Assistive technology can be very expensive, but here you will find mostly free assistive technology, organized by category, and available free
on the Web.
If you can't get it free, here is information on applying for funding for assistive technology.
Because of the large amount of available free assistive technology for communication and augmentative communications devices, we have created a separate page on these technologies.
http://www.northerngrid.org
"SENSwitcher is a suite of programs designed to help teach early ICT skills to people with profound and multiple learning difficulties,
those who need to develop skills with assistive input devices and very young children new to computers.
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/headpointer/download
The Head-Tracking Pointer provides an inexpensive and easily-used mouse replacement for those unable to use traditional pointing devices. Using
only software and any Web-cam, this application allows users to point and click with character-level accuracy by simply aiming their face. Unlike other head-tracking solutions, the Head-Tracking Pointer does not require special-purpose hardware, head gear, or tracking aids, such as retro-reflective dots.
A BIG thank you for contributions to these assistive technology resources from my friend Bob in Winsted.
Calculators
Calculator Home Page for Windows high functioning calculator. Free download. http://www.calculator.org/
Wide assortment of all types of calculators
http://www.sensorysoftware.com
A large calculator for Windows. You can either on the buttons with the mouse or use the numeric keypad to perform calculations. The size of the
calculator buttons is determined by the WIDTH of the calculator window.
http://www.calculator.org
This is a set of easy to read calculators that help develop math and science skills. It can be used with windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP and PDA
with Windowsce.
Collaboration
http://www.atutor.ca
ACollab is a fully accessible, open source, multi-group, Web-based collaborative work environment. ACollab is available as a work groups addon
for ATutor 1.4+ , and as a standalone collaborative work environment that will run on its own. ACollab is ideal for groups working at a distance
developing documentation, collaborating on research, or writing joint papers, and ideal for online educators who wish to add group learning activities
to their ATutor courses.
http://www.compendiuminstitute.org/download/download.htm
Compendium provides a methodological framework, plus an evolving suite of tools, for collective sense-making and group memory. Validated in both
small and large scale business projects, it is the result of over a decade's research and development at the intersection of collaborative modeling,
organizational memory, computer-supported argumentation and meeting facilitation.
http://www.atutor.ca
ACOMM is an accessible Java-based Instant Messaging and Whiteboard tool. It has been designed to allow assistive technology users to participate
in synchronous Internet-based communication activities that have traditionally been inaccessible to them.
Coloring and drawing
TuxPaint http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/
An easy to use paint program. It has auditory feedback. Uses both the keyboard and the mouse.
Cursors
Cursors may need to be enlarged or animated for better visibility. There are several sites on the Internet, here are a few:
Windows
http://joescursors.tripod.com/HVCurPg.htm
Macintosh
http://www.tucows.com/preview/204209 CursorAnimator lets you substitute
five system cursors (arrow, watch, text, cross-hair and plus) with a static or animated cursor of your choice. If your Macintosh supports color,
you can even get color cursors.
http://rbx.de/big-cursors/
This software allows you to enlarge your cursor. Each of the enlarged cursors are the maximum of 32 by 32 pixels. It is windows based software.
http://joescursors.tripod.com/HVCurPg.htm
Collection of large and brightly animated cursors. This software is intended for non-profit use only. It is windows based software.
http://www.anicursor.com/
There are many cursors types available at this site. Some of the cursors are freeware and some are shareware. Also there are instructions on
how to create your own cursors. this is windows based software.
http://onlineconferencingsystems.com/large_pointers_1.htm
Over 80 additional pointers and cursors for those with visual or perceptual difficulties. Icon styles include animated, colored, large, I-beams
and circles.
Cursar control
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/headpointer/download
The Head-Tracking Pointer provides an inexpensive and easily-used mouse replacement for those unable to use traditional pointing devices. Using
only software and any Web-cam, this application allows users to point and click with character-level accuracy by simply aiming their face. Unlike
other head-tracking solutions, the Head-Tracking Pointer does not require special-purpose hardware, head gear, or tracking aids, such as retro-reflective
dots. Users train the system by tipping their head left and right. Custom-tracking algorithms provide reliable operation in a wide range of environmental
conditions. Head motion is translated into pointer motion by custom filters that provide both high speed for long movements and high accuracy
for fine control, without switching modes. All clicking variations are supported, including right clicking, double clicking, and click-and-drag.
