As the number of students with disabilities such as those who have specific learning disabilities increases, the demand for accessible tools and equitable learning environments has never been more pressing. In order to accommodate the requirements of all students and promote inclusive environments where students can learn both alone and in groups, Google for Education makes use of built-in accessibility capabilities. Their accessibility features offer students the tools they need to study collaboratively while also providing them with personalized help.
Captions An Effective Tool Across All Google Products
All of their goods include features that are useful for such students. One of those characteristics is captions, which come in handy for those who are hard of hearing or deaf as well as in loud environments, when students need extra help focusing, or when someone wants assistance in a different language. Google Meet offers captions in six different languages, and you may modify the font’s size and screen positioning. Accessing and adding captions to videos on Chrome, Google Drive, and YouTube is also possible. Live Transcribe offers captions for Android users as well.
Equipping Chromebooks With Accessibility Features
Every person can perform their best job thanks to these accessibility capabilities, which are simple to use and already included in Chromebooks. These features include Select-to-Speak, the ChromeVox screen reader, and magnification. Further dictation enhancements have since been introduced, such as the ability to speak into any text field on the Chromebook by merely clicking on the microphone icon in the status area. Moreover, you can dictate by pressing Search + d. You can now edit entirely with your voice.
Google Workspace For Education Should Offer More Customization Choices
Google Documents, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings now allow users to customize accessibility settings separately for each product. To improve on that, Google has come out with the idea of combining the Docs settings for braille and screen reader support into a single setting with a single checkbox. Together with automated punctuation and browser compatibility, enhancements to voice typing in Google Docs, speaker notes in Google Slides, and captions in Google Slides can transform the field of education.
It is now possible to type a keyboard shortcut (ALT + number, 1-7) that verbalizes the details of a Calendar event for persons who are blind or have low vision and use screen readers. This eliminates the need for laborious navigating and allows for the on-demand hearing of Calendar data.
Expanding Accessible Tools In Collaboration With Partners
Through partnerships with groups that share the same vision and with tools, instructors get desired assistance. Several of these programmes and add-ons are compatible with Chromebooks, Google Workspace for Education, and other Google products like Classroom.
This includes Texthelp, a business that creates extensions and applications that combine digital learning and accessibility tools to assist people in learning, understanding, and communicating. Pupils can utilize programmes like Read&Write to boost their reading skills and Equation to assist them in digitally writing arithmetic equations. SnapType, developed by an occupational therapist, lowers barriers to education by boosting pupils’ self-assurance and independence. By utilizing SnapType to quickly take a picture of their assignment and then type or dictate their coursework, students who struggle with handwriting or visual impairments may stay up in class with their peers.
The update on-screen reader-specific Help Center articles, such as how to use a screen reader with Google Calendar, and Google Drive, and how to make your document or presentation more accessible are very informative. Keep up with Google for Education’s newest accessibility updates.
