LibGuides: Assistive Technology: Apps for Multiple Differences

Multipurpose Apps

Some apps are useful for multiple types of personal needs. These may be available as Apps, Extensions, or programs from vendors like Apple iOS, Microsoft, or Google.

Image: difference by Andrejs Kirma from the Noun Project

Multipurpose Apps by Vendor - also see Accessibility by App

Amazon Alexa and Echo
Use these AI machines to: read the news aloud each morning, order supplies when you are running out of essentials, get the current weather and weather forecase, play music, control other smart devices.

Mobility Accessibility Apps

Microsoft Disability Answer Desk
Microsoft for Inclusive Classroom Experiences
Windows Speech Recognition Commands
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."

Understood.org
Information and apps about learning and attention disorders.

Apps for students with learning differences and special needs
from Common Sense Media
The Audio Description Project
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/
LibriVox
Free audiobooks in public domain. Available in many languages.
Livescribe Aegir pen
This device can record audio while a student handwrites notes. The notes can then be sent to the student’s email or saved in the cloud... If a student’s mind wanders during a part of class, they can write themselves a note to indicate that they need to play back the audio recording from that specific time."
Voice Dream Reader
Available from Apple and Google Store. A must-have app for every student? Voice Dream reads aloud text that can be pulled from PDFs, web browers, Word docs, PowerPoints, HTML, Dropbox, and many other platforms. A powerful resource for anyone struggling with reading or hoping to reinforce reading.

Accessibility Technology by Operating System or App

Disability Answer Desk (Microsoft)
Support for customers with disabilities for Microsoft Office, Xbox Accessibility, and Windows.
Windows 10 (Microsoft)
Accessibility options for vision, hearing, neurodiversity, learning, and mobility needs.

Chrome Web Apps for Special Needs
Web Developer Extension
The toolbar allows you to view alt-text, headers and ARIA roles on any webpage (ARIA, the acronym for Accessible Rich Internet Applications, makes Web content easily accessible to people using screen readers)

Google (tools for special needs)

Web Developer Extension
The toolbar allows you to view alt-text, headers and ARIA roles on any webpage (ARIA, the acronym for Accessible Rich Internet Applications, makes Web content easily accessible to people using screen readers)