Speechify

For Students, Faculty, Staff

Overview

Speechify transforms your digital content into high-quality audio, offering a powerful tool that makes information more accessible and learning more flexible. Whether you're a student reviewing course materials on the go, a professor preparing lectures, or a staff member managing multiple documents, Speechify converts Word documents, PDFs, webpages, and even scanned materials into clear, natural-sounding audio.

Key features:

  • Converts various formats (PDFs, websites, ebooks, and printed materials) into clear audio using OCR technology
  • Enhances focus with real-time text highlighting and synchronized audio playback
  • Offers comprehensive study tools including annotations, bookmarks, and highlight extraction for note-taking
  • Provides customizable voices, languages, and reading speeds to suit individual preferences
  • Works seamlessly across devices through mobile apps, browser extensions, and desktop applications

Availability

Available to all current students, faculty, and staff through our university site license, Speechify is provided by the Office of Information Technology as part of our commitment to creating an inclusive and technologically advanced learning environment. This initiative was implemented based on the recommendation of the Fordham Accessibility Committee and joins other leading institutions like USC, Stanford, Barnard, and Columbia in providing this essential learning tool.

Platforms

  • Speechify primarily runs in your browser. 
  • Additionally, there is a browser extension compatible with Chrome and Safari. 
  • There is also an app (Google / Apple) for mobile devices. Note: Users can upload scans and images from physical documents via this app. 

Install Instructions

Note: If you already have a paid Speechify account using your Fordham email address and you’d like to swap over to the university license, you need to cancel your subscription via the Settings page on your account before setting up your Fordham license. No material will be deleted in the process of cancelling your personal subscription. Afterwards, you can then activate your Fordham license by following the install instructions below.

  1. Click this invite link.
  2. Once installed, when you get to the login screen, choose the “Continue with Google” option.
  3. Log in with your usual Fordham credentials.

Support Material

Accessibility and Benefits

While Speechify serves as an essential accessibility tool for individuals with reading difficulties, visual impairments, or learning differences, its versatility benefits everyone in our academic community. Listen to academic papers while commuting, multitask during document review, or enhance reading comprehension through multi-sensory engagement.

Speechify particularly supports:

  • Students with print disabilities such as dyslexia
  • Individuals with visual impairments
  • Those with physical disabilities that affect reading
  • Anyone who benefits from audio-learning formats

Notes

  • Using your Fordham email address allows you to use Speechify for free via this license as long as your Fordham email address is valid and you are a currently active student. 
    • Only Fordham email addresses will work with this license. 
  • Addressing any security concerns you might have: 
    • Fordham does not have access to any individual’s usage data for Speechify or to the content being read. 
    • Additionally, Speechify does not collect any data, and they are SOC2 compliant. 
  •  You can use up to four devices with your account. 

Need Help? 

Speechify offers customer service via support@speechify.com.  

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