Display
http://www.magnifiers.org
Intended to ease reading on a computer monitor by displaying text in large fonts in foreground an background colors of the user's choosing. Works
with Microsoft's Text-to-Speech, reads web pages from the Internet and let you browse text-only.
E-Text / e-Books
(Electronic Text) free books and text online - Electronic text provides access to digital materials for students with learning, sensory and
physical disabilities. The Internet provides many sites for gathering e-text. Here are some links to explore e-text further:
http://www.bartleby.com/
http://www.childrenstory.com/tales/index.html
http://www.accessiblebookcollection.org
Google has a book search in their search engine now. Go to Google and then go to "More". Type in what you are looking for and voila!
You just might find it.
http://amis.sourceforge.net/
AMIS is a software program that you can use to read DAISY books. AMIS is a multilingual player for reading books complying with DAISY standards.
AMIS is free of charge, open source DAISY book playback software.
http://www.magickeys.com/books/ Illustrated and animated children's storybooks.
http://www.bookshare.org/web/Welcome.html
A collection of digital books designed for use by people with disabilities. Many books can be downloaded for free and used with Kurzweil.
Ergonomics
Ergonomic office furniture and computer accessories since 1993 - http://ergostoreonline.com/
Gaming
http://www.arcess.com/demo2.cfm
These simple switch games are easy to play and are designed to be widely accessible for players who have Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy,
Spinal Injury, Head Injury or other physical disabilities. They can be played as single switch games, speech recognition games, expanded keyboard
games (Intellikeys, Unicorn Keyboard, Concept Keyboard, Mini Keyboards), assistive technology researchers and vendors
AFB
CCT Solitaire is a fully-accessible traditional solitaire game. Keyboard commands perform all functions. Sound effects are included.
AFB
Crazy Darts is an online, audio-based game allows you to throw a dart at a moving target. When the game starts, sound comes out of either the
right or left speaker and moves to the opposite speaker. When you believe the sound is directly in front of you, you press the spacebar to throw
the dart.
http://www.danzgames.com/memory.htm
In this game, you choose how many sounds you would like to be a part of a pattern that you will remember. Then, you listen to a single sound,
and try to remember it. If you're successful, a new sound is added and you must remember both sounds. This continues, and continues, until you
cannot remember anymore and make a mistake.
http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/2/switch-downloads.htm 70+
single switch PC games available for FREE download!
http://www.danzgames.com/maze.htm
Maze Craze is a nice piece of freeware that enthusiasts of maze and puzzle games will enjoy. The game currently comes with eleven mazes for you
to try to escape. Once you're finished with those, you can use the included, accessible, maze editor to create your own fully-featured mazes.
Your mazes can include walls, doors, keys, and up to a 100x100 grid.
http://igda-gasig.org/
Games play an important part in our culture and help add to our quality of life. The Game Accessibility SIG was formed to help the game community
strive towards creating mainstream games that are universally accessible to all, regardless of disability. Through our work we hope to help bridge
the knowledge gap about how to increase the accessibility of mainstream games that exists between disability groups and game developers and publishers.
http://www.ics.forth.gr/uachess/index.html
UA-Chess is a fully-functional chess game, developed by the Centre for Universal
Access & Assistive Technologies of ICS-FORTH. UA-Chess can be played
through a standard Web browser. Its distinctive characteristic is that it is designed to be Universally Accessible, i.e., it can be concurrently
played by people with different abilities and preferences, including people with disabilities (e.g., low-vision, blind and hand-motor impaired).
http://www.adagame.org The ADA Game simulates how advocacy can promote positive changes
in communities. Join in the discussions and work together to improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in your community
of choice in the areas of: Program Access, Public Accommodations, Transportation, Employment, and Communication.
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/owlmouse.htm
Create your own model farm with silo, barn and chicken coop. Kids will choose crops and animals and what to grow to feed themselves and their
animals. Kids set up their own streets, decide where to put different buildings, parks and shopping districts.
