Helper Bird was created by Robert James, who is dyslexic and wanted to make a tool to help others study online without struggles. Helper Bird is free to download and install and offers free and premium tools. You get a huge amount of tools available on the free plan, but when you first download the extension, you are granted 7 days of a pro account so you can check out all the features and tools. To see the full list of tools available and pricing options, check out the link below:
Pricing options for HelperBird
So how does it work?
Once you download Helper Bird, you can select the options you want. This extension allows you customize how every website shows up. What makes this extension nice is that anyone can personalize websites to meet the needs of the individual user. These settings are saved so no need to change the settings every time you go to a different website. You can also pause Helper Bird so that the changes do not show up on a particular website or you can use the block list feature which will block certain urls from using Helper Bird.
Features
Helper Bird offers multiple tools for the individual user. These tools include:
- Reader Mode
- Dyslexia Fonts
- Dyslexia Ruler
- Blocklist
- Styles and Themes
- Overlays
- Color Blindness
- Dictionary
- Text-to-Speech
- Dictation
- Notes
- Cognitive Load
- Translate Page
- Screen Shot
- Page and Text Magnifier
- Cursor Control
- High Contrast
- Immersive Reader
- Adjust letters and words
- Optical Character Recognition
https://wke.lt/w/s/nAnd0X
Classroom implications
This extension is a powerful tool because it allows students to customize their web experience, but it is not reliant on the instructor making the content. The instructor simply gives students a link to any website site. Students go to that site and if they choose to use Helper Bird their personal settings apply to the website. Students are then able to navigate around the website to get the content they need. The students have full control on how they view and receive the information.
Students can have as many features enabled on a page as they need. For example, I can choose to have the website translated into another language, but I could also want to use an overlay and the immersive reader tool. I can use all three of these features together.
Accessibility and UDL of Tool
The only Accessibility hit that I found with this extension was that I had difficulty navigating the website and the extension drop down menu (Options menu) with my screen reader and using keyboard commands. The keyboard shortcuts worked fine but all the other elements within the drop-down menu where difficult to get to. Many elements in the tool bar simply read link or clickable item but did not indicate what the item was. It stated listed items but did not say what the items were.
In terms of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), this is definitely a tool that can be added to the tool box. This tool can be useful for anyone who is Dyslexic, ESL learners, students with processing or language disabilities, and students with ADHD. This tool, however, is beneficial for all students who use the Internet as anyone can set up their personal settings to match their learning preferences. The only hitch is that anyone who relies on keyboard navigation and screen reader technology would have difficulty setting up their personal options. The good news: I am told by the creator of this tool that they are actively working on a fix for the keyboard navigation issue and that the fix should be released by next week.
Now that's what I call a tasty snack. Until next time....