Reviewer:
Laura Langlois, Special Education Teacher, AT Specialist
llanglois@eastonps.org
Easton, Redding and Regional District #9, Connecticut

TextHELP Systems Ltd.
Enkalon Business Centre
25 Randalstown Road, Antrim
N. Ireland BT41 4LJ, Phone: +44 (0) 28 94 428105
www.texthelp.com

System Requirements: 400 MHz G3 processor; 64 MB of RAM (128 MB preferred): MRJ 2.2 (provided); OS9 or above
Cost: $395 for a single machine; $2,495 for a K-12 site license.
Rating: A

Read & Write for Mac is here!!  As a long time user of TextHelp Read and Write for Windows, the inclusion of a Mac version couldnąt have come any sooner.  I have been using TextHelp for Windows for years with students.  Its power with students is its łinvisibility˛ and łtransparency.˛  It doesnąt change the look of the word processor, which is so critical for students in the 6-12 grade range.  It is so important to this age group that they donąt look different.  It offers so much support for writing through its text-to-speech, word prediction, dictionary features without stigmatizing the user.  I love the program and here it is now for the Mac.

Read & Write for Mac installs with ease and provides an easy to use support system for getting started.  Before purchasing, pay close attention to the system requirements.  The program will not run properly without enough memory (128 MB preferred) and the operating system must be OS9 or better. There are some changes, upgrades and special features that are advantageous for some and less so for others. 

The screen may be better suited for younger, elementary school users, than for the middle to high school level user.  It functions as a separate word processor as compared to Read & Write 6 which offers a toolbar that can be added to any word processor or in any location in the computer where text can be entered.  Older students may want to consider copying text written in Read & Write for Mac and pasting it into a more commonly used word processor such as Word or AppleWorks, for printing.  Although this added step might deter the older user, the powerful tool bar features make the effort worthwhile. 

The addition of a wonderful, user-friendly tool bar creates easy access to spell checker, homophones, dictionary, and word prediction features. The tool bar is also equipped with a text-to-speech mode.  There are an extensive variety of voices with available modifications of rate and pitch for users to select from.  Text is highlighted as it is spoken which supports the user that benefits from hearing as well as seeing text as it is written. An additional feature in the Mac version is an excellent Śread aloudą button on the toolbar, which allows a user to go forwards, backwards and to stop the text being read.  Read and Write Mac provides spell checking with homophone support to users by identifying homophones with color-coding. 

Word prediction is available in the Mac version with the added feature of selective adjustment of color, size and font of words to be selected.  The prediction window is static.  It cannot be moved around the screen, which is helpful for the user who tends to fiddle with the location of the window.  The position of the prediction window does not interfere with text being entered onto your document.  The color of text, background and highlighting can be altered from the toolbar with ease.  There is an extensive speaking dictionary feature which provides added support of hearing not only the vocabulary word but also its definition.  Additional, advanced options including, abbreviations, phonetic spelling, auto correct, prediction, custom dictionary options are easily accessible yet can be hidden from users to avoid accidental or playful changes. 

The technical support for Read & Write and other products is available through the website and by phone contact as well.  Their technical support team is terrific and responsive to needs.  The website is full of useful information as well.  Please feel free to contact me if you want to discuss the use of the program or any problems you are having. 

Read & Write for Mac is a welcome addition to the TextHelp family of tools.  It will be a strong support tool for writing especially for the elementary age student.  I look forward to future versions for Mac in hopes that one day the best of the Windows version and the Mac versions can be united.