VoiceOver is used to make the iPad speak all text.  It can be used to navigate through the apps and also within them.  It will read text within the ibooks app as well as, Notes, etc. 

VoiceOver can be a powerful tool for students with reading disabilities.  Pdf files in straight text format can be placed into ibooks and the be read by VoiceOver.  If texts are converted to epub format and placed into ibooks, more options become available.  By going back and forth between the screen reader and regular functions, students are able to select text annotate it, highlight  text or do a web search on a word or phrase.  It takes a bit of training to use all of this smoothly but the benefits are very compelling.

---

A pdf file with the instructions below is available here. 

A video of how to do this is available here.

---

To start Voice Over;

Turn on your ipad.

Slide to unlock.

Tap on the Settings icon.



Tap on General in left column.

Tap on Accessibility in right hand window (near the bottom).

Select Triple-click Home and check VoiceOver (bottom).



Go back to Accessibility.

Tap on VoiceOver once.

Tap the Off button to turn it on (from here on in, the ipad will speak each item).

* You can also turn Voiceover on and off by pressing the ipad on/off button three time (quickly).


Tap once to select an item (voice over will speak what it is)

Double tap to activate the selected item.

*It is useful to play with the Practice VoiceOver Gestures to get used to navigating with this feature on.