What is ReadSpeaker TextAid?

ReadSpeaker TextAid is a web-based assistive technology platform that reads any text aloud with synchronised word-by-word highlighting, designed to support dyslexic employees and other neurodivergent adults in the workplace. It works on any internet-connected device with no downloads, giving users instant access to documents, emails, PDFs, web pages, and scanned images through a single secure login.

For dyslexic employees, reading-heavy tasks such as contracts, reports, training materials, policies, and long email threads can cause fatigue, anxiety, and lost productivity. TextAid removes that barrier. Staff can listen to text in a natural voice while reading along, upload documents for Optical Character Recognition (OCR), check their own writing before sending it, and study or draft content with tools that reduce cognitive load.

How ReadSpeaker TextAid supports dyslexic employees at work

TextAid is widely used as a workplace reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010 and is commonly funded through Access to Work. It helps adults work more independently, proofread their own writing, and engage confidently with written content across everyday business tasks.

• Reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010: a recognised text-to-speech and literacy solution that employers, HR teams, and occupational health advisors can implement quickly for neurodivergent staff.
• Access to Work friendly: commonly recommended as part of Access to Work support packages for dyslexic employees, with multi-year licences available for stable long-term provision.
• Works across your full working day: reads Outlook and Gmail emails, Word and Google Docs, PDFs, SharePoint files, web pages, intranet policies, and scanned documents through browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera.
• Proofing and writing support: word prediction, spell check, dictation, and text read-back help adults draft, check, and finalise professional written communication with greater confidence.
• Secure, fully encrypted, and WCAG 2.2 AA compliant: communication between the device and TextAid is fully encrypted, meeting the accessibility and security standards required by UK employers and public-sector bodies.

Designed around the challenges of dyslexia at work

Dyslexic adults often experience slower reading speed, reduced reading stamina, and difficulty decoding unfamiliar or complex text. This affects tasks that most workplaces take for granted, such as processing long emails, reviewing meeting notes, reading contracts, or completing online training. TextAid addresses these challenges directly by converting written content into clear spoken audio, highlighting text as it is read, and providing tools such as a screen mask, reading ruler, OpenDyslexic font, adjustable reading speed, and customisable colours. This bimodal reading approach (seeing and hearing the words together) is consistently recommended by the British Dyslexia Association as an effective literacy support strategy.

Built for business use, ready when you need it

TextAid runs entirely in the browser, so there is no IT rollout, no installation, and no admin approval needed on a managed device. The personal text library follows the user across devices, and files can be uploaded for OCR so even scanned or photographed documents become accessible. Employers can provide licences to individual staff members, or roll out multi-user licences across a team through group and user management tools.

If you are an employer, HR professional, occupational health advisor, or dyslexic employee exploring workplace adjustments, ReadSpeaker TextAid is a trusted, evidence-based option. Contact The Dyslexia Shop for advice on individual, multi-year, or multi-user licences, and for guidance on purchasing through Access to Work.

• Text-to-speech reading: reads any text aloud in a natural voice with synchronised word-by-word highlighting to support comprehension.
• 20+ reading languages: choose up to five reading languages per user, with multiple voices available in many languages including English, Welsh, and Irish.
• Document and OCR reading: upload Word, PDF, PowerPoint, EPUB, scanned images, and photos of text for instant read-aloud access.
• One-click web reading: free browser extensions for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera One read web pages, online PDFs, Google Docs, Microsoft Word Online, and emails in Gmail and Outlook online.
• Writing support: word prediction, auto-completion, spell check, dictation (speech-to-text), and character-by-character or sentence-by-sentence read-back for proofing.
• Study and focus tools: highlighter with summary export, annotations, screen mask, reading ruler, text selection, dictionary, and Wikipedia look-up.
• Personalised display: adjustable reading speed, text colour, size, and font including OpenDyslexic, plus customisable highlighting colours.
• Audio download: save any page as an MP3 file for offline listening on any device or via Dropbox.
• Translation: translate text into any of the available languages and listen to the translation.
• Talking calculator: reads numbers and calculations aloud for number-heavy workplace tasks.
• Personal text library: save documents to a cloud library and access them from any browser or device.
• Fully web-based: no downloads or installs required; works on Windows, macOS, Chromebook, iPad, Android, and any modern browser.
• Security and compliance: fully encrypted communication, WCAG 2.2 AA compliant, VPAT 2.4 accessibility conformance report available.
• Licence options: individual workplace licences, multi-year licences (including 3-year Access to Work licences), and multi-user business licences available. [UNVERIFIED - please confirm available licence lengths with your supplier]
• Age suitability: suitable for adult workplace use; also used in education from approximately age 7 upwards.

