Presented at 8:00am in Gov Square 12 on Thursday, November 18, 2021.
#34061Speaker(s)
- Rachel Kruzel, Higher Education Specialist, Texthelp
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
In keeping up with the dynamic educational landscape, Read&Write for Google Chrome and the accompanying PDF Reader have undergone a complete rewrite over the last year. This session will explore how these tools from Texthelp provide increased functionality in LMS’s, on the web and with a wide range of content, supporting students like never before.
Abstract
To ensure equal access, it’s important that assistive technology tools can reach and interact with all the content in all the places students learn and work digitally. However, educational environments are rapidly changing and are more dynamic than ever. In order to support users, Read&Write for Google Chrome and the PDF Reader were rebuilt from the ground up over the last year. This rebuild has created a more user friendly interface and experience, and provides students the ability to read and interact with content in documents, PDFs, ePubs, the web, and Learning Management Systems better than ever before.
During this session we’ll explore the latest updates to these literacy support tools from Texthelp. Attendees will gain understanding how they can be used in the common places students learn today: LMSs, on the web, and when reading PDFs. Attendees will go back to their campuses with confidence and knowledge around the update to the tools.
Keypoints
- Assistive technology must update to meet the needs of students and users when consuming educational content.
- Read&Write, used by over 30 millions users worldwide, is central to the support campuses provide to students.
- Understanding and seeing updates to Read&Write can help professionals better train and support students.
Disability Areas
Cognitive/Learning
Topic Areas
Alternate Format, Assistive Technology, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Rachel Kruzel
Rachel Kruzel, ATP, is the Higher Education Specialist for Texthelp where she supports higher education institutions across the United States and Canada as they explore, adopt, and implement technology based literacy, STEM, and accessibility based solutions to help create more inclusive, equitable, and accessible campuses and learning spaces for all students and campus members. She is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional and spent over ten years working as an Assistive Technology and Accommodations Specialist in Disability Resource Offices prior to coming to Texthelp. During her time in higher ed, she built and developed assistive technology programs at both schools she worked at, as well as coordinated the provision of accommodations. Rachel is a national expert in the areas of assistive technology, digital accessibility, accessible course materials, and accommodation provision around testing and notetaking. Rachel presents both regionally and nationally on these topics and others, as well as consults with students, parents, schools, and organizations.