Kurzweil 3000 Accessibility Tool
Eastern Florida State College is committed to creating inclusive learning environments through the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). As part of this commitment, EFSC provides access to Kurzweil 3000 to all students, faculty, and staff. It is a comprehensive literacy and learning platform designed to support the diverse needs, preferences, and learning.
What is Kurzweil 3000?
Kurzweil 3000 is an educational technology platform that combines text-to-speech, study skills tools, writing supports, and accessibility features into one integrated learning environment. Users can access and interact with a variety of digital materials, including textbooks, articles, PDFs, scanned documents, and instructor-created content.
Kurzweil 3000 is available to all EFSC faculty, staff, and students through their MyEFSC portal. To access the platform, simply log in to MyEFSC and locate the Kurzweil 3000 icon within your application suite.
How Kurzweil 3000 Supports Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) encourages institutions to provide flexible tools and resources that allow individuals to access information and demonstrate learning in ways that work best for them.
Kurzweil 3000 supports UDL by enabling users to:
- Access content through both reading and listening
- Adjust the presentation of materials to meet individual preferences
- Organize information using highlighting, note-taking, and annotation tools
- Improve comprehension through vocabulary, dictionary, and translation supports
- Enhance written communication through writing assistance features
- Engage with course materials across multiple devices and learning environments
These tools benefit a wide range of learners and help create a more inclusive educational experience for everyone.
Features and Benefits
Reading Supports
• High-quality text-to-speech with synchronized highlighting
• Adjustable reading speeds and voice options
• Read-aloud support for digital and scanned documents
• Color, font, and display customization
• Built-in dictionaries, thesauruses, and translation tools
Study Skills Tools
• Digital highlighting and annotation capabilities
• Sticky notes and bookmarking features
• Automatic creation of study guides and outlines from highlighted content
• Extraction of key points for review and test preparation
• Organizational tools that promote active learning and comprehension
Writing Supports
• Word prediction assistance
• Spell checking and proofreading tools
• Graphic organizers and brainstorming supports
• Drafting and revision assistance
Accessibility Features
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology that converts scanned documents into
accessible text
• Support for PDFs, images, and other document formats
• Flexible display and reading options
• Cloud-based access across multiple devices
Who Can Use Kurzweil 3000?
Kurzweil 3000 is available to support a broad range of users across the college community – students, faculty, and staff!
Students
Students may use Kurzweil 3000 to:
• Improve reading comprehension
• Strengthen study habits and organization
• Access course materials in multiple formats
• Enhance writing and note-taking skills
• Support individual learning preferences and academic success
Faculty
Faculty can use Kurzweil 3000 to:
• Advance Universal Design for Learning practices
• Create more accessible learning experiences
• Provide students with multiple ways to engage with course content
• Support accessibility and inclusion efforts across their courses
Staff
Staff members may use Kurzweil 3000 to:
• Access professional development materials
• Explore accessibility best practices
• Utilize reading and productivity supports in workplace settings
• Better understand the tools available to support students
Supporting Accessibility and Student Success
Kurzweil 3000 is one of the many ways EFSC promotes accessible learning environments and advances its mission of supporting student persistence, retention, completion, and overall success. By providing flexible options for accessing and interacting with information, the platform helps reduce barriers and increase opportunities for engagement across the college community.
To learn more about the platform, we encourage you to explore these brief informational
videos available through the Kurzweil Academy:
https://www.kurzweiledu.com/kurzweil-academy/kurzweil-academy.html
Contact
Lisa Casillas, Director, Student Success & Support, ADA Coordinator
casillasl@easternflorida.edu
321.433.5939