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How to Read Text in Embedded Lessons

Hear selected lesson text with Helperbird. Learn how to turn on Read text in online lessons, choose a passage and troubleshoot unsupported lesson content.

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What This Does

Read text in online lessons lets Helperbird try to read text selected inside an embedded lesson. This is content displayed in a smaller page within the main website, such as a course activity.

The feature is a beta and is off by default. Support depends on how the lesson is built. Turning it on does not make every learning platform compatible.

Step 1: Turn On Embedded Reading

  1. Open Helperbird Settings.
  2. Open Beta features.
  3. Turn on Read text in online lessons.
  4. Return to the lesson. If it was already open and does not respond, refresh that tab.
Read text in online lessons in the Beta features card, switched off.View full-size image (opens in a new tab)
Read text in online lessons in the Beta features card, switched off.

You can turn the same switch off at any time. It does not enable voice typing or word prediction inside every embedded editor.

Step 2: Select a Passage

Click inside the lesson and highlight a short passage. Choose visible, selectable text rather than an image of words.

If several activities are open on the page, select the text in the activity you want to hear just before using Helperbird.

Step 3: Read the Selection

Open the floating toolbar and press Play. It uses your Text to Speech voice.

If Helperbird cannot read the selection, it asks you to select text again. It should not substitute text from a different activity or the surrounding course page.

Press Stop, or collapse the toolbar, to end the reading.

Troubleshooting

Nothing can be selected: The lesson may use a picture or canvas to display its words. This beta does not perform image recognition. Try Screenshot Reader where available.

The selected text is not read: Refresh the lesson, select a shorter visible passage and try again. Some embedded content restricts extension access and remains unsupported.

The lesson changed pages: Make a fresh selection. Selections from a removed or replaced activity cannot be reused.

It still does not work: Turn the beta off and contact support with the platform name and steps you tried. Support can vary between activities on the same platform.

Need Additional Help?

See beta features or contact Helperbird support.

Printed from the Helperbird Help Center · Updated October 12th, 2026

Questions? We are happy to help — helperbird.com/support

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makes reading text heavy web page...

Helperbird offers a wide range of customization in one easy to navigate spot. Computers and dyslexia don't always mesh, the features like ruler makes reading text heavy web pages easier. Tech support is amazingly responsive should you need any help.
Fiona WrenHelperbird user

turned a 28-page reading assignme...

I have ADHD and yesterday Helperbird and the text-to-speech function (available in free version) turned a 28-page reading assignment from a two-day task to roughly two hours, maybe three at the absolute most. It helped tremendously! And I loved that the text-to-speech has such a fluid voice compared to a lot of others I've used! Honestly, the fact that this was created by someone who knows the struggles is something I love, because then it has neurodivergency in mind. I've tried too many things in the past that were created by neurotypical folk trying to be helpful to us and I do appreciate it, but it doesn't work as well because our brains work different. Highly recommend!
Addison BrownHelperbird user

helps so many of our students

This tool helps so many of our students at school - not only those students who have dyslexia, but students and adults who have other learning differences (and those who don't!). It helps ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in their learning!
Kim NorrisHelperbird user
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