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Reading Companion open on Bookshare Reader on a tablet. It asks "What would you like to explore?"

What it does

Comprehension support that keeps students thinking

Most AI tools give students the answer. Reading Companion does the opposite — it guides students through the material with structured questions that build understanding. Students stay independent; teachers stay in control.

See it in action

Questions that lead to answers

A student asks a question about something they just read. Instead of answering, Reading Companion responds with a question that helps them find the answer themselves. The image shows a real exchange: a biology student working through cellular respiration, guided step by step without being handed the answer.

Reading Companion open on tablet asking a student "Why does pyruvate need to enter the mitochondria?"

Why it matters

Designed for students who need more support

Reading Companion is most valuable where students are reading independently and need a thinking partner — not a shortcut.

Guided questioning

Responds to every student question with a follow-up that builds toward understanding. Students do the thinking; Reading Companion keeps them moving.

English language learner support

ELL students can ask questions about vocabulary or meaning and get guided support that helps them work through the text rather than just look up an answer.

Academic integrity built in

Reading Companion won’t engage with off-topic, inappropriate, or harmful requests — keeping students focused on their reading. Student interactions are not used to train AI models.

Institution controls access

Your team decides whether Reading Companion is enabled. It can be turned on or off — you stay in control of how students use it.

Available on Bookshare Reader

Available inside the Bookshare Reader app on mobile, and coming soon to web browsers. No separate tool or login required.

Learn more about Bookshare Reader

Frequently asked questions

Is Reading Companion included with every Bookshare Plus subscription?

No — Reading Companion is an optional add-on to Bookshare Plus, not included in the base subscription. Contact our team for pricing when you request a demo.

Where is Reading Companion available?

Reading Companion is available inside the Bookshare Reader on the mobile app for iOS and Android and coming soon to Bookshare Reader on web browsers.

Can our institution turn Reading Companion off?

Yes. Reading Companion is controlled at the institution level — your team decides whether it’s enabled for students. It is not on by default.

Are student conversations used to train AI models?

No. Student interactions with Reading Companion are not used to train AI models. The chatbot does not collect student personal information.

Does Reading Companion work with remediated documents?

Yes. Reading Companion works with both Bookshare library titles and documents remediated through Bookshare Plus — students get the same experience regardless of content source.

Is a data privacy agreement available?

Yes. A data privacy agreement is available upon request. Contact privacy@benetech.org for details.

See Reading Companion in action

Request a demo and we’ll walk through the full Bookshare Plus experience — document remediation, Natural Voices, and Reading Companion together.

Bring it to your school