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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.
Calculators
Calculator Home Page for Windows high functioning calculator. Free download. http://www.calculator.org/
Wide assortment of all types of calculators
Edmark Algebra Calculator - Download a free algebra calculator which shows its work as it solves
its problem. Other on-screen calculators are available also. http://www.edmark.com/free/
http://www.sensorysoftware.com/software/bigcalculator/index.html
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/download.html/
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://www.compilerabuse.com/projects/gc/gc_help.htm
GC (graphing calculator) can be used for building two-dimensional graphs of functions.
Collaboration
http://www.atutor.ca/acollab/index.php
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/index.php
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.
http://www.cs.uu.nl/~rnarkov/kids/draw.html Drawing
for Children
http://www.addersorfreeware/doodlepadhtml
Doodle is a simple drawing and coloring program which includes stamps (small pre-drawn pictures to
color) ofWinnie The Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Owl, Rabbit, Gopher, Roo and Kanga to add to your pictures.
http://www.cs.uu.nl/~markov/kids/draw.html
This is an easy to use drawing program with many activities to explore.
http://www.kidsdomain.corn/down/pc/rubadub.html
Teach kids to mouse with this fun art application! Beginning mousers sometimes have trouble with
the "click and drag". This tim little coloring book is designed with the tiniest tykes in mind.
Kids can color pictures by dragging the mouse over them. The rubbing reveals colorfiul surprises
underneath the black and white features!
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
http://www.supercursers.com Super Cursors
is a free utility lets you color your windows cursor.
http://www.tucows.com/preview/16285 These
are very large and colorful cursors. Downloads and software from Tucows the largest online software
download site.
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://www.tucows.com/preview/204209/
This software has animated and brightly colored cursors. It is for mac computers only.
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.
http://www.u3i.info/
Whistling-driven mouse pointer. An alternative way how to control your mouse pointer.
http://hcvl.hci.iastate.edu/cgi-bin/openEyes.cgi
Open Eyes is an open-source open-hardware toolkit for low-cost real-time eye tracking. The purpose
of openEyes is to provide a hardware design and a set of software tools useful for the analysis
of eye movement data. The development of openEyes stems from the recognition in the eye tracking
and human computer interaction communities that while the cost of hardware for eye tracking has
precipitously dropped in the recent past that the there is lack of freely available software to
implement even long-established eye-tracking methods..
Display
http://www.magnifiers.org/cgi-bin/resources/jump.cgi?ID=307
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.digital.library.upenn.edu/booksfindex.html
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/%7Edkbrown/rteacher.htrnl
http://www.gigglepoetw.com/
http://www.childrenstory.com/tales/index.html
http://www.accessiblebookcollection.org/
http://wowio.cornlindex.asp
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.
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/default.asp
Microsoft Reader is used to view certain eBooks on your computer. An additional piece of software,
'Microsoft Reader Text-to-Speech Package' can be downloaded in order to speak your eBooks to you,
giving you access to all manner of novels and non-fiction eBooks without the need to read them from
the screen.
http://www.gameguariwn.com/niagazrnes.html has
a great list of on-line magazine sites that are very motivating for kids to use with text-to-speech
software.
Gaming
http://www.agrip.org.uk/FrontPage
This site was created so that the community can learn about how to install, use and develop the software
they produce. Their aim is to provide access to the mainstream gaming community not by producing
specialist "accessible games" but by making mainstream games - and their associated extension and
development tools - accessible. We want blind people to not only play the games that sighted people
do, but to be involved in the online communities that surround them and to extend them, creating
new games and applications with them; something that sighted people have enjoyed a great deal over
the years.
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
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/owlmouse.htm
Build your own castle while learning about the history and parts of a castle.
http://www.brillsoft.com/Index_files/Page552.htm
You control a hot air balloon on the planet Gull. Direction is controlled by entering different ‘jetstreams.’ Jetstream
trader is a very complex single switch game for people with gross motor skills only. The objective
is given at the start of each level, you have to deliver cargo to earn credit. You can then use the
credit for more gas. No gas, no flame, no go!
http://www.afb.org/prodProfile.asp?ProdID=718&SourceID=70
CCT Solitaire is a fully-accessible traditional solitaire game. Keyboard commands perform all functions.
Sound effects are included.
http://www.afb.org/prodProfile.asp?ProdID=688&SourceID=70
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.brillsoft.com/Index_files/Page603.htm
Consists of 4 single switch games for users with special needs. These are cause and effect games
for users with special needs. Download it to try! After all it is completely free, however if you
are able, a donation to keep the website running would be appreciated.
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://www.igda.org/accessibility/
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.
