Desire2Learn Partners with ReadSpeaker To Improve Accessibility

Desire2Learn has partnered with ReadSpeaker to increase the usability and accessibility of the Desire2Learn learning platforms.

ReadSpeaker Enterprise provides online text to speech services and can read text from HTML, PDF, Word, ODT, and Flash documents in 35 languages and 90 voices. It also features embedded synchronous highlighting, designed to make online material more accessible to users with cognitive issues, learning disabilities, vision problems, and those who do not speak or read English as their first language. As an online solution, ReadSpeaker is also available on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

As part of the agreement, ReadSpeaker will become a Desire2Learn select independent software vendor (ISV) partner. Desire2Learn select ISVs receive a variety of benefits from the company, including marketing assistance, sales training, access to the company's content development and partner network demo servers for testing new resource packages and demonstrating products and services for potential customers.

"We're very pleased to be partnering with ReadSpeaker and extending the accessibility capabilities of our platforms for learners globally," said John Baker, president & CEO of Desire2Learn. "The innovative approaches of ReadSpeaker are an excellent complement to our own beliefs that learning technologies should extend learning opportunities for all."

More information about Desire2Learn's learning platforms is available at desire2learn.com. Visit readspeaker.com for more information about ReadSpeaker Enterprise.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • interlocking blue and orange blocks merge at the center against a beige background decorated with subtle technology and education-themed icons

    Cambium Learning Group to Combine ExploreLearning and Learning A-Z Brands

    Ed tech company Cambium Learning Group has announced plans to combine its ExploreLearning and Learning A-Z brands, with a new name and brand identity to be introduced in early 2026.

  • Digital clouds with data points and network connections

    Microsoft's Windows 365 Cloud Apps Available in Public Preview

    Microsoft has announced that its Windows 365 Cloud Apps are now available in public preview. This allows IT administrators to stream individual Windows applications from the cloud, removing the need to assign Cloud PCs to every user.

  • magnifying glass highlighting a human profile silhouette, set over a collage of framed icons including landscapes, charts, and education symbols

    New AI Detector Identifies AI-Generated Multimedia Content

    Amazon Web Services and DeepBrain AI have launched AI Detector, an enterprise-grade solution designed to identify and manage AI-generated content across multiple media types. The collaboration targets organizations in government, finance, media, law, and education sectors that need to validate content authenticity at scale.