Home > Student Resources > Accessibility Services > Software and Tools

Software and Tools

To borrow equipment

Students registered with Accessibility Services have the option to borrow Assistive Technology.

After an accommodation review with the Learning Specialist, a student will be able to borrow the appropriate Assistive Technology.
Students will complete an Equipment Loan form; they receive from the Accessibility Office.
The equipment loan is valid for 1 semester at a time.
Students may renew the loan each semester.

Assistive Technology with Descriptions

Kurzweil 3000 + Firefly

Kurzweil 3000 is a text to speech learning tool that supports the concept of Universal Design for Learning with reading, writing, test-taking, and study skill tools that makes curricula accessible to all students.

Appropriate for students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, visually impaired, those who require reading intervention, students struggling with reading comprehension and English Language Learners.

Firefly is the accommodating website.

Dragon Natural Speaking

Dragon turns talk into text, transcribing up to 160 words a minute. Just speak and the words appear on the computer screen, instantly.

Appropriate for students with physical impairments that may make typing painful or impossible. Examples; carpal tunnel, arthritis, and repetitive stress injury.

Jaws

Jaws is a computer screen reader program for Microsoft Windows that allows users to read the screen either with a text-to-speech output or by a Refreshable Braille display.

Appropriate for students who are blind.

ZoomText

ZoomText is a screen magnifier and reader. The program combines large print and screen reading using keyboard commands.

Appropriate for students who are visually impaired.

Microsoft Reader

Open and read PDF, XPS, and TIFF files. Reader makes it easy to view documents, search for words or phrases, take notes, fill in forms, and print or share files.

Appropriate for students with dyslexia, English Language Learners, and those who are visually impaired.

(Free App)

Access Text

PDF books burned onto data discs that can be read aloud to the student using Screen Readers.

Appropriate when the disability prevents reading regular printed material in a normal manner, or if the cause of the disability is physically based.

Smart Pen

Writing tool that records spoken words and synchronizes them with notes users write on special paper. A student can thus record everything a teacher says and later replay any part of a lecture by tapping the pen’s tip on words written throughout the class.

Supports students with a variety of physical and learning disabilities. Appropriate for those who have difficulties attending to the lecture content and making cogent written notes at the same time.

Listen Systems

Assistive Listening devices (ALDs) help people listen in difficult environments. The transmitter transmits sound to the receiver, which a person wears with headphones or ear buds to listen to the sound being broadcast.

Appropriate for students who are hearing impaired.

iPad

The iPad (and other Apple devices) comes with accessibility features – built-in modifications that make it easier for users with visual, auditory or other physical disabilities to use iPad. This includes VoiceOver, Zoom, White on Black, Mono Audio, and Speak Auto-Text.

Supports students with a variety of physical and cognitive disabilities by providing a multi-sensory approach.

Digital Voice Recorder

A small hand-held device used to record voice memos to a memory chip and replay them when needed.