Bavisoft has changed the computer gaming industiy. In place ofgraphics, audio games are powered
purely with sound imagery, opening a world ofentertainment for the blind and visually impaired. Bavisoft
provides game players with music and sound quality, creating a gaming experience. http://www.bavisoft.com/index.htm
This site offers free activities and several programs. Example: Funk in the Trunk is a free full-version
download of a virtual car stereo, which teens will love. http://www.blindsoftware.com
http://www.brillsoft.com/Index_files/Page654.htm
Rockets! Is a single switch game which introduces the concept of scanning. That is you press the
switch when the pointer is aligned with one of the buttons. You load rockets into a container, then
press fire and watch the fireworks! Rockets is an intermediate level switch game for users with
special needs. It can also be used with a mouse, this is configured on the opening screen.
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.cs.unc.edu/Research/assist/Hark/index.html
Hark The Sound is a really simple sound game intended for young kids who are visually impaired. It
was inspired by my friend and colleague Diane Brauner and was written by Gary Bishop. It is free
for educational and fun use.
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.freewareweb.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?ID=1625
Joystick 2 Mouse lets you control your mouse and keyboard using your joystick or gamepad.
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/cnt/
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/cnt/
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.inchwest.com/hkcontrol.html
Hotkeycontrol is the award winning solution to create keyboard shortcuts for routine tasks. These
tasks include, but are not limited to opening files, ejecting cdrom drives, restarting the computer,
typing frequently used text, controlling active windows, changing volume and recording macros. The
list of configured hotkeys can be shown transparently using on screen display (OSD) which eliminates
the need to remember the hotkeys contrary to conventional hotkey managers.
http://rapidkeys.netfirms.com/en/index.htm
RapidKeys intelligent virtual keyboard is an application intended to replace the keyboard by using
a pointing device (mouse, trackball or similar device). Virtual keyboards are ideal for people with
physical disabilities or for systems without a keyboard. RapidKeys is a virtual keyboard with some
special features - it learns from what the user types and contextually suggests words that can be
typed with a single click to obtain a greater speed of typing. It has user-defined autoexpandable
abbreviations & a similar mechanism is used for names. An optional AutoCaps mechanism detects
the end of sentences and temporarily switches for one capital letter.
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/ec_downloads.htm
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.compilerabuse.com/projects/kmrw/kmrw_help.htm
This program allows the user to record and later play back sequences of keyboard and mouse input.
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://camtech2000.net/Programs/mouscm10.zip
Have you ever been to a web site or tried to read documents where they used a font so small you had
to really strain your eyes to read it? Or have you ever wanted to get greater detail of a graphic?
MouseCam is a free small utility that magnifies anything your cursor is over up to 20x normal size.
Win95/98/Me/Win2K/XP
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.ohsht.org/izoom_index.htm
Redefine your computing experience with iZoom, a Professional Grade Screen Magnifier and Reader built
into a single application. Magnify your screen anywhere from 1.5 to 16 times while having it read
out to you, all ready with color/cursor enhancements and image smoothing.
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/display.asp?id=9955
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/cgi-bin/resources/jump.cgi?ID=307
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.
http://www.baum.ro/eng/products/galileo/galileo.html
Galileo 4 is the screen magnification software for Windows NT/2000/XP developed by BAUM. Though Galileo
4 is an independent and autonomous program that offers every comfort of a modern screen magnification
software, it has especially been developed for use with the screen reader Virgo 4. By combining
these two solutions all former compatibility problems between screen readers and screen magnification
software now belong to the past.
Maps
http://www.cs.unc.edu/Research/assist/bats/index.shtml
Spatial information is often presented in the form of maps that viewers actively explore to learn
about an area. People who cannot see cannot share the benefits of such a visual representation,
and have traditionally relied on audio descriptions, tactile maps, guidance from others, and even
trial and error when learning the layout of a region. On-going assistive technology research has
yielded a number of promising techniques to help people who have visual impairments plan daily walks
and get directions, but little has been done to promote the same kind of spatial awareness provided
by visual maps. The Blind Audio Tactile Mapping System (BATS) project focuses on the latter area
of research by helping people without sight access and explore spatial information.
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
National Library ofVirtual Manipulatives encourages active engagement in mathematical thinking
and learning - helping students visualize relationships and applications.
http://matti.usu.edu/nlvrn/nav/index.html
http://www.vincentwortham.com/mathFlash.html and
http://cybersleuthkids.comlmathflashlmathflash.html
have 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. http://www.mathematicshelpcentral.com/graphpaper.htm or
varied forms of graph paper 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.
MathType is an interactive tool for Windows and Macintosh that lets you create mathematical notation
for word processing, web pages, desktop publishing, presentations, and for TeX, LaTeX, and MathML
documents. 30-day trial provided.
http://www.rnathtype.com/en/
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~palmer/mathflash.html
This software teaches addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with drills and practices.