Graphics
http://www.freeology.com/graphicorgs
http://www.kaptech.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/PictureSlideShow.htm
Picture Slide Show lets you continuously displays all the pictures in a folder.
http://gliffy.com Allows you to use diagramming in your web browser without downloading additional
software. You can create many types ofdiagrams such as Flowcharts, wireframes, Floor plans, Network thagrams, UML diagrams, or any other simple
drawing or diagram.
http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer provides PDF files ofmany
graphic organizers. With the hit ofa button they are available in Spanish also!
http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/ Alternative to Inspiration that is totally free.
Doesn't have some ofthe supportive options that Inspiration has such as text to speech and wonderful graphics but the CmapTools program empowers
users to construct, navigate, share and criticize knowledge models represented as concept maps.
http://www.inspiration.com has full-feature demos oftheir graphic organizer programs.
Joystick
http://www.tucows.com/preview/292788
Turns a joystick into a mouse. It works on Windows 98/NT/2K/ME/XP.
Keyboarding
DanceMat typing tutor
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/http://kavlon.org/index.php/10key
Kavlon 10-key keyboarding wordlist database is a utility to re-map a small set of keys to a larger set of keys and to use that mapping to allowing
fast entry of words.
Click-N-Type is an on-screen virtual keyboard designed for anyone with a disability that prevents him or her from typing on a physical computer
keyboard. As long as the person can control a mouse, trackball or other pointing device, he or she can send keystrokes to virtually any Windows
application or DOS application that can run within a window. Click-N-Type is a 32-bit application that requires Windows 95 or later.
Freeware http://www.lakefolks.org
KeyStrokes http://www.assistiveware.com/index.php for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X is a filly-
functional advanced virtual on-screen keyboard that allows you to type with a mouse, trackball, head pointer or other mouse emulator to type
characters into any standard Macintosh application. Demo version available.
http://www.autohotkey.com/
AutoHotkey is a free, open-source utility for Windows. With it, you can: Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You
can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or use the macro recorder. Create hotkeys for keyboard, joystick, and mouse. Virtually any key, button,
or combination can become a hotkey. Expand abbreviations as you type them.
http://www.free2u.org/freeware/system_utilities/tools_for_disabled/click-n-type_speech_package.html
Click-N-Type Speech Package v. 1.0 by Lake Software is more than just fun, Typing Sounds provide audible feedback, you may select one of the "Spoken
Keys" options, as well as normal typewriter sounds. The feature "speaks" the keys back to you, letting you know you've hit the
correct key and documentation on how to create "Spoken Keys" is included with the Click-N-Type help file, so people can create their
own.
http://www.lakefolks.org
Click-N-Type is an on-screen virtual keyboard designed for anyone who needs help using a physical keyboard with special consideration for the
severely handicapped. Full featured virtual keyboard, Word prediction and completion, Fully configurable including macros, AutoClick and Scanning
Modes.
http://www.polital.com/cntd/
CNTDesigner is a keyboard layout designer designed to work in conjunction with Click-N-Type V3+ by Lake Software. The combination of CNTDesigner
and Click-N-Type will give the user complete freedom to design their own keyboards, controlling size and placement of all keys as well as the
overall size of the keyboard. If none of the standard keyboards provided by Click-N-Type suit your fancy, and the Custom Alphabet just doesn't
have enough flexibility to meet your creative needs, then the keyboard designer CNTDesigner is the add-on you use to design your own keyboard
layout.
http://www.eventcorder.com
Eventcorder records and plays back Windows events. With Eventcorder, a sequence of keystrokes and mouse-clicks can be implemented at the touch
of a single button.
http://kmag.sourceforge.net/
KMagnifier (or kmag, its unix name) is a small utility for Linux to magnify a part of the screen. It was initially written for KDE 1, before
becoming dormant. The development was then picked up by me and KMagnifier got its new life. It is currently being maintained/developed actively.
