If you have talked to me about assistive technology in the last few months, there’s a high chance that I have mentioned Microsoft Immersive Reader and how it can help students with vision impairments and print disabilities. I have been using this tool a lot this semester, so today I’m excited to share my review of Immersive Reader and how I use it in the classroom.
What is Immersive Reader?
Microsoft’s Immersive Reader is a free tool that provides a full-screen reading experience. It is designed to improve the readability of text in Microsoft applications through the use of assistive technology accommodations for people with print disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, vision impairment, and more. Immersive Reader can be used alongside the Accessibility Checker to improve the layout of documents or can be used to make a document more accessible without editing the document further.
Related links
- Using the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word
- Seven Accessibility Features You Didn’t Know Existed In Microsoft Office
Where to find it
Immersive Reader can be found in the following applications on these operating systems with no additional downloads.
Windows
- Microsoft Edge (web browser)
- Word
- OneNote
- Outlook
Mac/iOS
- Microsoft Office Lens
- OneNote
- Word
Related links
- Microsoft OneNote Review
- Why Every Student Needs Microsoft Office Lens
- How I Organize Emails In College
How to access Immersive Reader
Within Microsoft Word and Microsoft OneNote
Users can access Immersive Reader inside Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook by doing the following:
- Click the “View” tab at the top of the screen
- Click the “Learning Tools” button
- Immersive Reader will open
Within Microsoft Outlook
Users can access Immersive Reader inside Microsoft Outlook by doing the following:
- Open an email in Microsoft Outlook
- Click on the “…” button to display more options
- Click “Show Immersive Reader” on the bottom
- Immersive Reader will open
Within Microsoft Edge
Users can access Immersive Reader inside Microsoft Edge by doing the following:
- Open a website or document in Microsoft Edge
- Click the book icon in the website address field
- Immersive Reader will open
Within Microsoft Office Lens
Users can access Immersive Reader inside Microsoft Office Lens by doing the following:
- Scan a document into Microsoft Office Lens
- Under the “Share To” section, select “Immersive Reader”
- Immersive Reader will open
Supported file types
Immersive Reader supports the following file types:
- Word documents (.doc, .docx)
- OneNote notebooks (.one)
- PDF files (.pdf)
- Website/HTML files (.html)
Related links
Interface
When a user opens a document with Immersive Reader, they don’t have to worry about messing with their previous settings. Instead, the user settings are available by default. Users can use the scroll wheel of their mouse, swipe across a touchscreen, or use the arrow keys on their keyboard to read the document. I appreciate that I can immediately focus on reading a document and not having to manipulate settings every time. It’s worth noting that Immersive Reader settings don’t synchronize across apps, so users will have to configure Immersive Reader on each individual app listed.
Choosing a background
Users can change the background color of Immersive Reader by selecting the “page color” option within Immersive Reader in Microsoft Word. For Microsoft Edge and OneNote, users can select the “Text Preferences” option or use the keyboard combination ctrl+shift+O in Immersive Reader. My favorite option is the dark/inverted theme as it is not harsh on my eyes.
Related links
- Ten Ways To Reduce Eye Strain From Screens With Technology
- Choosing High Contrast Color Schemes For Low Vision
- Assistive Technology For Fluctuating Eyesight
Change font size and font type
To adjust the font size and font type in Immersive Reader, use the same Text Preferences menu to adjust the slider and increase the size of the text. Users can also choose a display font- Calibri, Sitka, or Comic Sans.
Related links
- My Eight Favorite Free Fonts For Print Disabilities
- Paper Size and Low Vision
- How I Document Accessibility Preferences With Low Vision
Spacing
For users that prefer to read one to five lines at a time, users can go into Reading Preferences in Word or OneNote and select how many lines they want to display at a time. This is helpful for people who only want to focus on a few lines at a time when reading.
Built-in screen reader
For users with low vision or that benefit from having text out loud, the Read Aloud feature acts as a built-in screen reader so that information can be read out loud. This can be done by pushing the “read aloud” button, which looks like a speaker. In addition, Microsoft Edge users can have any webpage read out loud with this function by clicking the “more options” tab and selecting “read aloud.”
Related links
- Ways To Read Webpages Without A Traditional Screen Reader
- How To Use Select to Speak on Android
- My Favorite Web Browser Extensions For Virtual Learning
Highlighting parts of speech
For people that have trouble identifying parts of speech, Immersive Reader can highlight different parts of speech in customizable colors so that they can easily be identified. Syllables can also be separated by pressing the “syllables” button.
Picture dictionary
Having trouble figuring out the meaning of a word? Select a word by clicking or tapping on it, and a picture illustrating the word will pop up. This service is powered by BoardMaker, so frequent users of assistive technology may recognize a lot of the illustrations.
What I use it for
Here are some of the many ways I have used Immersive Reader:
- Reading websites
- Listening to classwork assignments
- Simplifying the display of a complicated document
- Scrolling through an online article
- Focusing on one line at a time in my programming assignments
How my professors have reacted
All of my professors have been fascinated with Immersive Reader and frequently ask me questions about how to use it. One of my professors even uses Immersive Reader to share information on the board.
Related links
Verdict
Immersive Reader is a free tool that has truly revolutionized reading for students with print disabilities, primarily because it is so widely accessible. Many schools utilize Microsoft products such as Microsoft Office and Windows operating systems, so Immersive Reader can easily be located and used to read a document. I highly recommend trying Immersive Reader and seeing how it can help you!