It keeps score and has math skills from kindergarten to adult. It also has a digital voice feedback.
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.
Edmark Algebra Calculator - Download a free algebra calculator which shows its work as it solves
its problem. Other on-screen calculators are available also. http://www.edmark.com/free/
http://www.sensorysoftware.com/software/bigcalculator/index.html
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/download.html/
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.
http://www.compilerabuse.com/projects/gc/gc_help.htm
GC (graphing calculator) can be used for building two-dimensional graphs of functions.
Mouse
http://www.beenleigss.gld.edu.au/requested_sites/mousepractice/
This site has some great interactive activities for learning to use a 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.
ToggleMouse lets you assign a keyboard action to anything the mouse does, so you can point and
click with your keys. It also lets you change your pointer and it hides the mouse pointer while you
type. You can record a mouse click and assign it to a keyboard stroke-- you could even surfthe Web
or use Microsoft Word without ever touching your mouse. It has many, many features for controlling
mouse function. Programming the "Panic Stopper" will allow you to ignore those repeated little
mouse clicks some students insist on. Do a search to find this Freeware as it is available but the
company has quit producing it. http://wwwsoftpile.com/Desktop/Desktop_Utilities/Review_01645_index.html
http://www.yuasa.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ylab/yamakaku/AutoMouse/
AutoMouse is a software which controls the mouse and key-inputs in your place. You can make a program
by combining Mouse-operating-commands, such as `Click this picture', `Double-click this picture',
etc. When you execute the program, the mouse moves automatically. Key inputs are also available.
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/software/dwellclick/index.html
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.
http://www.ex-d.net/products/utils/mousewrap/default.asp
This software makes the mouse pointer circulate around the screen instead of stopping at the edges,
therefore moving the pointer requires less movement by you. 'Movement pattern recognition' also
gives you access to custom actions e.g. cut and paste.
http://camtech2000.net/Programs/mouscm10.zip
Have you ever been to a web site or tried to read documents where they used a font so small you had
to really strain your eyes to read it? Or have you ever wanted to get greater detail of a graphic?
MouseCam is a free small utility that magnifies anything your cursor is over up to 20x normal size.
Win95/98/Me/Win2K/XP
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/accessiblerss/index.htm
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
Don't forget that each operating system comes with its own supports, "To enable people and
businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential." To learn more about the built-in
solutions that is available on your computer:
http://www.rnicrosoft.com/enable/products/default.aspx for
PC computers using Microsoft products. http://www.apple.com/disability/ for
Macintosh users.
MS Agent Components and Tools include: MSAgent.exe, Microsoft Agent character files, Text-to-speech
engines: http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/agent2/tv_enua.exe,
SAPI 4.0 runtime support, Speech recognition engines, Speech control panel, all available in the
Microsoft page
http://www.microsoft.com/MSAGENT/downloads/user.asp
Other links for free assistive technology:
Macintosh - http://trace.wisc.edu/worldlcomputeraccess/mac/macshare.html
Windows http://trace.wisc.edu/world/computer
access/win95/win95sha.htrnl
http://www.eklhad.net/linux/jupiter/
This software makes Linux accessible to the blind user.
PC Utilities
http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/AutoRefresher-for-IE/3000-2366_2-10293579.html?tag=lst-0-1
Reloader lets you automatically reload predefined sets of programs. There are three main ways to
use it. You can start Windows with the same programs that were running when you last shut down.
You can start Windows with the same set of programs every time. Or you can load predefined sets
of programs on demand rather than at startup. To the extent possible, Reloader will restore programs
to their original state, positioning windows as they were when you saved the layout. This would
be great for people who need to have assistive technology programs such as an on-screen keyboard
or screen reader accessible as soon as the computer starts up.
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://desktop.google.com/plugins/i/gtalksearch.html
G-TalkSearch is a plug-in for Google desktop search. It is an innovative piece of binary (.Net CLR
Binary) written to enable people with disabilities to use Google desktop search. Well not only people
with disabilities, but a lot of ohter fun loving people who want to talk with Google desktop search
can use this. Use Google desktop search with your voice. Command it and it takes you to webpages,
cache files etc
http://fullmeasure.co.uk/TouchCD/
A very simple switch controlled CD player
http://web4all.atrc.utoronto.ca/html/atrc/about_e.html
Web-4-All is the first technology in the world that makes it possible for users to carry with them
their user interface preferences (including system preferences, browser preferences and assistive
technology preferences) and quickly configure public terminals or learning management applications
accordingly.