KMagnifier is very useful for people with visual disabilities and for those working in the fields of image analysis, web development etc.
http://www.shortkeys.com/lite.htm
Shortkeys Lite allows you to set up replacement text or paragraphs for any given number of user defined keystrokes. If you type a few characters,
ShortKeys Lite will replace them with up to 3000 characters. If you find typing difficult then Shortkeys will make it more automatic.
http://www.gok.ca/gok.shtml
The gok project aims to enable users to control their computer without having to rely on a standard keyboard or mouse. Many individuals must
control the computer using alternative input methods. Using innovative dynamic keyboard strategies, and leveraging gnome 2's built-in accessibility
framework, the gok will make control more efficient and enable use of the gnome 2 desktop. With the right hardware support and the gok individuals
will have full access to applications that support the AT SPI, and therefore, full access to the functionality these applications provide.
http://www.gnu.org/software/gtkeyboard/gtkeyboard.html
GTKeyboard is an application written in C with the aid of the Gimp Toolkit. It is intended to
help users with physical disabilities to enter text into a simple editor, as well as to help them use other X11 applications that require keyboard
input. GTKeyboard allows the user to press keys on an onscreen keyboard that will either be entered into a simple text editor that GTKeyboard
provides, or into the application of choice that the user specifies by clicking on the window. It has also been used by people who have strange
keyboard layouts, and by people who for one reason or another cannot use a keyboard with the machine in question.
http://www.camiweb.com/zenkey/
ZenKEY is comprised of a series of menus, each containing items which perform "actions". You can "fire" these actions by
clicking on the item, or pressing any key-combination you choose.
Magnification
Magnification for the computer, including freeware/shareware and reviews of commercial products. http://www.magnifiers.org
http://www.ancientsoft.com/ezmagnifier.htm
EzMagnifier is a small utility to magnify a portion of the screen where you can choose the zooming factor and you can resize the magnified portion
itself to suite your needs. You can capture the image of the magnified area and the program saves it in the same folder of the program and you
can save multiple captures as the program save them sequentially.
http://www.b-zone.de/software/lens.htm
Another Lens displays a magnified view of the area of the mouse cursor. Quite handy, for example, for drawing software. The window contents can
be locked, and saved to a file or copied to the clipboard for taking screenshots. Several additional options, like crosshairs, resizing the window
and hiding the caption bar and/or main menu. Stays on top of other windows optionally.
http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/
Virtual Magnifying Glass is an easy-to-use screen magnification tool for Windows.
http://www.theabsolute.net/sware/
This software allows you to magnify portions of your computer screen up to fifteen times the normal magnification. The program includes a special
interpolation routine to maintain details when magnifying, as well as the ability to magnify the mouse cursor.
http://www.digitalmantra.com/fatbits/
Fatbits magnifies an area of the screen and paints the giant pixels into a new window, which may be useful if you have a visual impairment. To
make the screen even more accessible, you can modify the colours it displays.
http://www.softlookup.com
Super Magnify allows you to magnify portions of your screen up to 15 times. The program includes a special interpolation routine to maintain
details when magnifying, as well as the ability to magnify the mouse cursor. In addition, Super Magnify displays your (x, y) pixel coordinates
on the screen, and the RGB values corresponding to the cursor's position.
http://www.magnifiers.org
Intended to ease reading on a computer monitor by displaying text in large fonts in foreground an background colors of the user's choosing. Works
with Microsoft's Text-to-Speech, reads web pages from the Internet and let you browse text-only.
Maps
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/owlmouse.htm
Helps students learn about the United States and World geography. Following is a list of the interactive maps that teach about continents, countries,
states, capitals, boarders, physical features and cultural movements.
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/owlmouse.htm
Walk an individual through the continents. It prints U.S. and World maps from a single page to eight pages (nearly seven feet across).
Math
Calculator Home Page for Windows high functioning calculator. Free download. http://www.calculator.org/
Wide assortment of all types of calculators
http://www.vincentwortham.com/mathFlash.html has flash card programs
for drill and practice.
Graph Paper- never buy it again! There are many sites that offer free graph paper or programs to develop your own. Great to use with students
who straggle lining up their problems at http://www.printfreegraphpaper.com/
http://incompetech.com/beta/plainGraphPaper/ Offers on-line graph
and grid paper in PDF format. There are various links from this site to support your graphing needs.
http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/
MathPlayer converts mathematical expressions embedded in web pages into speech. Text-to-speech generators (which are useful if you want to use
the computer but cannot read) may not always recognise mathematical expressions, but MathPlayer will speak them in a meaningful way.