• What is ReadSpeaker TextAid and who is it for?
  ReadSpeaker TextAid is a web-based text-to-speech and literacy support platform for dyslexic adults and other neurodivergent employees. It reads any text aloud with word-by-word highlighting on any internet-connected device, supporting reading, writing, proofing, and studying across typical workplace tasks such as emails, reports, PDFs, and online training.
• Is ReadSpeaker TextAid suitable for dyslexic adults in the workplace?
  Yes, ReadSpeaker TextAid is widely used as a workplace literacy support tool for dyslexic adults. It reduces reading fatigue, supports proofing of written communication, and offers dyslexia-specific features such as the OpenDyslexic font, adjustable text colours, a reading ruler, and a screen mask. Many UK employers provide it as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010.
• Can ReadSpeaker TextAid be funded through Access to Work?
  Yes, ReadSpeaker TextAid is commonly recommended and funded through Access to Work for dyslexic employees. Multi-year licences, including 3-year Access to Work editions, are typically available from UK resellers such as The Dyslexia Shop. Speak to your workplace needs assessor if TextAid has been identified as a recommended support tool.
• How does ReadSpeaker TextAid help with writing emails and reports?
  TextAid supports writing through word prediction, spell check, dictation, and text read-back. The read-back feature reads your text aloud as you type, character by character, word by word, or sentence by sentence, which helps dyslexic writers catch spelling errors and phrasing problems before sending professional communication.
• Does ReadSpeaker TextAid work with Outlook, Gmail, Word, and PDFs?
  Yes, TextAid reads emails in Gmail and Outlook online, Microsoft Word Online, Google Docs, PDFs, web pages, and uploaded documents. Free browser extensions for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera One enable one-click reading directly inside your normal workplace tools.
• Can ReadSpeaker TextAid read scanned documents and images?
  Yes, TextAid includes Optical Character Recognition (OCR), so it can read aloud from scanned PDFs, photographed pages, and image files. This is particularly useful for dyslexic employees who need to access printed forms, contracts, or handouts that have only been shared as scanned images.
• Do I need to install anything to use ReadSpeaker TextAid at work?
  No, ReadSpeaker TextAid is fully web-based and runs in any modern browser with no installation required. This means it can be used on locked-down corporate laptops without IT needing to deploy software. Optional free browser extensions add one-click reading inside Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera.
• Is ReadSpeaker TextAid secure enough for workplace use?
  Yes, all communication between your device and ReadSpeaker TextAid is fully encrypted. TextAid meets Level A and Level AA success criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 specification and publishes a VPAT 2.4 accessibility conformance report, making it suitable for UK public-sector and enterprise environments.
• Can employers buy ReadSpeaker TextAid for multiple staff?
  Yes, multi-user business licences are available with group and user management tools. Coordinators can add staff, assign features, manage groups, and view usage statistics. This makes TextAid a practical option for inclusive workplace rollouts, employee resource groups, and wider neurodiversity-at-work initiatives.
• What devices does ReadSpeaker TextAid run on?
  ReadSpeaker TextAid runs on Windows PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, iPads, Android tablets, and smartphones through any modern web browser. The same account, library, and settings follow the user across devices, so employees can start a task at the office and continue it while working from home or travelling.