Easy-to-use Accessibility Tools

Microsoft 365 is accessible by design to help people and organizations be more productive and inclusive as they create, communicate, and collaborate from any device.. Learning Tools are available in Word, Word Online, OneNote, OneNote Online, Teams and Microsoft Edge. 

Reading and Speech

Immersive Reader is a tool you can find within many applications including Microsoft Word, Math Whiteboard, Flipgrid, the Edge browser, OneNote and more. Your child can read and listen to text with this tool. It can even break words down into syllables, show parts of speech and show words and pictures.

Vision, Hearing and Mobility  

Built-in screen reader with Narrator in Windows’ settings helps those experiencing visual difficulties have everything read to them.

 Subtitles are available for those with hearing difficulties in Teams, the Translator app and PowerPoint’s Presentation Translator.

Dictate allows anyone with limited mobility to use their computer’s microphone to dictate presentations and documents.

Neurodiversity and Cognitive   

Focus mode is available in the desktop version of Microsoft Word and in some other Microsoft products such as Teams. Use focus mode to minimize distractions by removing the Ribbon and Taskbar. 

Microsoft To Do is a free list, task, and reminder app that can help kids get organized as they work through the many lessons and activities in their lives. 

All Learners  

The Ease of Access Center in the Windows operating system’s settings allows you to personalize your computer in many ways to best support your child’s needs (for example, mouse actions, trackpad options and keyboard preferences).

Using ideas in this guide, parents and staff can strive to create an inclusive classroom environment by removing any barriers students might have to accessing technology and learning new content. When children feel confident about completing learning tasks independently, this contributes to their development into life-long learners.