The Edmark House Series is a comprehensive solution for engaging Early Learners and Special Needs students. It supports all students with
expanded accessibility options. http://www.hmhinnovation.com
http://www.sensorysoftware.com
A large calculator for Windows. You can either on the buttons with the mouse or use the numeric keypad to perform calculations. The size of the
calculator buttons is determined by the WIDTH of the calculator window.
http://www.calculator.org
This is a set of easy to read calculators that help develop math and science skills. It can be used with windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP and PDA
with Windowsce.
http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov
MDE SDK is a reusable software library that generates text, sound and visual representations of graphs found in both math and science applications.
Visually-impaired computer users access these alternative text and sound descriptions through the use of a screen reader and standard computer
speakers.
Mouse
http://www.intelore.com/reflex provides a game that is available to download.
http://www.burlco.lib.nj.us/Classes/Intforkids/cns1.html provides
introduction to pointing and clicking.
http://www.shambles.net/pages/school/mouse has various links for
providing skills in using a mouse. Also links for specifically designed for left handers!
http://www.polital.com/pnc/
Point-N-Click is a FREE stand-alone on-screen virtual mouse designed for anyone with a disability that makes it difficult or impossible to click
a physical computer mouse. As long as they can move a mouse, trackball or other pointing device, they can send mouse clicks to virtually any
Windows application or DOS application that can run within a window and even many that are full screen. This software is a virtual mouse. It
has right click, left click, double left click, click and drag, scroll, double right click, alt key, shift key, ctrl key and scroll key. It is
a very good virtual mouse.
http://lang.tivi.pl/software.htm
Click-Catch(C) available options:
You may choose which button to simulate between left/right/middle mouse buttons. You can also set single or double click.
There are two "hot keys" available.
http://www.sensorysoftware.com
Dwelling is resting the mouse over one area of the screen for a specified time. The dwell click software allows you to perform left-click, right-click
and double clicks, and even drag things around the screen. This is ideal for those who can operate the mouse pointer, but not the buttons. For
example, users of a head mouse such as the Smart NAV can use this software to control
mouse operated Windows programs.
http://morseall.org/
Morseall allows people with limited mobility to use a computer. Morseall allows you to control your Linux computer by tapping morse code on the
mouse buttons. The left button is for dots. Hold it longer for dashes. The right button is for dashes. It is faster than holding down the Left.
The middle button is for "finishing " and repeating characters. If you can control one, two, or three switches, you can use morseall
at at your own pace. Morseall can use your existing accessibility switches! Ask a rehabilitation professional to solder a jack onto a " sacrificial" three-button
mouse. It should be easy to hook up your current switch set for long-term morse-code computer use.
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/mousesmoothing
Mouse Smoothing Software is assistive software for people with hand tremor. It is intended primarily for individuals with Essential (non-specific)
Hand Tremor who have difficulty using a computer mouse. Significant improvement has been found for people who can basically control their hand,
apart from a moderate degree of tremor.
Music
http://www.inclusive.co.uk/downloads/downloads.shtml#cdplayer
A free, switch accessible CD player. Features: two different graphic styles, one or two switch access, mouse and keyboard access, automatically
remembers settings, suitable for controlling from an IntelliKeys or Concept Keyboard
http://fullmeasure.co.uk/TouchCD/
A very simple switch controlled CD player
News
http://www.webbie.org.uk
Accessible RSS News Feeds is widely used by the weblog community to share the latest entries’ headlines or their full text, and even attached
multimedia files.
Operating System
https://www.apple.com/accessibility/ for Macintosh users.
http://www.eklhad.net
This software makes Linux accessible to the blind user.
PC Utilities
http://desktop.google.com/index.html
Google Desktop gives you easy access to information on your computer and from the web. It's a desktop search application that provides full text
search over your email, computer files, music, photos, chats and web pages that you've viewed. By making your computer searchable, Google Desktop
puts your information easily within your reach and frees you from having to manually organize your files, emails and bookmarks. It makes searching
your computer as easy as searching the web with Google.
http://fullmeasure.co.uk/TouchCD/
A very simple switch controlled CD player
Podcatcher
http://www.webbie.org.uk
Accessible Podcatcher is a simple way for blind and screen reader users to use podcasts. Podcasting is a way to distribute audio files on the
web. Accessible Podcatcher lets you access these podcasts. You can save them to disk, have your MP3 player transfer them for portable listening,
and export and import lists of podcasts to send to other people.
