For desktop Windows and OS X versions of its comprehensive note-taking app OneNote, Microsoft has released a package of features, called Learning Tools, intended to help students with dyslexia.
Though still in beta form, Microsoft is marketing the new add-on, which is currently available only for OneNote 2013 and 2016, to students with learning differences. The Verge reports that, once installed, the new features are available from the in-app menu bar.
Microsoft says that these new tools can make reading easier for people with dyslexia. They include, for example, “advanced” dictation where highlighted text is spoke aloud, more spacious lettering to allow for greater legibility, and syllables that have been parsed-out for clearer sound and purpose.
OneNote is also available on iOS, Android and mobile Windows, but it is unclear whether Microsoft intends to later bring Learning Tools to OneNote on these platforms, too. There are certainly no obvious technical barriers to porting the features in this way.
In its current form, Learning Tools for OneNote 2013 and 2016 can be downloaded by following the detailed instructions on this page of the Microsoft Office website.
