Maximize your learning potential with Speechify and the Disabled Students' Allowance. Learn how to tap into this financial aid with our guide.

How to use Disabled Students' Allowance for Speechify

One tool that can be particularly beneficial for students with learning difficulties or physical disabilities such as visual impairments or dyslexia is Speechify. In this ultimate guide, we'll discuss how disabled students can use the DSA to access Speechify and get the most out of this powerful assistive technology.

What is the Disabled Students' Allowance?

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is a UK government grant designed to help disabled students access the support they need to succeed in their studies. This support can include software and equipment that helps students with disabilities, such as dyslexia, ADHD, visual impairments, and autism, to study effectively. The aim of DSA is to level the playing field for students with disabilities by providing them with the necessary tools and resources to overcome the barriers they face in their academic pursuits.

What does the DSA cover?

The DSA covers a range of assistive technology, including software, hardware, and equipment that students with disabilities may require to support their learning. This includes specialist software such as speech recognition, text to speech, and mind-mapping software, as well as hardware such as ergonomic keyboards, adapted mice, and tablets. In addition to these resources, the DSA can also cover the cost of one-to-one study skills support, mentoring, and specialist teachers, as well as a variety of other extra support services, providing disabled students with personalized support tailored to their individual needs.

About Speechify

Speechify is a popular and text to speech reader and one of the best alternatives to other text to speech programs due to its wide variety of humanlike narrators which provide high-quality voiceovers. The app was created by Cliff Weitzman, who struggled with dyslexia and learning disabilities himself. He developed Speechify to help others with similar challenges improve their reading comprehension‌ and succeed in their studies.

How to use Speechify

To use Speechify, you simply need to copy and paste text into the IOS or Android app or Chrome browser extension, and the app will read it aloud. The program is also compatible with multiple browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Safari.

The app offers a range of text to speech tools and functionalities, including:

• Voice over and screen reader function — This function allows you to read any text on your screen, making it easier to navigate through documents and web pages.
• Multiple language support — You can use text to speech services in various languages, including but not limited to Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
• OCR technology — There is a scanning feature that enables you to scan physical documents, such as study materials, into the app and have those read aloud too via OCR technology.
• Text highlighting — Speechify highlights the text as it reads it aloud, allowing you to easily follow along and stay focused.
• Supports multiple formats — You can easily have text read aloud from practically any format, whether a PDF, txt doc, docX, or so many more.

How to get the DSA to cover Speechify

An assistive technology must-have is Speechify, a high-quality text to speech app that reads text aloud and can help students with reading difficulties and visual impairments.

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

To be eligible for DSA, you must have a disability or learning difficulty that affects your ability to study. You must also be studying a higher education course, such as a degree or postgraduate qualification, in the UK. If you are unsure whether you are eligible for DSA, you can contact the Disability Service at your university or college for advice.

Step 2: Apply for Disabled Students' Allowance

Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you can apply for DSA. You can apply for DSA through your student finance provider, such as Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Scotland, or Student Finance Northern Ireland. You will need to provide evidence of your disability or learning difficulty, such as a doctor's letter or needs assessment report, and complete an application form.

Step 3: Request Speechify as part of your support

When you apply for DSA, you will have a needs assessment with a specialist assessor. A needs assessor signs off on support due to a students’ needs and will determine the support you require. During this assessment, you can request Speechify as part of your support. The specialist assessor will consider your request and determine whether Speechify is appropriate for your needs.

Step 4: Receive your funding

If Speechify is approved as part of your support, you will receive funding to purchase the app. The amount of funding you receive will depend on your individual circumstances and the support you require. Once you have received your funding, you can purchase Speechify from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Step 5: Install and use Speechify

After purchasing Speechify, you can download and install the Speechify app on your smartphone (Androids and iPhones are both supported) or tablet such as iPad. You can also access the software through the Chrome extension or Speechify website. Once installed, you can use the app to read any physical or digital text aloud, such as PDFs, articles, and websites. The app also allows you to customize the speed and voice of the text, making it easier for you to read and understand.

Benefits of using DSA for Speechify

Speechify is an excellent app that can help students with disabilities, such as dyslexia, ADHD, or visual impairment, to study effectively. Here are some reasons why:

1. Improved reading comprehension: Speechify uses text to speech technology that converts written text into audio format. This feature can help students with dyslexia or other reading disabilities to better understand the material by listening to it rather than struggling to read it.
2. Increased reading speed: Speechify can read text aloud at a faster pace than most people can read, which can be particularly helpful for students who have difficulty reading at a normal pace. This can also help students with ADHD to stay focused and engaged while reading.
3. Accessible to visual impairment: Speechify can also benefit students with visual impairment or blindness as it allows them to listen to their course materials instead of relying on Braille or audio books.
4. Multitasking: Speechify allows students to multitask, listening to their course materials while doing other things like exercising, walking, or even commuting to and from school.
5. Saving time: Speechify can help students to save time by enabling them to listen to their course materials at a faster pace than they could read them. This can be especially helpful for students who struggle with time management and focus.
6. Improved memory and recall: Speechify can also help students with disabilities to improve their memory and recall by providing auditory learning. Research has shown that auditory learning can be an effective method for improving memory and recall, especially for individuals with dyslexia or other learning disabilities. By listening to their course materials, students can retain information better and recall it more easily when needed.

Pricing for Speechify

The pricing for Speechify varies depending on the version and the features you need. The basic version of Speechify is free and offers limited functionality, while the premium version includes advanced features such as multiple speech voices, offline reading, and unlimited text to speech conversion. The app also offers a special pricing plan for students with disabilities, which includes additional support and resources.

Why you should use DSA for Speechify

As you can see, Speechify’s advanced text to speech technology can be beneficial to students who struggle with studying. However, if we haven’t convinced you enough, here are five more reasons why you should consider using your Disabled Students' Allowance for Speechify.

1. Accessible to all learners — Speechify's text to speech technology makes it accessible to special needs learners with various disabilities, including visual impairments, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. The app's user-friendly interface is designed to be easy to navigate and customizable to fit each user's specific needs.
2. Improves comprehension — For learners with reading difficulties, listening to texts can often improve comprehension and retention. Speechify's voice-activated reading feature provides a natural-sounding voice that reads text aloud, making it easier for learners to understand the content. This feature can be particularly helpful for dyslexic learners or other reading difficulties.
3. Customizable features — Speechify offers several customizable features, including font size, spacing, and highlighting. These features can be beneficial for learners with visual impairments or other disabilities that affect their ability to read traditional text formats.
4. Supports IEP goals — For teachers and parents of students with special education needs, Speechify can be a valuable tool for supporting learners in achieving their IEP goals. The app's data collection capabilities allow educators to track a learner's progress over time and identify areas that may require additional support.

Try Speechify for free today to see how it can meet your needs and transform your learning experience while you determine whether you want to inquire about using your Disabled Students' Allowance for the premium version of the software.

FAQ

What is the best text to speech software?

Speechify text to speech software is the best among TTS tools with the most humanlike voices.

Where can I read Amazon best-selling audiobooks?

Speechify Audiobooks and Audible offer Amazon and New York Times best-selling audiobooks.

How can text to speech boost mental health?

Text to speech technology can boost mental health by reducing stress and anxiety related to reading difficulties.