Radio
http://www.webbie.org.uk
The British Broadcast Company (BBC) allows people to listen to
vast quantities of their radio output up to a week after it is first broadcast on one of their dozens of radio stations. This service, called Listen
Again, relies on a web browser interface that might be difficult for some users, especially people with screen readers. Accessible BBC
Listen Again allows you to access the BBC's Listen Again content through a truly accessible interface designed to work with any screen reader.
Select programmes and stations with the cursor keys and listen to them at your leisure. You get easy and simple access to hours of programming,
including the ever-popular "The Archers " and "In Touch". The new version lets you access all of the Listen Again content
among many other improvements (thanks to everyone for their suggestions!) It does still require that you have already installed something that
can play Real Audio, which is the format the BBC uses for their radio on the Internet.
Switch
http://www.sensorysoftware.com
To ensure that your switches can be used with all applications we supply our switch software. The software is available for both USB and serial
switches.
http://www.northerngrid.org
"SENSwitcher is a suite of programs designed to help teach early ICT skills to people with profound and multiple learning difficulties,
those who need to develop skills with assistive input devices and very young children new to computers. It is, we believe the first time anyone
anywhere has developed an online switch enabled application which targets ICT skills from purely experiential through cause and effect, switch
building, timed activation, targeting and row scanning."
http://www.inclusive.co.uk/downloads/downloads.shtml#cdplayer
A free, switch accessible CD player. Features: two different graphic styles, one or two switch access, mouse and keyboard access, automatically
remembers settings, suitable for controlling from an IntelliKeys or Concept Keyboard
http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/ProductsandServices/SSPT/intro.html
Single Switch Performance Test (SSPT) measures how fast a person can activate or release a single switch or activate it multiple times. SSPT
monitors the mouse buttons. SSPT reports can be helpful in choosing the most effective switch, identifying the best position, and monitoring
the training process. (A switch adapter or modified mouse is needed to connect a switch to the PC. Instructions for modifying a mouse are available
as well. AAC Institute also sells a modified mouse.)
http://www.inclusive.co.uk/downloads/downloads.shtml#serialdriver
A stand-alone serial switch driver for Windows, programmed to send the standard keys of Space and Return. For single or two switch access. Option
to send a continuous stream of keypresses or a single keypress. Send a selection of other commonly used keypresses such as function keys and
number keys.
Symbols
http://www.symbolworld.org/ has many on-line stories, some recipes, poetry, news
stories, etc. written and supported with picture icons.
http://www.deafblindonline.org.uk
An accessory for making symbol sets for use in EdWord and EdWeb. It will instantly convert a file full of images into the correct format to be
used in EdWord and EdWeb.
http://www.symbolnet.org/sv/index.html
Building a Symbol and ConceptCoding Editor for CMS, based on CCF(ConceptCodingFramework). Also building tools for ConceptCoding administration
(perhaps in another project).
Teaching
Everyday Skills
http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/everyday-skills
Switch-activated software that supports teachers in teaching the young people who are deafblind in learning everyday skills.
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/owlmouse.htm
This software teaches children to know and make the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.
http://www.createdbyteachers.com/rnodchecklist.html
http://www.addcentre.co.uk/modificationchecklists.htm is
specific to ADFID and ADD
http://www.northerngrid.org
"SENSwitcher is a suite of programs designed to help teach early ICT skills to people with profound and multiple learning difficulties,
those who need to develop skills with assistive input devices and very young children new to computers. It is, we believe the first time anyone
anywhere has developed an online switch enabled application which targets ICT skills from purely experiential through cause and effect, switch
building, timed activation, targeting and row scanning."
Time management
With Google Calendar, you can see your friends’ and family's schedules right next to your own; quickly add events mentioned in Gmail
conversations or saved in other calendar applications; and add other interesting events that you find online. Go to Google http://google.com and
then to more and to Calendar.
