New accessibility tools: Texthelp Read&Write and OrbitNote now available for uOttawa community

Library
Accessibility
Texthelp Read&Write and OrbitNote logos
We’re excited to announce that the University of Ottawa Library has recently acquired a site license for Read&Write software, which is now available to all current uOttawa students, staff, and faculty! In addition, users have access to OrbitNote, a powerful tool for digital annotation.

Read&Write is a literacy support software designed to enhance reading and writing across a range of platforms. It includes features like text-to-speech, word prediction, and speech-to-text. This tool is particularly beneficial for individuals with learning disabilities, but it can be used by anyone looking to improve their productivity and comprehension.

OrbitNote enhances PDF accessibility by allowing users to annotate, add voice and text comments, highlight, and collaborate on digital documents. Its key features include text-to-speech, screen masking, and integrated dictionaries, making it a versatile tool for improving reading and interaction with PDF content.

How to access:

Both tools can be downloaded on your preferred platform. To get started, download the software and sign in with your uOttawa Microsoft account.  

For uOttawa students and staff personal devices:

Download Read&Write on your preferred platform (Windows, Mac, iPad/iPhone, Android tablet, and Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge extensions). Once you have downloaded the software, you must sign in and authenticate with Microsoft using your uOttawa email and password to access the full version.  

Download OrbitNote for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or the WebApp. To access the full version of the software, you must sign in and authenticate with Microsoft using your uOttawa email and password.

uOttawa staff & faculty:

Windows Installation: To install Read&Write on uOttawa-owned computers, submit a request to your IT department.  

Helpful resources:

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