🛠️ Assistive Technology

Your Assistive Tech Toolkit

Every tool you need to read, write, organise and succeed — all in one place. Pick a section below to get started.

💻 Microsoft Word 💬 Microsoft Teams 🧠 Read&Write 📐 EquatIO 🎙️ Voice Typing
🤔 What Is Assistive Technology?
🔊

Have Text Read Aloud

Your laptop can read any webpage, document, or assignment out loud so you don't have to read it yourself.

Text-to-Speech
🎙️

Speak Instead of Type

Use your voice to write essays, answer questions, and fill in assignments — no typing needed.

Voice-to-Text

Fix Spelling & Grammar

Smart tools catch mistakes and suggest improvements so your work looks polished every time.

Spell Check
📐

Work With Maths Easily

Type, speak or handwrite fractions, algebra, and equations without struggling with symbols.

EquatIO
📅

Stay Organised

Track deadlines, homework and assignments using digital planners built right into your laptop.

Organisation

⚙️ Built-In Tools on Your Laptop

These features are already on your school laptop — no downloading needed!

🎙️

Voice-to-Text (Dictation)

Speak and your laptop types it. Great if writing is slow or spelling is tricky.

How to turn on:
Settings → Accessibility → Speech

Best for: Dysgraphia · Slow writing
🔊

Text-to-Speech (Read Aloud)

Your laptop reads text aloud. Works in Word, PDFs, and in the Edge browser.

How to turn on:
Word → Review → Read Aloud
Edge → Book icon → Read Aloud

Best for: Dyslexia · Proofreading
📖

Immersive Reader

Makes reading easier with line focus, syllable splitting, font/spacing changes, and page colour options.

How to open:
Word → View → Immersive Reader

Best for: All learners

📝 Microsoft Word — Your Main Tool
1

🔊 Read Aloud

Have Word read your assignment back to you to catch errors before you hand it in.
Review → Read Aloud

2

✅ Editor (Spelling & Grammar)

Get spelling and grammar suggestions, plus tips to make your writing clearer.
Home → Editor

3

🎙️ Dictation (Voice Typing)

Talk, and Word types your words. Perfect for long essays or when writing is hard.
Home → Dictate

4

📖 Immersive Reader

Change font size, spacing, and page colour. Use line focus to read one line at a time.
View → Immersive Reader

5

💡 Word Prediction (via Read&Write)

Word suggests the next word as you type. Makes writing faster and easier.

💾

Always save your work to OneDrive so you never lose it. Use font size 12–14 with Calibri or Arial, and run Read Aloud before submitting any assignment.


💬 Microsoft Teams — Homework Hub

Teams is where teachers post assignments, deadlines, files and feedback. Here's how to use it.

1

Open Teams & find your class

Click the Teams icon on the left → select your class team.

2

Go to Assignments

Click Assignments in the left menu or at the top of your class channel.

3

Open an assignment & read instructions

Click the task. Use the Immersive Reader icon to have instructions read aloud to you.

4

Upload your work & hand in

Upload your saved Word file → click Hand In. Done! ✅

📅

Track Deadlines

Use the Calendar tab in Teams to see all your upcoming deadlines in one place.

🔔

Turn On Notifications

So you never miss a new assignment or message from your teacher.

📁

Files Tab

Find notes and resources shared by your teacher in the Files tab of each class.


📐 Maths Tools
✏️

EquatIO

Type, speak, or handwrite maths equations. Supports fractions, algebra, geometry, graphs and scientific notation.

texthelp.com/products/equatio
📊

Desmos

A free online graphing calculator. Type or speak equations and see graphs appear instantly.

desmos.com
🔢

Windows Calculator

Built-in scientific calculator on your laptop. Switch to scientific mode for advanced maths.

Search: Calculator
💡

Pro tip: Use EquatIO to insert equations directly into your Word assignments. At desmos.com, you can type or speak equations and they'll graph automatically — great for visual learners!


🧰 Recommended Apps & Resources
🧠
Read&Write by Texthelp
Text-to-speech, word prediction, picture dictionary, voice typing, PDF reader & vocabulary builder
text.help/gethome
✏️
EquatIO
Speak or type maths equations into any document
texthelp.com
📊
Desmos Graphing Calculator
Free, visual, online graphing tool for maths class
desmos.com
🗺️
MindMeister & Coggle
Mind-mapping tools to plan essays, projects and ideas visually
mindmeister.com
📚
Bookshare Ireland
Free audiobooks and accessible digital books for eligible students
bookshare.ie
🔤
WordQ
Advanced word prediction — great for writing longer pieces
quillsoft.ca
🇮🇪
Dyslexia Ireland
Support, resources and guidance for students with dyslexia
dyslexia.ie

⭐ Top Tips for Success
🏠 Start with built-in tools first
🔇 Create a distraction-free study space
🔖 Bookmark important websites
Take short breaks regularly
💾 Always save to OneDrive
🔔 Turn on Teams notifications
📋 Open assignments early
🎉 Celebrate every win!
🚀

You don't have to use every tool at once. Start with one or two — like Read Aloud and Dictation in Word — and build from there. The goal is to find what works best for you.