Communicating Loud and Clear- Browsealoud

Issued 12 January 2021

Browsealoud email header

The Communications Department are delighted to announce that we have added speech, translation and reading support to our website (www.smh.ie)  with Browsealoud.

Browsealoud is a web accessibility toolbar from Texthelp that helps us to make our website more inclusive for all.  It helps our web visitors to better navigate our site, understand our content, and interact with us online independently.

It is especially useful to people who have a hidden disability, such as dyslexia or other reading difficulties; have a visual impairment; lack basic digital skills; or, are non-native speakers.

Adding Browsealoud to our website is reflective of our commitment to accessibility and inclusion.  We want to ensure that everyone can access our information online, regardless of ability, and Browsealoud helps us to achieve this.

Visit www.smh.ie and look for the orange launchpad at the bottom right on the screen - one click on this button launches the Browsealoud toolbar.

From here, you can select the first icon on the toolbar, the pointed finger, and simply hover your mouse pointer over any text to hear it read aloud. 

  • text-to-speech: click on or select any text to hear it read aloud
  • translation: written and spoken translations in over 100 languages
  • text magnification: enlarges text and reads it out loud
  • mp3 generation: converts selected text into an MP3 audio file
  • screen mask: blocks distractions on screen with a tinted mask
  • web page simplifer: removes clutter from the screen, displaying only the main text
  • settings: customize options to suit individual needs or preferences

 

Browsealoud will help us to reach a much wider audience and reduce some of the everyday difficulties faced by people using websites.

Help us to spread the word by encouraging our families, staff and service users to try it out too.

If you have any feedback please contact communications@smh.ie