser) MyCourses quiz compatibility (With Lockdown Browser)

(Chrome Extension)

Use this to simplify the presentation of online text, invert colours, change spacing and font sizes. This tool estimates the remaining reading time of the time required to complete the reading is generated. Use the text-to-speech feature to follow along with the highlighted text.

(Chrome Extension)

Use this to: Extracts the text from the main window and displays it in a teleprompter-style side window. Choose from many high-quality voices.

(Chromebook Extension)

Text-to-speech extension for Chromebooks/Chrome

(Microsoft Edge Built-In)

Simplifies a webpage layout, removes clutter, and lets users customize their reading experience in Windows 10/11

(Firefox Built-In)

Strips away clutter like buttons, ads, background images, and videos, and allows for customization of layout and theme to fit reading preference

(Kurzweil Web Extension)

Extension that allows web content to be read aloud

(Web-based Extension)

Listen to documents, dictate text, check writing, download audio files, translate, look up text, collaborate with others, take tests*

Text-to-Speech Support (Software)

Text-to-speech (Software) MyCourses quiz compatibility (Without lockdown browser) MyCourses quiz compatibility (With Lockdown Browser)

(Windows)

Screen reader that allows for ease of access and interaction with the Windows Operating system and many third party applications.

(Mac)

Built-in screen reader on MacOS (Free)

(Windows)

Free text-to-speech software that allows you to save text as an audio file. (Free)

(Windows/Mac)

Software and extension for both text-to-speech and speech-to-text (Available on Windows, Mac, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, iPad, Android)

on MacOS

Text-to-speech embedded in MacOS with customizable keyboard shortcuts and other options (speaking rate). (Free)

✓(Limited)

on MacOS

Text-to-speech built in on MacOS (Free)

(Windows and Mac)

An online tool that allows you to upload text and documents and convert them to mp3. ($ - free with limited functions)

✓(Limited - instructorinitiated)

Text-to-Speech Software using human-like voices ($ - with free trial)

TBD

Writing Support

  • - a free extension for your browser that corrects spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
  • - looks, feels, and functions very much like Grammarly, but for French.
  • Microsoft Word and pages both offeran Outline View that helps you jot down keywords, organize them into a structure and reorganize them into a coherent document.
  • Activate within Microsoft Word.
  • Word365 offers the “ideas” tab that can help refine your writing by highlighting issues of clarity, conciseness, and conventions.
  • . This software allows a text-to-speech readout of the work you have written. It can help you hear certain syntax errors and identify unclear or wordy sentences. The Word Prediction feature helps you minimize spelling errors and may increase typing output by reducing the number of keystrokes necessary to type words.
  • - French grammar corrector.
  • - Helps you correct your French texts.

Free versions of software I use at Student Accessibility and Achievement

The following vendors are providing extended free trials of licenses based software:

Reminders and Focus

  • MacOS -,
  • Windows 10 –
  • Windows 10 –
  • Apps
  • Site Blockers
    • ($)​ - Windows, Mac, iOS and Android
    • (Mac)​ -Leechblock (Firefox & Chrome)​
    • (Firefox & Chrome)​
    • (dz)​
    • ($)​
    • (Chrome)

Dictation Support

  • Mac:Enable the (the shortcut is Fn-Fn).
    • You can also enable for dictation
  • Word365:a microphone icon within the toolbar allows you to dictate using your computer’s microphone. Try using earbuds with a built-in microphone for better results.Learn more about .
  • (Chrome)
  • - also available for and on .

Scanning

  • ($) - Mac and PC

Keeping Files Organized

  • MacOS:
  • Windows:

Annotating PDF Documents

  • MacOS :
  • ($)

Calculators

  • - easily add equations to documents

McGill Libraries

Some libraries feature adapted workstations equipped with scanners, screen readers, large print software, and other assistive software. Consult the list ofadapted workstations and available software.


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HathiTrust Digital Library

Find digital versions of thousands of books currently only available as hard copies in our libraries. To access the HathiTrust, login with your McGill email and password.

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