Assistive Technology

Assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a person with a disability.

SOFTWARE:

Reading and Writing:

Read Write Gold – an easy-to-use flexible toolbar containing support features to make reading, writing, and research easier for you. The software has been designed to address some of the issues that people with dyslexia face daily, namely reading difficulties, writing difficulties, problems with spelling and general literacy support.

Dragon Naturally Speaking – Speech recognition software, lets you dictate documents, search the web, email and more on your computer — quickly and accurately — just by using your voice.

Natural Reader Ultimate Addition – Natural Reader is a Text to Speech software with natural sounding voices. This easy to use software can convert any written text such as MS Word, Webpage, PDF files, and Emails into spoken words. NaturalReader can also convert any written text into audio files such as MP3 or WAV for your CD player or iPod.

JAWS – a screen reader for persons with visual impairments or reading disabilities. Save time with Skim Reading. Text and links on the computer’s screen are read aloud.

NVDA – (Non-Visual Desktop Access) is a free “screen reader” which enables the text on the screen to read aloud in a computerized voice. You can control what is read to you by moving the cursor to the relevant area of text with a mouse or arrows on your keyboard. NVDA can also convert the text into braille if the computer user owns a device called a “braille display”.

WordTalk – It will act as a ‘text reader’ and create a spoken sound version of the text in a WORD document and read it back to you as it highlights the words. For people with reading and writing difficulties, having text reinforced by hearing it read aloud can be very useful.

NitroReader – Great ‘text reader’ for PDF documents with highlighting. Offers navigation panes, including Pages, Bookmarks, Comments, and Output, which allows for easy navigation of larger documents.

Learning Ally – Audiobooks are a powerful tool that supports improved comprehension, boosts confidence and leads to better grades for those who have trouble reading. Learning Ally audiobooks can help students with a verified print disability.

Open Office (dyslexic font) – An add-in to WORD that allows students with dyslexia to change the font of documents for better readability.

Math

MathTalk w/ Scientific Notebook – allows the user to voice any math from pre-algebra, algebra, trig, calculus, and statistics using Dragon Naturally Speaking. This includes voicing graphs! Operates Scientific Notebook with over 600,000 combinations of voice commands and has GRAPHING capabilities. SN will also evaluate, evaluate numerically, factor, combine, expand, simplify, check equality, solve exact and more.

MathPad – functions as an electronic numbers processor that allows students to solve basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems directly on the computer. Students do all their own calculations and is the perfect tool for students who have difficulty doing math with pencil and paper or who need help organizing or navigating through math problems.

Low Vision

JAWS – Job Access With Speech, is the world’s most popular screen reader, developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse. JAWS provides speech and Braille output for the most popular computer applications on your PC.

JSay – J-Say Pro provides improved operations for Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional speech recognition and JAWS For Windows screen reading technology. It provides a “unified user experience” for “hands-free, vision free computing.”

Dragon Naturally Speaking – Speech recognition software, lets you dictate documents, search the web, email and more on your computer — quickly and accurately — just by using your voice.

Learning Ally – Helps blind, visually impaired, dyslexic students and those who have trouble reading, audiobooks are a powerful tool that supports improved comprehension, boosts confidence and leads to better grades. Learning Ally audiobooks can help students with a verified print disability.

Zoomtext Magnifier/Reader – ZoomText Magnifier/Reader is a fully integrated magnification and screen reading program that enlarges, enhances and reads aloud everything on the computer screen.

NVDA – (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free “screen reader” which enables blind and vision-impaired people to use computers. It reads the text on the screen in a computerized voice. You can control what is read to you by moving the cursor to the relevant area of text with a mouse or the arrows on your keyboard. NVDA can also convert the text into braille if the computer user owns a device called a “braille display”.

Mobility

Dragon Naturally Speaking – Speech recognition software, lets you dictate documents, search the web, email and more on your computer — quickly and accurately — just by using your voice.

Dual Screen monitors w/ Zoomtext keyboard and extra magnifier. Document holder and talking graphing calculator

HARDWARE:

Some items may be checked-out from the Adaptive Technology Lab (limited availability applies). Students must first see ACCESS Services for accommodations, then sign a loan agreement for use of the item each semester needed. For questions about this service please contact Denise Walker at (636) 584-6606 or email denise.walker@eastcentral.edu

Reading

Reading Pen – Reads scanned text aloud, including its definitions and synonyms with Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology using the built-in speaker or earphones. Can spell out scanned words, highlighting individual letters.
(limited quantity available)

DaVinci Magnifier/Reader – a high performance desktop video magnifier (CCTV), featuring Full HD, selective text-to-speech (OCR) and a 3-in-1 camera. DaVinci will read any printed text (book, magazine, newspaper, etc.) aloud with the push of a button.

