It’s heartening to see tools emerging that not only support literacy but also promote inclusion and diversity. Read&Write by Everway (formerly Texthelp) is one such example: a cross-platform literacy support toolbar that can be added to browsers as well as used on desktops and mobile devices. It offers text-to-speech, speech-to-text (Talk & Type), word prediction, dictionaries (including picture dictionaries), screen masking, highlighters, vocabulary lists, and research/organisation support.
Among its strengths, Read&Write helps learners with dyslexia, ELLs, and others to access texts more independently and express themselves in writing. In one study, 66 % of students using Read&Write showed gains in reading age versus 27 % in a comparison group; quality of writing also improved.
However, no tool is without caveats. A meta-analysis of text-to-speech tools found only moderate effects on comprehension, while some users note the cost of licences, a learning curve in using the full toolbar, and uneven onboarding support.
Still, Read&Write remains a notable example of an inclusive tool bridging literacy, accessibility and diversity.
