Software helps overcome learning disabilities

Grader A: partial

Print-to-speech tools for students with reading disabilities were established and funded by 2009: Bookshare received US Department of Education grants from 2007 to give free accessible e-books to qualifying students, and Kurzweil 3000 served students with dyslexia. Use was real but not routine for most students with reading disabilities.

Test: At least 20% of students with reading disabilities using print-to-speech routinely: not shown; a federally funded service for this group existed from 2007, so the share is measurable (estimated above 5%) but below mainstream.

• Bookshare (Wikipedia) (retrieved 2026-09): Accessible e-book library for print disabilities; US Department of Education grants since 2007 give free access to qualifying students.
• Kurzweil Educational Systems (Wikipedia) (retrieved 2026-09): Kurzweil 3000 serves students with dyslexia and other learning differences.

Grader B: partial

Text-to-speech readers (Kurzweil 3000 and similar) were used by many students with reading disabilities, but not routinely by most.

Test: Share test: >5% of students with reading disabilities, not majority by 2011.

• Wikipedia: Kurzweil Educational Systems (accessed 2026-09-28): Kurzweil 3000 (company from 1996) reads scanned and digital text aloud for users with dyslexia and learning differences.