Magnibar tracker – Place it flat side down on any reading material and the highlighted line that runs through it, helping you focus and keep your place should you look away from your reading frequently. The highlighted line is tall enough to typically hold one line of standard text. Just slide the bar up, down, left or right to continue reading.

iPod Nano – great for listening to audiotext, podcasts and recorded lectures, at home, school or on the go.

Victor Reader DAISY Players -The simplest and friendliest audiobook player that plays DAISY format and MP3 books and music on CDs. Can easily bookmark a page, and change the rate of speech on this portable device.

Low Vision

Large-Print keyboards – each key and button label is easy to see, even in low light, due to its 36-point text and choice of high-contrast color schemes: “Black on Yellow” or “White on Black”.

Large Screen monitors – larger display is easier on the eyes, so your eyes do not tire as fast.

Desktop Reading Magnifier – Magnifies approximately 2x-3x depending on viewing distance, which makes reading, drawing, writing, and viewing detail work easier for those with low vision.

Talking Basic Calculator – a large 8 digit LCD screen with large number pads, making it great for low vision users. A clear female voice, the talking calculator will speak single digits or units and whole integers.

TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator – The Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator is a modified TI-84 Plus with an attachment that adds accessibility and additional controls. Explore graphs using either spoken announcements or audio and haptic (vibrating) feedback. Moving along the graph from left to right shifts the tone from the left to the right stereo channel.

Digital Voice Recorders – Having low vision makes taking notes a challenge, but being able to record lectures and play them back can help with this challenge.

Hearing

Roger Pen by Phonak – Handy microphone for various listening situations. Roger Pen can be conveniently used where additional support is needed over distance and in noise and features Bluetooth connectivity.

Roger MyLink by Phonak – Roger MyLink is a universal receiver compatible with any hearing aid or cochlear implant with a T-coil.

Williams Personal FM System – This system broadcasts a speaker’s voice directly to the ears of an individual listener up to 150 feet away, making it an ideal amplification system for small groups and classrooms via a battery operated transmitter with a small lapel microphone that sends their voice to the listener who uses a compact battery operated receiver to hear the presentation loudly and clearly, even from the back of the room.

Neckloop Telecoil Coupler –is designed to magnetically couple the audio output from a Williams Sound unit into a hearing aid equipped with a telephone coil. It will also work with any audio device which has a 8-16 Ohm audio output through a 3.5mm jack. The neckloop works only with hearing aids equipped with a telephone coil (T-Switch)

Digital Voice Recorders – taking notes can be a challenge, but being able to record lectures and play them back with a hearing helper can help with this challenge.

Mobility

Trackball mouse – looks like an upside down mouse with a movable ball on top of a stationary base. The ball can be rotated with a pointing device or a hand. People who have some fine motor skills but lack gross motor skills can use these devices more easily and comfortably than a traditional mouse.

Roller Mouse Red – centrally placed in front of your keyboard, eliminates the need to grip or reach for the mouse, which can stress the neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. This optimal work zone corrects posture and prevents injury.

Touch Screen monitor – people with motor control problems in their hands find it very difficult to hold the mouse still during clicking. Using a touch screen can eliminate the use of these fine motor skills.

Digital Voice Recorders – taking notes can be a challenge, but being able to record lectures and play them back later can help.

APPS:

Brainstorming

IOS (Free Apps)

Android (Free Apps)

PC Download (Windows)

FreeMind
Bubbl.us (free & pay version)
ThinkComposer

Text to Speech (E-Readers)

IOS (Free and some paid versions)

Android (free and Paid versions)

Notetaking

IOS (free and Paid versions)

Evernote
Notepad+ Free – Take Notes and Memos in a Personal Handwriting Notebook
Simplenote
Notability (Paid)
SoundNote (Paid)
Audionote (Paid)

Android (free and paid versions)

Reading and Writing

IOS (Free and Paid versions)

Android (free and Paid versions)

Flash Cards

IOS (Free)

Android (Free)

Stress and Anxiety

IOS (Free)

Android (Free)

Miscellaneous

IOS (Free)

Android (Free)