{"id":6162,"date":"2026-03-16T10:06:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/LTAcademy\/?p=6162"},"modified":"2026-03-16T10:07:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:07:00","slug":"using-read-aloud-text-to-speech-to-support-accessible-and-inclusive-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/LTAcademy\/using-read-aloud-text-to-speech-to-support-accessible-and-inclusive-content\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Read Aloud \/ Text to Speech to support accessible and inclusive content"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By Heather Pennington and Alex Stewart, Learning and Teaching Academy<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In an increasingly digital learning environment, creating content that is accessible to all learners is essential. Read Aloud and Text to Speech tools support learners who use assistive technologies and help staff review the clarity, structure and overall accessibility of the materials they produce. These features (built into Windows and many Microsoft 365 applications) convert text into spoken words, offering an additional way for users to engage with content.<\/p>\n<h2>Why use Read Aloud \/ Text to Speech tools?<\/h2>\n<p>Read Aloud tools help ensure your materials work effectively for a diverse range of learners by:\u2011intensive tasks.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Providing an alternative way to access written content for those with dyslexia, visual impairments or other learning differences.<br \/>\n\u2022 Supporting comprehension by allowing users to listen while reading.<br \/>\n\u2022 Appealing to those who prefer auditory engagement or benefit from multimodal learning.<br \/>\n\u2022 Reducing cognitive load during reading intensive tasks.<br \/>\n\u2022 Enabling proofreading by highlighting unclear structure, inconsistent headings or long sentences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Using Read Aloud while drafting or reviewing content is a simple way to check whether your document is well structured and logically organised. If it works when read aloud, it is more likely to work well for screen reader users too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Aloud in Microsoft 365 (Office) for Windows<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Microsoft Word<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Select <strong>Review &gt; Read Aloud<\/strong>.<br \/>\n\u2022 The <strong>Immersive Reader<\/strong> (under View) offers additional support such as line focus, text spacing and colour customisation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Microsoft Edge<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Use <strong>Immersive Reader<\/strong> on supported webpages and select Read Aloud to listen to articles, webpages and PDFs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PowerPoint<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Add speaker notes and use Read Aloud during practice runs to refine clarity, pace and flow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Voice Customisation Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Customising Read Aloud settings can make listening more comfortable and effective:<br \/>\n\u2022 Adjust reading speed and voice style in the Voice Options panel.<br \/>\n\u2022 In Word, go to <strong>Review &gt; Read Aloud &gt; Speech<\/strong> to change the voice and speed.<br \/>\n\u2022 Experiment with settings to find a voice that suits your listening preferences.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Using Pronunciation Tools in Word (Windows)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Word doesn\u2019t provide a full pronunciation editor, but it does allow you to check how terms will be spoken:<br \/>\n\u2022 Highlight a word or section of text and select <strong>Review &gt; Read Aloud<\/strong>.<br \/>\nThis is particularly helpful for checking names, technical terms or discipline-specific vocabulary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Aloud on Other Platforms<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Adobe Acrobat Reader<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 The <strong>Read Out Loud<\/strong> tool enables users to listen to PDFs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Blackboard Ally<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Provides <strong>Alternative Formats<\/strong>, including audio versions of text-based content.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mobile Devices<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Tools such as NaturalReader, VoiceOver (Mac) and TalkBack (Android) offer systemwide text to speech for reading apps, emails and webpages.\u2011wide text\u2011to\u2011speech for reading apps, emails and webpages.<\/p>\n<h2>Making the most of Read Aloud tools<\/h2>\n<p>To maximise benefits:<br \/>\n\u2022 Encourage students to use these tools during revision, close reading or when working with complex texts.<br \/>\n\u2022 Use Read Aloud for proofreading to catch issues that may be missed visually.<br \/>\n\u2022 Listen to your document to ensure it reads logically for assistive technology users.<br \/>\nIntegrating these features into everyday academic practice helps create a more inclusive learning environment.<\/p>\n<h2>Contact Us<\/h2>\n<p>For support, please contact <strong>LTAcademy@cardiff.ac.uk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Heather Pennington and Alex Stewart, Learning and Teaching Academy In an increasingly digital learning environment, creating content that is accessible to all learners is essential. 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