LibGuides: Assistive Technology: Vision Accessibility

Vision Accessibility Needs

Vision accessibility technology includes

Audio Description
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Magnification
Text to Braille
Text to Speech Readers

Vision Accessibility Technology by Need - also see Accessibility by App

Hadley Vision Loss - Instructional Videos
Accessibility by App
Discover apps by operating system and device for multiple assistive needs

Audio Description (AD) is the descriptive narration of key visual elements of live theatre, television, movies, and other media to enhance their enjoyment by consumers who are blind or have low vision. AD is the insertion of audio explanations and descriptions of the settings, characters, and action taking place in such media, when such information about these visual elements is not offered in the regular audio presentation.
(description from The Audio Description Project website, retrieved 1/7/19, http://acb.org/adp/

The Audio Description Project

Seeing AI (Microsoft App)
See YouTube Video description of Seeing AI.
Harnesses the power of AI to audibly describe people, text, and objects, including describing the value of currency it is shown or the brightness or color of an object.
KNFB Reader App

We Are Colorblind
Making the world a better place for the colorblind. Discover best practices, apps, etc.

Windows Magnifier (for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10)
Smartphone magnification
"Most smartphones have a built-in magnifying glass that can be used to magnify text or objects seen through the device’s camera or magnify the text on the device’s screen. Turn on magnification under general or accessibility settings...."

KNFB Reader App

Balabolka
FAU Accessible Format Materials Portal
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- Supported file types are: The Accessible Format Materials Portal is a free service provided to all FAU students, faculty and staff. This service is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and is implemented by Student Accessibility Services within the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management. This is part of FAU’s ongoing commitment to provide the highest level of accessibility to all members of the FAU community to promote innovation, inclusion and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
- Output Formats are: MP3 audio, Braille, E-Book, Accessibility conversion.
Immersive Reader (Microsoft)
KNFB Reader App
Natural Reader
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) Reader
Panopreter Basic
Read&Write software for FAU Students

Genius Scan
"...scan documents into PDFs using your Apple or Android phone or tablet. When taking a picture of the document, this tool automatically recognizes the borders of the page and aligns the image. It also removes some shadows and artifacts to help clean up the document."
Immersive Reader (Microsoft)
"...includes a range of tools to improve the readability of text. Students can have digital text read aloud; use a line reader to focus on one or two sentences; and adjust the font, contrast, and background of text.... There’s also a feature that color-codes different parts of speech and a picture dictionary."

Last updated on Feb 18, 2025 10:38 AM