Get Helperbird
certified.

Helperbird is an extension: a small tool you add to your web browser. Let’s install it and open its menu.

1. Choose your browser below to install Helperbird. Already installed? Continue to step 2.

   Install for your browser · opens a new tab

   Chrome Edge Firefox

   Choose Add to Chrome, Get, or Add to Firefox, then confirm your browser’s prompt. If your school manages extensions, ask your IT team to install Helperbird.

2. Return here. Open your browser’s Extensions menu and choose Helperbird.
3. Turn on Helperbird using the switch in the top right.
4. Return to this page and choose Check my activity.

What to look forThe Helperbird menu opens when you click the owl. On Firefox, it opens in a sidebar.

The automatic check could not confirm the extension. If you can open the Helperbird owl, choose “I’ve installed it” below.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Installation help
• Find and pin the owl
• Turn Helperbird on

Try two ways to make a page easier to read.

Where to find itAll Features → Text settings

1. Open the owl, then All Features → Text settings.
2. Turn on Font. Choose OpenDyslexic or a Lexend font.
3. Turn on Letter spacing and move its slider.
4. Return here. Read the practice paragraph and notice which spacing feels comfortable.

What to look forThe letters look different and have more or less space between them.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Dyslexia-friendly fonts
• Letter spacing

Try a gentle tint and a guide for your eyes.

Where to find itAll Features → Overlay / Dyslexia support

1. Open the owl, then All Features → Overlay.
2. Turn on Color overlay and choose a color.
3. Return to All Features → Dyslexia support. Turn on Focus ruler.
4. Return here. Move your pointer over the practice paragraph as you read.

What to look forA tint covers the page, with a clear strip that follows your pointer.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Color overlays
• Line focus
• Dyslexia ruler

See what happens when you hide pictures and keep the words.

Where to find itAll Features → Media controls → Hide images

1. Look at the practice owl in this activity.
2. Open the Helperbird owl, then All Features.
3. Open Media controls, then switch on Hide images.
4. Return here. Look for the practice owl, then choose Check my activity.

What to look forThe owl and other pictures disappear, while the text stays on the page.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Hide images and GIFs

Get to know the guides and videos you can return to.

1. Open the Getting started guide below. It opens in a new tab.
2. Return here and press play on this activity’s video. Pause or replay at your pace.
3. If saving or video playback is blocked, read the guide and choose I used the guide.

What to look forYou now know where to find a guide or video when you need another look.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Getting started

Hear the words as you read along.

Where to find itAll Features → Text to speech

1. Select the practice paragraph. Copy it with Ctrl+C on Windows/Chromebook, or Command+C on Mac.
2. Open the owl, then All Features → Text to speech.
3. Paste into its text box with Ctrl+V or Command+V.
4. Press play to hear the paragraph. Press pause or stop when finished.
5. Open Text to speech settings beside the player if you want to change the voice or speed.
6. Open Select a voice.
7. Choose a voice without a Pro label. Your choice saves automatically.
8. Press Play sample to hear it.
9. Adjust Speed if needed. This saves automatically too.
10. Return here. Write one thing you noticed about the voice.
11. Choose I tried it. “The voice was clear” is enough.

What to look forYou hear the selected paragraph spoken aloud.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Text to speech
• Read aloud from the toolbar
• Change your voice and speed

Save the parts you want to come back to.

Where to find itAll Features → Highlighter / Notes → Add note

1. Open the owl, then All Features. Turn on Highlighter.
2. Select one practice sentence below. Choose a color in the Highlighter toolbar that appears.
3. Highlight a second practice sentence separately.
4. Open the owl, then All Features → Notes. Choose the plus button beside Add note.
5. Write a reminder in the new note, such as “Read this again”.

What to look forTwo separate sentences have colored highlights, and your note appears on the page.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Web highlighter
• Sticky notes

Try a shorter version of a longer piece of writing.

Where to find itHelperbird → Summarize

1. Copy the practice paragraph: Ctrl+C on Windows/Chromebook, or Command+C on Mac.
2. Open the owl, then Summarize.
3. Paste the paragraph into its text box. Press Summarize.
4. Compare the result with the original. Did it keep the main idea?
5. Return here. Enter the first summary line, then choose I tried it.

What to look forHelperbird shows a shorter version with the main points.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Summarize

Explore suggestions while you type.

Where to find itAll Features → Word prediction

1. Open the owl, then All Features → Word prediction. Turn its switch on.
2. Click the practice box below. Slowly type “Today I would like to”.
3. Look at the suggestions. Choose a word, or keep typing your own.

What to look forWord suggestions appear near your writing.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Word prediction
• From the floating toolbar

Give typing a little break.

Where to find itAll Features → Voice typing

1. Open the owl, then All Features → Voice typing.
2. Open Options beside the microphone.
3. Choose Voice typing settings.
4. Choose your language under Select a language. It saves automatically.
5. Return to Voice typing and press the microphone.
6. Allow microphone access if asked.
7. Say “Today I am trying something new”. Press the microphone again to stop.
8. Open Options → Copy. Return here and paste into the practice box.
9. Check the words. Correct any mistakes, then choose I tried it.

What to look forYour spoken words appear as text. You can correct any words it misheard.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Voice typing
• Dictation straight into the page

Try an experimental tool that turns a Google Slides preview into a page you can read.

1. Open the owl’s Settings menu, then choose the Settings link.
2. Find Beta features. Leave Readable Google Slides on; it starts on by default.
3. Open a Slides preview link. If your shared link contains /edit, replace that part and everything after it with /preview in the address bar. This changes your view, not the deck or its permissions.
4. Check the readable page, then use your browser’s Back button to return to the slides. Return here and choose I tried it.
5. No deck handy? Read the guide and choose I followed along instead.

What to look forA supported preview opens as a readable page. Editor links stay unchanged, even when Google labels them “View only”.

Need a hand? Guides open in a new tab.

• Readable Google Slides
• Beta features