Visual impairment occurs when visual perception is altered or impeded, either by loss of visual acuity or by restriction of your visual field. Depending on the degree of their difficulty in capturing visual information, we can differentiate between people with a partial loss or dysfunction -which can be more or less serious- and people with a total loss or blindness. This undoubtedly results in enormous social inequality. Therefore, today we want to tell you about Text-To-Speech: Resource For Inclusion Of Visually Impaired People.
Labor Inclusion
If your company is offering a vacancy for which it is a requirement to use office package products; for example, keep in mind that a blind or visually impaired candidate can do so; without this implying a different inclusion process than any other candidate. who is not disabled.
Also, keep in mind that most devices today have native screen readers and there are also free versions of various screen readers; including a worker who is blind or has low vision does not necessarily imply a greater investment for your organization.
The worker who uses a screen reader listens through headphones, so this would not be an interruption in the workspace.
Remember that omitting to interview a blind or low vision candidate who is suitable for a certain job position due to their disability situation is employment discrimination.
What is a Text-To-Speech?
A Text-To-Speech or Text Reader is software that uses a voice synthesizer to read the text displayed on a screen. Text-To-Speech is a resource used by people who are blind or have low vision to access their mobile devices or work on their computers.
But they are also used by people who are not disabled for various tasks, such as listening to GPS directions while driving a car. In addition, they are very useful for students or people who multitask.
In the workplace, a Text-To-Speech is extremely useful for a worker who is blind or has low vision. With this software, they can interpret and work with voice, among other things, the information in a browser, in a word or excel document, or in an email.
Types Of Screen Readers
By default, many operating systems today have built-in screen readers or text readers. This means that such devices can operate entirely through a screen reader.
Apple devices, for example, use the VoiceOver screen reader. On Android, the reader used is Talkback. However, when we work we usually do not with the phone on us, but we use a computer. In these cases, it is advisable to have a Saas that allows you to convert the files to audio, as well as a Chrome extension for the browser.
Currently, there is a lot of offer of this kind of technology, which is excellent, since the inclusion is more real every day. However, at the same time, it is difficult to find good software of this type. Therefore, next, we will briefly mention Woord, a Saas that will convert any file into audio, as well as read the content of your browser.
Check Woord’s Text-To-Speech: Resource For Inclusion Of Visually Impaired People
Woord is our number one choice for its intuitive design when talking about accessibility and inclusion. This Saas is an excellent tool for those who do not have much experience with this type of software; if what you need is a simple and good quality job, Woord will fulfill the task. Also, allows you to select the type of device on which you will play the audio; doing so will apply effects that will improve the quality of the MP3 file.
Since we are talking about inclusion, we must mention that this free ai voice generator has female, male, and gender-neutral voice styles. Also, Woord has an SSML editor, allowing you to adjust the speed of the audio without affecting the quality. Many blind people have the ability to interpret sounds faster than average; adjusting the pace of the audio can make the process much faster for them.
Finally, we must say that in addition to the fact that the free option is excellent, buying a pro version can be a good investment for teaching work. In this sense, Woord is also a great option for its affordable prices.
For More Inclusive Uses Of Text-To-Speech We Recommend…
How Text-To-Speech Aids Visually Impaired Students
Make Your Restaurant More Inclusive With Text-To-Speech
Also published on Medium.