developed with guidance from leading reading experts. It enables all children access to state and
national curricula and conforms to today’s research focused funding requirements.
With the Kurzweil 3000, a student with reading difficulties has access to textbooks and classroom
materials displayed as an exact image on the computer screen. The text is then read aloud using the
highest quality, most human sounding synthetic speech while highlighting words and sentences
visually on screen.
One of the benefits of using assistive reading technology, such as the Kurzweil 3000, is that students
are able access classroom textbooks for increased access to general curriculum materials. This means
they can use the same materials used in the classroom and the students are able to continue learning in
the least restrictive environment. In addition to reading tools, Kurzweil 3000 includes audible tools to
assist word decoding (syllabification and spelling), tools to assist with writing (spell-checking and
word-prediction), and a tool that speaks and highlights pages from the Internet, opening up a whole
world of knowledge. The Kurzweil 300 can also be used for classroom and standardized test-taking,
offering more independence for both the student and teacher.
Assistive reading technology has been shown (e.g., Heckler, L., Burns, L., Katz, L., Elkind, J., and
Elkind, K. 2002 ; Elkind 1998) to help poor readers increase reading speed and comprehension, as
well as increase attention.
References
Heckler, L., Burns, L., Katz, L., Elkind, J., and Elkind, K. 2002 Benefits of Assistive Reading
Software for Students with Attention Disorders. Annals of Dyslexia, To Appear December 2002
Volume 52
Elkind, J. 1998. A Study of the Efficacy of the Kurzweil 3000 Reading Machine in Enhancing Poor
Reading Performance. Portola Valley, CA: Lexia Institute
Wise, B. and Olson, R. 1995 Computer-based Phonological Awareness and Reading Instruction.
Annals of Dyslexia 45:99-122
Elkind, J., Cohen K., and Murray, C. 1993 Using Computer-based Readers to Improve Reading
Comprehension of Students with Dyslexia. Annals of Dyslexia, 46:159-186
Olson, R. and Wise, B. 1992. Reading on the Computer with Orthographic and Speech Feedback.
Reading and Writing 4:107-44
Olson R., Foltz G., and Wise, B. 1987 Reading Instruction and Remediation with the Aid of
Computer Speech. In D. Reinking (ed.) Computers and Reading: Issues for Theory and Practice,
New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia University.
Goals & Objectives
Describe the project objectives in measurable terms that address the academic and technology needs
of the students.
The goal of the Read to Succeed! Project is to enable at risk students and students with learning and
reading disabilities to improve their reading skills to the point where they can succeed in school and
develop the reading skills that will prepare them for high school and post secondary education.