This website is now speech-enabled, which means that you can download free software onto your computer and have the site read aloud to you. The free software, called Browsealoud, is used on thousands of websites in the UK and USA. Browsealoud is a browser plug-in designed for use with Internet Explorer 4 upwards, Firefox, Netscape Navigator or Safari on the Mac (a "plug-in" is simply a software program which enhances or works with another piece of software).
If you install the Browsealoud plug-in onto your PC or Mac, you can have the web pages on Wigan Council website read to you (and other sites that are speech-enabled).
Why speech enable our website?
Speech-enabling our website provides an additional way of accessing our content for people who find it hard to read. This includes those with dyslexia or learning difficulties, those for whom English is not their first language, or anyone with a mild visual impairment. It is not designed to replace other screen readers.
How does it work?
You download a free, small browser plug-in. Once the plug-in has been installed, content on this site can be spoken aloud.
Does it work on all pages?
Browsealoud will read almost all web pages on our site. It can also read PDF files in Adobe Reader Version 6.0 onwards. This meets the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C's) Level A guidelines for accessibility.
Can I customise Browsealoud?
Yes. Once plugged in, look for the Browsealoud icon in your system tray, which is usually at the bottom right hand corner of your screen (beside the system clock). Right-click on the icon and choose 'Open Browsealoud settings' from the menu. The Speech tab on the Settings window enables you to choose a male or female voice, and change the speed, pitch and volume of the reader. To read the entire page from where your cursor points, tick the 'Continue reading from pointer' box. Leaving the box unticked simply lets Browsealoud read the individual sentences you point to.