Podcatcher
http://www.webbie.org.uk/accessiblepodcatcher/
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/accessiblebbc/index.htm
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. The official program
you can use, RealPlayer
from Real, is very difficult to use and pops up lots of confusing messages. We suggest trying
out Real Alternative from
Edskes: this is free and is much easier to use. Just download, install and forget about it.
http://www.webbie.org.uk/accessibleradio/index.htm
Accessible Radio is a way to listen to radio stations on the internet that is easy and simple to
use and is designed to work with any screen reader. It lets you listen to any of the BBC Radio stations.
http://www.audiobookradio.net/index.php
Audio Radio: Listen to spoken word Internet radio station broadcasting 24/7. We are a free radio
station dedicated to broadcasting stories, drama, poetry and interviews. We broadcast popular audio
books by best-selling authors, as well as promoting new and unsigned writers from around the world.
Easily listen to radio online from work or home. Free non-music entertainment for the more discerning
listener. Listen to popular audio books narrated by professional actors . View our week's programme
schedule to see the great variety of choice on offer
Safety
Child Proof is a program that protect your computer from children by accident pressing wrong buttons
or key. It hides all windows, the toolbar at the bottom and the desktop and replaces it by a toolbar
with programs you allow your child to execute. This avoids most problems when children use the computer
(but not all).
http://www.cs.uu.nl/people/markov/kids/cproof.html
A big thank you to my friend Bob from Winsted, CT for the following information on screen readers:
Switch
http://www.cliu.org/se/assistive_technology.aspx then
go to "Launch Assistive Technologies Resource CD" then to PowerPoint Ideas. There are several already
made PowerPoint presentations designed for switch users.
http://www.deafblindonline.org.uk/software.html#sf
Switch-activated software that lets you make slideshows and sequences of pictures, videos and sounds
for use with one or two switches.
http://www.sensorysoftware.com/software/switchdriver/index.html
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/sen/Menu-L.htm
"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.
http://ace-centre.hostinguk.com/index.cfm?pageid=83216478-D613-62F1-C85EEB3021CA6B57
Software that enables Windows to be controlled by one or two switches,a joystick, a trackerball or
a headpointer. This new upgraded version of SAW has many additions and feautures to make creating
interfaces easy for those who use alternative inputs.
http://ace-centre.hostinguk.com/index.cfm?pageid=83216478-D613-62F1-C85EEB3021CA6B57
For the switch user, accessing the essentially mouse-driven Windows environment appears to be a formidable
task. Not any more. Introducing SAW5 (Special Access to Windows) - it's software that enables Windows
to be controlled by one or two switches,a joystick, a trackerball or a headpointer. SAW has many
additions and features to make creating interfaces easy for those who use alternative inputs.
Symbols
http://www.symbolworld.org/ has many
on-line stories, some recipes, poetry, news stories, etc. written and supported with picture icons.
http://www.sclera.be/English/index.htm A
resource of 1041 free symbols (pictograms).
http://www.deafblindonline.org.uk/software.html#ssm
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/sen/Menu-L.htm
"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.
http://www.compilerabuse.com/projects/pcalarm/pcalarm_help.htm
PCAlarm 3.1 is the alarm clock simulator for Windows. It displays the current (system) time and allows
a user to sound an alarm at a specified time.
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.cl.cam.ac.uk/~ssb22/access.html
This is an online ``browser within a browser''; it gives you more control over how websites are
displayed, regardless of which browser you have to use. The gateway currently has two main purposes:
To make the Web easier to access for print-disabled users (such as users with low vision or dyslexia);
To allow speakers of other languages to view Web pages written in them, when the encodings are not
supported by their browsers.
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.econointl.com/sw/
This is a simple to use speaking web browser that is free and allows easy navigation of complex pages
by blind users.
Audio Enriched Links
http://www.cs.unc.edu/~parente/ael/index.shtml
Audio Enriched Links provide previews of linked web pages to users with visual impairments. Before
a user follows a hyperlink, the Audio Enriched Links software presents a spoken summary of the next
page including its title, its relation to the current page, statistics about its content, and some
highlights from its content. We believe that such a summary may be a useful surrogate for a full
web page, and help users with visual impairments decide whether or not to spend time visiting a linked
page.
http://www.atutor.ca/aform/index.php
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.big.com/ An accessible search engine
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.
Word processing
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~edgewrite/
Accurate Text Entry for Handheld Devices - Designed for Compactness, High Tactility, and Physical
StabilityEdgeWrite is a new unistroke text entry method for handheld devices designed to provide
high accuracy and physical stability for people with motor impairments or people "on the go."
EdgeWrite uses a unistroke alphabet designed to leverage physical edges for greater stability in
text entry. An EdgeWrite user enters text by trasversing the edges and diagonals of a square hole
in patterns that feel like writing regular letters. EdgeWrite is also available for Windows on a
variety of common input devices |
Free assistive technology increases the independence of people with disabilities
to participate more fully at work, school, and home.