Blog 4: Google Read & Write (My BFF)

What if you did not have a friend to read over an assignment for you?

Google Read and Write is simply amazing. In my opinion, anyway. I’ve been using it since grade 7 and it has helped me through just about every assignment I’ve ever had to complete. I do pay for this software but it is worth EVERY PENNY.

Every time I’m having trouble reading a passage or a lengthy reading for an assignment? Google Read and Write.

Whenever I feel my concentration waning? Google Read and Write.

Whenever I feel the letters and words getting mixed up in my head? GRW.

Tired? GRW.

Confused? GRW.

Basically, I use Google Read and Write to help with all facets of my dyslexia, from typing to reading. Allow me to explain.

Google Read and Write is an extension tool for Google Chrome browser. If you have Google Docs, you can use this extension to have the text in your doc read out loud. You can change the pace and the voice to be something you’re comfortable with, and the best thing is that it never sounds robotic or monotonous, and so you never get sick of the voice reading your work back to you. This also includes pausing your reading so if you want to change anything that you typed, you can. What is great is you can also get articles online or PDFs read to you. I use that tool a lot when reading for an assignment. This also includes a talking dictionary and translator for anything that is in a different language. I have personally never used these features but I have heard they are pretty useful.

This extension will also type for you, which is a God send for me sometimes when I am better at getting my ideas out verbally. The program isn’t perfect, but it’s fairly accurate at translating what I say onto the document. Voice notes are another feature if you are editing a document and want to have side notes, it is just a voice recording of your note with the highlighted text.

One of the other tools I find helpful is the Predictive Text feature. It’s a lot like what you might see on your phone when you’re typing a message to someone and the device predicts what word you might want to use next. It isn’t always accurate but it can help me when I’m having trouble thinking of the word I want to use next.

Google Read and Write comes with loads of other features, and the ones I mention above are just a few that I find helpful on a day to day basis. I’d encourage anyone interested in the app to explore more for themselves!

The app has a bit of a lofty cost at $99 for a yearly description, but for someone like myself who experiences the difficulties associated with dyslexia, it’s proven worth it. There is also a free version you can try out which offers text-to-speech.