Vision - artificial
The vOICe Learning Edition - Synthetic vision software for Microsoft Windows is "an experimental system for auditory image representations,
intended to provide synthetic vision to the totally blind." - http://www.artificialvision.com/winvoice.htm
The vOICe Learning Edition translates arbitrary video images from
a regular PC camera into sounds. This means that you can see with your ears, whenever you want to. Now step beyond your computer screen and screen
reader and try this camera-based "scene reader". With a notebook PC you can even go mobile. How well you can learn to see
with your ears is something that only you can find out, but now you can indeed find out and learn through this Learning Edition software,
for free! It is hoped that seeing with sound will not only find many practical uses, but that extensive usage may also lead to visual experiences
that truly have the distinctive subjective "feel" of vision.
Web accessibility
http://www.aprompt.ca
Web authors can use A-Prompt to make their Web pages accessible to people with disabilities. The A-Prompt software tool examines Web pages for
barriers to accessibility, performs automatic repairs when possible, and assists the author in manual repairs when necessary. These enhanced
Web pages are available to a larger Internet audience.
http://www.webformator.com/englisch/index.php
Works with Internet Explorer and provides an accessible text-only re-presentation of a web page for a user's screen reader.
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/wat
Web Adaptation Technology makes the Web easier to navigate and read for seniors, people with disabilities, and special-education students. This
is accomplished by making transformations and adaptations, according to personal preferences, during Web browsing. Specifically, Web Adaptation
Technology assists users by enabling them to magnify the contents on a Web page and adjust font, image, and page layout to improve readability.
Web Adaptation Technology also enables selected text to be read aloud, using a " text-to-speech" feature, and eases the typing of people
who have difficulty with a keyboard (such as those with tremors or arthritis or who are recovering from a stroke) in part by detecting these
errors and automatically adjusting the keyboard sensitivity to accommodate the typing. Available in nine languages, this software is in use by
nonprofit organizations and schools around the world.
http://www.atutor.ca
AForm is a utility used to create accessible online forms, tests, or surveys. Using this utility to create forms ensures that people with disabilities
accessing the Web with assistive technologies will be able to read and use the forms as would any fully able individual. Use the demo to
create your own accessible forms. Download AForm from the SourceForge website.
Web Search
http://www.webbie.org.uk/
WebbIE is a web browser for people who are blind and visually-impaired... especially those using screen readers. It is based on Microsoft's Internet
Explorer to ensure that a maximum of sites work with it. It allows you access to the vast majority of webpages and tries to present all the information
there simply and easily so you can explore and use the web fully.
Google Accessible Search
http://labs.google.com/accessible/
Accessible Search is an early Google Labs product designed to identify and prioritize search results that are more easily usable by blind and
visually impaired users. Regular Google search helps you find a set of documents that is most relevant to your tasks. Accessible Search goes
one step further by helping you find the most accessible pages in that result set. In its current version, Google Accessible Search looks at
a number of signals by examining the HTML markup found on a web page. It tends to favor pages that degrade gracefully --- pages with few visual
distractions and pages that are likely to render well with images turned off. Google Accessible Search is built on Google Co-op's technology,
which improves search results based on specialized interests. Accessible Search is a natural and important extension of Google's overall mission
to better organize the world's information and make it universally accessible. Google Accessible Search is designed to help the visually challenged
find the most relevant, useful and comprehensive information, as quickly as possible. In the past, visually impaired Google users have often
waded through a lot of inaccessible websites and pages to find the required information. Our goal is to provide a more useful and accessible
web search experience for the blind and visually impaired.
Here are some suppliers of assistive devices:
Essential Aids - Daily Living Aids for the UK - Essential aids supply mobility
and living aids for the disabled, elderly or those caring for people with mobility difficulty
Maine CITE - Maine CITE is a statewide project designed to help make assistive technology
and universal design more available to Maine children and adults who have disabilities.
Maryland Department of Disabilities - Maryland Technology Assistance Program
MOBILIZR - Mobilizr, wheelchair users torso support system, back support with control,
the MOBILIZR(tm) freedom, safety and security is truly a dream come true
Online source for adaptive clothing, adult bibs, hospital gowns, and slipper
socks - Personal Touch specializes in products such as hospital gowns, adaptive clothing, incontinence products, diabetic socks and other
health care apparel. ---
Standing Frames and Standers to assist with active standing; made by EasyStand - A
standing frame or stander is assistive technology at its best. Quality rehab equipment created by Altimate Medical for healthy, active standing.
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