Specialpedagogiska institutet introduces Tord, the voice enabled word processor for pupils and children.

The Swedish Institute for Special Needs Education, the national authority that coordinates government support in respect of special needs education for children, young people and adults with disabilities, has chosen Acapela text to speech to voice enable Tord. Developed in the frame of its mission to design and produce special needs education material, primarily for pupils with functional disabilities who require pedagogical material based upon the pupil's cababilities and needs, Tord provides real time speech for children. Acapela text to speech is used as a stimulator in the learning process, reading out loud any text and allowing unique and encouraging interactivity.

Tord is a word processor with a built-in Acapela speech synthesiser that makes it easier for pupils to read and write text. In the software the pupil can have all texts read, both when he/she writes and when reading a pre-written text. Tord includes the most common functions in a word processor and can be used totally from the keyboard or with the mouse. All buttons and menus are distinctly shaped and the speech synthesiser can read their functions.

As everyone is entitled to high quality education, and everyone must be given the same opportunities to meet the national educational objectives, the Swedish Government sets up national general objectives in the Education Act, curricula and course programmes, and ensures compliance. The Government, through the Swedish Institute for Special Needs Education, provides support to the municipalities, and assists in producing and adapting educational material.