SHASTA COLLEGE DSPS
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LAB
BALABOLKA
Make the most out of your alternate media accommodation…
Open your textbook chapter…
1. Double-click the Computer or My Computer icon, usually located
on the Desktop.
2. Locate your flash drive where Balabolka and your textbook files
are located and double-click it to display the files you have.
3. Double-click the folder called BalabolkaPortable.
4. Double-click the icon in the list called Balabolka.exe. This is the
one that has a small picture of a smiley face. (Note: depending on
how your computer displays file names, you may not see the .exe
and the file may simply be named Balabolka.
WHAT’S IN THIS LESSON

Open your textbook chapter

Change the voice and speed

Change font size, color and background color

Play, Pause and stop text being read

Search for key words

Making audio files for your mp3 player
Balabolka should now be open on your computer screen.
5. Click File at the top left side of your screen and from the drop
down menu click on Open.
6. When the Open dialog box opens , click on the Computer or My
Computer icon.
7. Double-click on your flash drive.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO…
8. Double-click on the folder that contains your textbook chapters.
Any texts that you get from our office will be in their own folder
with the title and edition number if it has one.
The steps you need to take to get your alternate
media quickly:
1.
Bring your referral to the Assistive Technology
9. Double-click the chapter that you wish to read with Balabolka.
Lab (located in room 2004).
2.
Purchase your textbooks that you will need in
an alternate format.
3.
Change the voice and speed…
Bring your books or receipt for your books
into the Assistive Technology Lab. Bring your
USB flash drive with you, so that if we have
the books, we can get them to you on the
same visit.
4.
For books that we don’t have in our electronic
1. To change the voice, locate two tabs near the top of your
Balabolka screen called SAPI 4 and SAPI 5, and click on the SAPI 5
tab.
2. Ideally you have Windows Vista or 7, so that you will have the
voice Anna to choose from in the drop down menu. You can also
purchase other premium voices if you desire (prices range
between $20-$70). If you have the voice Anna, choose it now.
library, we will work to get them from
another college or the publisher. Once we
get your electronic textbook, we will call you.
You can also call us at any time for other
options.
5.
If it has been two weeks and we still have not
been able to get your text, we recommend
letting us cut and scan your text or show you
how to use Kurzweil to do it yourself.
Simplifying your alternate media…
3. You can also increase or decrease the speed of Balabolka reading
the material. To increase the rate drag the bar toward the 10 and
to decrease the speed drag the bar toward the -10. Important
note, do not change the speed while the program is reading text
or it may crash and you will have to re-launch it. Always Pause or
Stop the reading before changing either the voice or speed.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LAB HOURS:
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 – 4:00
Friday: 8:00 – 12:00
USEFUL TIP:
Putting all your textbooks and Balabolka on your
flash drive allows you to take it anywhere and use
Change Font and Background…
1. To change the font type and size, click View and then Font and
Colors… and the Font and Colors dialog box will open.
2. Click the Font button on the right side. In the Font dialog box,
choose the desired font type and size. Arial is a good choice as it
is clear to read and a larger size than the default will make it
easier to read the text on the screen. Try size 24 and click the OK
button.
it with any computer, rather than installing it on
your home computer. If at any time during the
semester you lose your drive or the files become
corrupted you can stop by our office and get them
again.
BOOKSHARE:
BookShare is a valuable resource if you have Audio
Text on the accommodations sheet you received
from your counselor, as you can get many texts
and popular book titles electronically at no cost to
you. Ask one of us in the Assistive Technology Lab
if you might be interested in this program.
ONLINE MATERIAL TOO:
3. You may also want to change the Background color from the Font
and Colors dialog box. Click the Background color button. Choose
a desired color by clicking on it. To lighten the color, to make it
easier for reading, click the Define Custom Colors >> button.
4. You will see a new Color dialog box that shows a box with various
color shades. On the right side of this box is a bar with a triangle
near the middle. To lighten the background color position your
mouse on the triangle and drag upward until you are near the top
of the bar but not all the way. You will see the color change in the
Color/Solid box.
5. Once you are satisfied with the color displayed in the Color/Solid
box, click the OK button and you will be returned to the Font and
Colors dialog box.
6. Click the OK button on the Font and Colors dialog box to accept
your new font and background. Balabolka will remember these
settings so if you are happy with them, you won’t need to change
them again. To change these settings repeat this section.
You can use Balabolka to read material online as
well as textbook material and even turn those into
Play, Pause and Stop Reading…
audio files that you can listen too in the car or
wherever you go. Many online courses have a
large amount of reading online, so using Balabolka
to read your online material can be very helpful.
Ask us to show you how this works…
1. To have Balabolka begin reading text to you, locate the buttons
that are below the menu bar. The fifth button from the right is
the Play button. Click on this and the program begins reading the
text. You will not hear the reading unless you are using
headphones or there are speakers attached to the computer.
2. The next button to the right of the Play button is the Pause
button. Press this if you would like to pause the reading.
3. The next button to the right of the Pause button is the Stop
button. Press this if you would like to stop the reading.
Note: Use the Pause button if you would like to stop the reading and
want it to continue where it stopped the next time you press the Play
button. If you would like to change where it reads (skipping over text or
going to previously read text) press the Pause button.
Simplifying your alternate media…
Search for Key Words…
You can search for key words in your text with Balabolka.
This is especially helpful if you want to review key points
within your textbook in preparation for exams. To search
for text:
1. Click Edit on the Menu bar, and then click Find.
2. In the Find what dialog box, type the word or phrase
you want to find, then click the Find Next button.
Creating Audio files…
You can use Balabolka to create mp3 files that you can then
play on your portable mp3 player. To create mp3 files:
1. Click File on the Menu bar; click Save Audio File.
2. In the Save Audio File dialog box, type the name you
wish to give your file (i.e.: Biology01). Make sure the
save as type is mp3 and click the Save Button.
Audio files are saved in the My Documents folder by default
unless you have Balabolka save it in another location. You
can now export the audio file to your mp3 player.
Simplify your alternate media
SHASTA COLLEGE
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LAB
Located in room 2004 in the Shasta College DSPS Offices
Phone: 530-242-7833
Questions? You can call, visit our website at www.shastacollege.edu/dsps or email [email protected]