Surviving College with Neurodiversity
Finding the best text-to-speech (TTS) software to help with college-level reading assignments is important for students with language-based learning disabilities. Many students with disabilities like dyslexia struggle with the volume of reading assignments in college. Students with dyslexia, for example, take longer to read and usually have difficulty comprehending the reading and retaining the information. In my podcast, I will review the best TTS software for college students with dyslexia.
Script Outline
I used Microsoft Copilot for outline ideas but ended up writing my own outline. However, Copilot gave me some valuable suggestions that helped me get started.
- Intro (0-20 seconds)
- Introduction Music
- Intro Topic
- Hello, and welcome to the Surviving College with Neurodiversity podcast. I’m Leah, your host, and I’m excited to talk with you about how, as someone with dyslexia, I adjusted to the huge increase in reading assignments in college by using text-to-speech software.
- Background (20-40 seconds)
- So the problem for students with dyslexia, for example, is that it just takes a very long time to read. It’s also much more difficult to comprehend the reading and retain the information.
- And with the sheer increase in reading assignments that college students face, it can be very overwhelming.
- First Point (40 – 60 seconds)
- The first piece of advice I’ll give any student with a language-based learning disability is to ALWAYS purchase the electronic version of the text.
- This is simply because most electronic versions will usually have some TTS option.
- Now, I’ve purchased through several different online vendors, and my preference is VitalSource. I like this platform because it offers several features that make it easier.
- Choose a voice – it does not sound computerized, easy to listen to
- Choose a speed
- Sound Effect: TTS voice reading text
- The first piece of advice I’ll give any student with a language-based learning disability is to ALWAYS purchase the electronic version of the text.
- Second Point (60-80 seconds)
- Sometimes, you might be assigned a literature book. If you’re able to, I really like to purchase these on my Kindle with the Audible extension.
- In the Kindle app, I can highlight and take notes, while I listen along using Audible. But I also listen to the Audible at other times, like when I’m walking around campus or driving in a car. This enables me to make the most of the time I have available.
- Sometimes, you might be assigned a literature book. If you’re able to, I really like to purchase these on my Kindle with the Audible extension.
- Third Point ( 80-100 seconds)
- The most challenging readings I get assigned are the long, 40 page PDF’s. For example, some professors will be nice and not assign textbooks that we have to purchase, and instead make copies of the chapters and post them as PDFs. As someone with dyslexia, these are very difficult to read.
- My recommendation in this situation is…
- The most challenging readings I get assigned are the long, 40 page PDF’s. For example, some professors will be nice and not assign textbooks that we have to purchase, and instead make copies of the chapters and post them as PDFs. As someone with dyslexia, these are very difficult to read.
- Conclusion (100-120 seconds)
- Signoff
- Ending music
Test Recording
I recorded a test recording at home in a large walk-in closet. I used my iPhone to record my voice and uploaded the file to GarageBand to check the sound quality.