Text-to-Speech Implementation Guide and Video

For schools looking for ways to improve academic achievement and persistence to high school completion, utilization of TTS technology paired with AIM is worth serious consideration. This implementation guide was developed to support use of TTS and AIM as a compensatory strategy at the secondary level. It is based on the collective experiences of educators in local school districts who implemented pilot TTS/AIM projects. These projects provided TTS technology and AIM throughout the day to individual students and tracked educational outcomes. Although the information provided in this guide pertains to these specific projects in Missouri, the principles, practices, and materials apply more broadly to the ongoing implementation of AIM in educational settings.

The content of the guide and video include extensive resources that address student selection criteria, technology considerations, training needs, IDEA requirements for AIM and copyright provisions. It is organized into three sections: Pre-Implementation, Implementation, and Post-Implementation; providing information and resources in support of each phase.

The AIM Video is a supplement to the AIM Implementation Guide. It displays several Missouri secondary students with reading disabilities and educators as they incorporate text-to-speech systems into their daily educational routine with highly successful outcomes. Both the video and guide provide step-by-step details in implementing TTS and AIM projects. They can help in garnering support and buy-in for implementation, provide product descriptions for commonly used TTS systems and support products (e.g., scanners and conversion software), along with references and policy resources related to obtaining and producing AIM.