Google Docs with Voice Typing for the Visually Impaired
Blindness is a topic near and dear to
my heart. My father began losing his eyesight about 25 years ago and the
doctors had no idea why. It wasn’t until several years later that the words
Macular Degeneration were first mentioned by his retina specialist. We have
spent the last 20 years watching my father lose almost every bit of
independence he had; working, driving, reading the newspaper, watching
television. Although he is not “dark blind”, his vision is so low and distorted
that he only sees light and outlines of objects. My father will be the first to
tell you that his eyes lived a good life, and although he would love to have
his eyesight back, God has a plan and a purpose for everything.
(My daughters pictured with my visually-impaired father)
As we have searched for ways to improve
my father’s qualify of life, I have often asked myself about children who are
blind; how do they adapt in “our world”. From experience, I know that there are
a plethora of devices for the sight impaired, but I have found none that seem
to work as well as the voice typing feature in Google Docs. Voice typing can be
used in many ways in all classrooms, grades K-12 and on into college. As we
push students to become more technology savvy, we must provide them with tools
that will help them grow as students and future leaders. Not only can students
use voice typing to help with lengthy essays and assignments, it can also be
used to help with everyday tasks such as taking notes, vocabulary, and spelling
lists to name just a few. Even the youngest learners, the ones who cannot write
or spell well, can write stories in Google Docs without worrying about ‘doing
it wrong’. Students who struggle with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or other writing/typing
conditions can benefit greatly from using this assistive device. How many of us have seen our ELL
students struggle with writing? It’s hard enough learning to speak a new
language, but now throw in things like Text-Dependant Analysis writing and you
have an entirely new struggle. Voice typing dictates in approximately 90
different languages, making it possible for all students to feel successful in
the classroom.
In the end, there are many assistive technology devices for teachers and librarians to use which help with many differences and
abilities. Google Docs voice typing is a great choice for students and adults
who suffer from vision impairment. This tool is easy to access and use for
daily tasks and writing. Once in Google docs, simply select Tools, the Voice
Typing. A microphone will appear on the left side of the screen. From there,
you can change the language, and start and stop recording. Google has done a
tremendous job of understanding and decoding what voices are saying. This tool
could be a game changer for many!
Resources for Teachers & Librarians:
Thank you for sharing this tool and the great links. My ex husband's mother has very quickly begun losing her vision to macular degeneration and I am going to recommend this to her as a tool she might be able to use to regain some independence. I am also going to share it with my daughter who has sensory / tactile issues and may like a break from touching the keyboard. I also had an idea to use this with my students to help them with their Spanish pronunciation since unless you say the words correctly, it will not type what you are trying to say. Since they will have to say it right to get it to type what they are supposed to, maybe that will encourage them to try harder at correct pronunciation.
ReplyDeleteKathryn Blair
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ReplyDeleteJayme, What a wonderful post that reminds us of why it is so important to incorporate assistive technology and tools in all of our public spaces. Our resource teachers use this function daily and it really boosts the students' writing level and confidence!
ReplyDeleteTiffany Anderson
Good Evening Jayme,
ReplyDeleteAs always, I enjoy reading your wonderful blogs every week. Thanks for sharing this lovely picture of your beautiful girls and your grandfather. He looks as if he's aging gracefully. My grandmother was partially blind towards the end of her time here on earth, and I thoroughly enjoyed being up under her and helping her do things that she was unable to do. Google docs is by far, one of the best online digital tools that I have encountered in a long time. Indeed, this topic is very touchy to speak on, especially when it comes to young children. After reading your post, you have convinced me to do a Professional Development with my resource teachers on utilizing google docs in the classroom for students with learning disabilities. I am sure my teachers would be amazed what all google docs has to offer. The best part about google docs is it can benefit everyone, students, teachers, parents. Google docs can also build confidence in children with learning disabilities. Often times, I have to tell my students, "Just because you may not learn the same as others, does not mean you aren't as valuable as others. Everyone was not meant to be the same." Thanks for sharing Jayme!
My grandmother lost her eyesight, too. She used to love to read, and audio books became her best friend when she lost her vision. If she was a typist, Google Voice would have been great for her. Google is such a leader in the technology and education industry because of their focus on accessibility!
ReplyDelete