Chrome Web Apps and Extensions
In addition to the features Google has built into their products, many developers have created Chrome web apps and Chrome extensions that bring extra functionality to Chrome for accessibility and accommodations.

To learn how to install and manage Chrome web apps, see this video
To learn how to install and manage Chrome extensions, see this video

Below is a list of many useful Chrome web apps and extensions for special needs grouped by topic. Some tools fit into more than one topic, but each is only listed once.

Text to speech

• Read&Write for Google - Provides a drop down menu bar in Google Docs with features including text to speech, translation, and highlighting. A paid version is also available that adds a picture dictionary, word prediction, vocabulary list builder, and more.

                     Note: Educators can get the paid version for a year at no cost by filling out the form at this link.

• SpeakIt! - Text to speech tool that reads any selected text on web pages or PDF’s that are opened in Chrome. Options that can be adjusted include speaking rate and choice of voice.

Speech to text

• Google Voice Typing - Use your voice to type on a Google Document
• Voice Recognition - allows user to dictate the text of a document, then save the text or copy/paste to docs or email

Focused Reading  Tools

• OpenDyslexic - overrides all fonts on web pages with OpenDyslexic font, formatting pages to be more easily readable
• Reading Ruler - Highlight text on a web page, one line at a time
• BeeLine Reader - Remove ads, comments, and other extra distracting items, applies a color gradient to the text
• ATbar - Change the colors, font size for a web page, text-to-speech, colored overlays, remove distractions and more
• MagicScroll Web Reader -Turn web pages into a flippable e-book and control over font size and page color
• Readline - Adjust the speed to the lowest setting and use this extension to easily read text one word at a time
• ​Visor - Screen dimmer and reading aid

Summarizing Tools

• SummarizeThis - Copy and paste any text into the app to get a summarized version of the most important information
• Summarizer - Highlight text and then use this extension to get a summarized version of the content

• TextTeaser - Summarize content from webpage as a list of sentences or paragraph, with adjustable slider for detail level
• Shorten - Extract key points of web article, and translate

Clutter Free Tools

• Mercury Reader - Read webages in a simplified format
• Just Read - Read webpages in a simplified format
• EasyReader - View webpages as a book, with Table of Contents, customizable font, size, color and more
• MagicScroll - Turn webpage into a MagicScroll book

Support Meaning

• Google Dictionary - Double-click any word on a web page to get a pop-up with the definition and audible pronunciation
• Google Flashcards - For Google Dictionary users - save words/phrases to word list, displayed as flashcards
• Power Thesaurus - View synonyms and antonyms

Navigation

• Click-free Browsing - Adds navigation icons to a webpage that can be activated by simply hovering over them, rather than needing to click. Commands include scrolling, backward and forward in page history, opening a link, and more
• Vimium - (YouTube video) Provides keyboard shortcuts for navigation and control for those with difficulty using a mouse
• CrxMouse -Use mouse gestures to navigate including forward, backward, scrolling, refreshing, switching tabs, and more. The user can program their own custom mouse gestures to open programs and perform other tasks

Organization

• 1-click Timer - Visual timer for your bowser

Brain Breaks

• Move It - Movement reminders on your screen
• Mindful Break - Offers a new minfulness tip each time it opens

For more educational apps and extensions (not necessarily specifically for special needs) see the following resources:

• Chrome Resources from Control Alt Achieve
• Chrome Resources from Shake Up Learning