Fordham University’s Office of Information Technology (IT), in collaboration with the Accessibility Committee, has introduced free access to Speechify for students. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility across campus and ensure students have the tools to engage with their coursework in a more flexible way.
Speechify, a widely used text-to-speech platform, was selected after members of the Accessibility Committee identified its potential benefits for students with print disabilities, such as dyslexia, visual impairments and physical disabilities that make reading difficult.
For students interested in accessing Speechify, more information is available through the Office of Information Technology and the Accessibility Committee at itnews.blog.fordham.edu/now-available-speechify-text-to-speech/.
According to Katherine Morris, IT communications manager, “Speechify was brought to the Accessibility Committee’s attention by a forward-thinking faculty member. She and another committee member documented its benefits in a proposal, which was reviewed and approved by Fordham’s Chief Information Officer, Anand Padmanabhan.”
The platform is already used by institutions such as the New York City Department of Education, the University of Southern California, Stanford University, Barnard College and Columbia University. IT conducted an independent review and deemed it a secure, effective solution that aligns with Fordham’s commitment to universal design.
“Importantly, Speechify does not collect any data and is SOC 2 compliant, ensuring privacy and security for students,” Morris added.
By converting digital text — including PDFs, websites and scanned content — into high-quality audio, Speechify allows students to engage with their coursework in a more accessible way.
“A significant number of students at Fordham University have documented print disabilities. Providing access to text-to-speech technology can help level the playing field and allow these students to more easily access course materials, texts, and other required readings,” said Morris.
She also emphasized that Speechify is not only for students with disabilities, but benefits a broad range of learners.
“This tool helps ensure that all our content is available in multiple formats,” she said. “Non-native speakers, students with different learning styles, and anyone who prefers auditory learning can find value in it.”
The introduction of Speechify has drawn positive reactions from students. Matthew Semelsberger, GSB ’27, shared his perspective on the initiative. “I have not used Speechify yet. I do think it is a great tool, and it is awesome that Fordham gave it to us. I do hope to look into it and be successful with it in the future,” he said.
Jack Robinson, GSB ’27, stated similarly, highlighting Speechify’s potential for diverse learning styles: “It seems like a valuable tool for modern learning. I believe it would be especially useful for students with different learning styles, as listening to text aloud provides an alternative way to absorb information.”
Robinson also mentioned the aspect of using Speechify to multitask, adding, “I would definitely consider using Speechify while multitasking, especially while at the gym. Compared to other study tools, its ability to convert text into audio could enhance efficiency. Additionally, I think Fordham should offer more subscriptions to AI-powered tools, as they are becoming essential in today’s educational landscape.”
IT and the Accessibility Committee hope that by making this tool freely available, students will find new ways to enhance their learning experience and improve their engagement with course materials.
In addition to Speechify, Fordham IT is also providing students with free access to monday.com, a project management tool designed to help with task organization and collaboration. With features that allow users to create personalized workflows, manage deadlines and streamline group projects, monday.com offers a flexible way for students to stay on top of their academic and extracurricular commitments. Whether used for tracking assignments, coordinating team efforts or simply organizing daily tasks, the platform aims to enhance productivity and efficiency across various aspects of student life. Specific details on how monday.com will be distributed were not described.
As Fordham continues to expand its technological resources, initiatives like these reflect a broader effort to support students in navigating academic challenges. Fordham IT has expressed its commitment to evaluating student feedback on Speechify, potentially shaping future accessibility offerings at the university.
