Key takeaways

• Free AI tools like Microsoft Immersive Reader and Google Voice Typing help students with reading and writing challenges at no extra cost

• AI translation tools work best as temporary scaffolds for newcomer students, with a plan to fade support as students build English proficiency

• Real-time AI feedback can help you spot where students get stuck while they work, so you can intervene faster than waiting for grading

• SchoolAI bundles text-to-speech, translation, differentiation, and real-time feedback into one platform built specifically for K-12 accessibility needs –  useful if your team needs fewer tools to manage

Your students are struggling with word problems, but you don't have time to sit with each one individually. With 30 kids and one prep period, something has to give. 

That’s where AI accessibility features in education can help – not as “replacement teaching,” but as built-in supports that reduce barriers while you keep instruction high-quality and human-led.

If you're teaching students with IEPs, 504 plans, or multilingual learners, these AI accessibility features help you personalize practice and access without adding hours to your day.

This article covers seven practical tools that work right now, with research showing they help kids learn better. Some are free through your district, while others, like SchoolAI, combine multiple features into one classroom-ready platform.

Understanding classroom accessibility features

AI accessibility features in education are tools that adapt content, provide alternative input methods, or offer real-time support for students with diverse learning needs. Think: access + independence + timely feedback.

These tools don’t “fix” learning differences, and they don’t replace direct instruction. They’re practical supports that help you differentiate instruction efficiently.

For students with dyslexia, text-to-speech reads passages aloud. For students with dysgraphia, speech-to-text captures their ideas without handwriting barriers. For English learners, translation tools bridge language gaps temporarily. 

The key is matching the tool to the barrier (decoding, transcription, language access, visual access), then teaching students how to use it responsibly. Let’s take a look at some options.

1. Text-to-speech tools for struggling readers

Your district already paid for some of these tools. They're built into Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Chromebooks. For example, Microsoft Immersive Reader is available across Microsoft education tools and can read text aloud while highlighting words to support tracking and comprehension.

What to do in class (fast):

• Make it a routine: “Read once with your eyes, then listen once to check understanding.”

• Teach a comprehension move: Have students pause after each paragraph and restate the gist in 1 sentence.

Research shows and NIH studies confirm that read-aloud tools help kids with learning disabilities understand more of what they read. You can add this to IEP or 504 plans as a formal accommodation.

SchoolAI's Spaces include text-to-speech capabilities integrated directly into assignments, so students can access read-aloud support, reducing tool-switching.

2. Speech-to-text for writing support

Speech-to-text can remove the transcription barrier so students can focus on ideas first, then revise.

Google Voice Typing is built into Google Docs (Tools → Voice typing). Students with dysgraphia or writing challenges can speak their ideas instead of typing. Research and research summaries report that, for some students with disabilities, speech-to-text can lead to longer writing and improved output (with the caveat that training and editing still matter).

But here's what teachers miss: students need explicit training first. 

A practical approach that’s easier to staff:

• Plan several short practice sessions on: (1) speaking in phrases (2) dictating punctuation (3) fixing errors (4) revising for clarity.

• Teach an editing rule: “Fix 3 recognition errors before you hit ‘Turn in.’”

3. Screen readers for visual accessibility

ChromeVox comes built into every Chromebook, offering a free screen reader for students with visual impairments. iOS VoiceOver provides Apple's native screen reader. NVDA offers a free, open-source option for Windows. 

Before deploying digital lesson materials, test them with screen readers to ensure proper formatting.

Quick teacher checklist:

• Use headings (not just bold text) so navigation works.

• Avoid “click here” links – use descriptive link text.

• Check PDFs: if they’re scanned images, they may not be readable.

4. AI translation for multilingual learners

AI translation tools help English language learners access instruction in their home language. Microsoft Translator offers education-focused translation features (including live translation/captions in some contexts).

Translation tools work best when you:

• Prioritize newcomer students and high-stakes comprehension moments (directions, safety, core concept access).

• Set a timeline for fading support and name what replaces it (sentence frames, word banks, partner supports).

• Define exit criteria (e.g., “no translation for warm-ups,” then “no translation for guided practice,” then “translation only for independent checks”).

Educators and experts caution that translation can become “more of a crutch” if it replaces services and instruction designed to build English over time. 

SchoolAI's Spaces include built-in multilingual support while letting you monitor progress toward English proficiency through Mission Control.

5. Content differentiation tools

AI accessibility features in education help you adapt grade-level texts for struggling readers while maintaining academic content. Instead of making three versions of every assignment manually, differentiation tools can generate multiple reading levels and supports more quickly.

Classroom guardrails that keep rigor:

• Keep the same standard and task – change only the access supports (chunking, vocabulary supports, sentence stems).

• Require evidence: Even in simplified text, students must cite or reference the passage.

SchoolAI's differentiation features create different reading levels tailored to individual students. The platform's PowerUps provide scaffolded assistance that adjusts to each learner's needs.

For students with ADHD or executive function challenges, AI provides structured reminders and visual timelines. But AI supports don’t build executive function automatically. Students still need teacher-guided practice and reflection. 

6. Real-time feedback systems

Here's what changes with real-time AI feedback: you see when students struggle the moment it happens, not three days later when you've graded papers.

AI-powered feedback tools generate personalized feedback in minutes instead of days. SchoolAI's Mission Control shows where students are stuck so you can triage support (small group, conference, reteach).

A simple way to use this tomorrow:

• Set a 10-minute “work + watch” block where you scan for repeated misconceptions.

• Pull a 5-minute micro-group (3–6 students) based on the same error and reteach with one example.

7. Privacy-compliant AI tools

Privacy matters more than convenience.  Be careful not to mix “classroom AI tools” with “student monitoring/surveillance tools.” Monitoring software can extend beyond school hours on school-issued devices and raises major privacy concerns. 

Federal funding is now available. According to federal guidance, you can use Title I, Title II, and IDEA funds for AI accessibility tools.

SchoolAI is built with these compliance requirements in mind. The platform is FERPA and COPPA compliant, SOC 2 Type 2 certified, and 1EdTech certified for seamless integration with existing school systems. Student data is never sold or used to train AI models, and schools maintain complete ownership with full export and deletion rights.

Why teachers choose an all-in-one accessibility platform

Individual free tools solve individual problems, but they don't talk to each other. When you use Microsoft Immersive Reader for reading, Google Voice Typing for writing, and separate translation apps, you're managing multiple logins, tracking student progress across disconnected systems, and losing time switching between platforms.

SchoolAI brings text-to-speech, multilingual support, content differentiation, and real-time monitoring into one classroom dashboard. Mission Control shows you which students need help across all activities, not just one tool. Spaces let you build assignments with accessibility features already embedded. And because it's designed for K-12, student data privacy protections are built in from the start. 

Start with one AI accessibility feature this week

Pick one tool and test it with one student who could use the support. Give yourself permission to start small: one student, one tool, one week. The goal isn't transforming your entire practice overnight. It's finding practical ways AI can help you reach more students with the time you actually have.

SchoolAI brings several accessibility features together in one place. Built-in translation supports 60+ languages, text-to-speech helps students access content they'd otherwise struggle to read, and speech-to-text lets students who find writing difficult share their thinking out loud instead. 

Teachers maintain full visibility into how students interact with these tools through Mission Control, so you can see what's working and adjust support accordingly.

Because SchoolAI is FERPA and COPPA compliant with SOC 2 Type 2 certification, you can pilot these features knowing student data stays protected. Explore SchoolAI for free and test one accessibility feature with a student this week.