JISC TechDis Resources

  • JISC TechDis Accessibility Essentials –
  • JISC TechDis free assistive technology area -
  • JISC TechDis Staff Packs –
  • JISC TechDis Community Site –
  • JISC TechDis User Preferences Toolbar –
  • Creation of Learning Materials Website Sections –
  • JISC TechDis Senior Management Briefing Series –
  • JISC TechDis HEAT Scheme –
  • JISC TechDis Email Helpdesk – .
  • JISC TechDis Guide to Obtaining Textbooks in Alternative Formats –

Portable resources

Portable resources are those that do not need to be installed on the computer in order to run – they will run from a memory stick plugged into the computer’s USB port. There are a number of excellent free software tools that can support a wide range of learners, especially those with access needs. The Regional Support Centre for North East Scotland has done an excellent job in compiling over 50 of these and making them easy to download from a central location – see for more details. A small sample of ‘JISC TechDis favourites’ is also available for download with a simple web page menu – Download onto a memory stick, unzip and click on the web page called sample free software.

Free and Open Source Technology Tools

Most of the examples below need installing on a PC or network. Some of them will run from a memory stick or (like Audacity and Camstudio) are available in portable versions as well.

Reading Assistance

oNatural Reader (free version) –
Provides text to speech conversion for documents, web pages, emails etc. Can be run as a discrete toolbar within programmes.

oMicrosoft Reader –

oDspeech –
Text to speech conversion which can be saved as either MP3 or WAV for easy audio file creation.

oScreenTinter LITE–
Provides an easy method of changing the text and background colours within any document or web page.

oWordTalk –
Plug in for Microsoft® Word which speaks and highlights text within a document.

oSayPad –
Enable text to speech conversion for large volumes of text, splitting the text into manageable ‘chapters’. Provides MP3 conversion.

oiZoom –
Enables screen magnification (up to 16 times) and display options including high contrast colours for the computer.

oDesktop Zoom 3 –

Portable magnifier works from USB drive - variable zoom, configurable size, and hot-key support.

oWordWeb5 –
A thesaurus and dictionary for Windows to look up words from almost any program, showing definitions, synonyms and related words. It includes pronunciations and usage examples. This is not freeware but ‘Greenware’ – it is free to use provided you take less than one return flight a year. A licensed version is also available.

oMicrosoft® “Save As DAISY XML” Plugin -
The "Save as DAISY XML" add-in, designed for Microsoft® Office Word 2007, Word 2003 and Word XP, will allow users to save Open XML-based text files into DAISY XML, the foundation of the DAISY Standard for reading and publishing navigable multimedia content.

oAccessible PDF -
Accessible PDF is a free program from Claro Software that lets you customise the colours and fonts whilst reading a PDF and is able to read the text aloud with other programs such as ClaroRead. You can zoom in and out, use high- or low-contrast colours, and save your PDF as text or a web page for future use. You can also follow internal contents links to let you navigate the document.

Writing Assistance

oLetMeType –
Word prediction software, enabling increased level of text input. Works in Microsoft® Word and all other programs which require text input.

oDasher –
Dasher is a zooming text interface method. Text can be inputted using a conventional mouse, other input device or eye tracking software. Can increase input speed, but requires some conceptual training.

Planning Assistance Tools

oFreemind –
Mind mapping software to enable visual planning and structuring of ideas and documents.It will export maps as images, interactive web pages or Open Office writer documents.

oStickies–
Sticky notes on your screen that can be moved around and set to give reminders and alarms.

oKalendarUK –
Handy calendar/planning/to-do and alarm software that runs from a USB drive so can travel with the user and work on any computer.

Recording Tools

oAudacity –
Software to enable recording, importing and editing of audio files, with the ability to export files as MP3. An easy and effective way of tutors creating learning materials or learners providing assignments in an alternative format.

oAudacity Portable –
Provides the same audio functionality of Audacity, with the added advantage of running from a memory stick.

oSkype and SAM – and

Skype is the well known Internet Telephony service, when combined with SAM (Skype Answer Machine) it can enable interviews/dialogues/conference calls to be recorded as MP3s in order to quickly create learning objects.

oGabcast –
A free ‘phone to MP3’ service. By phoning a normal geographical number (at the standard rate) the message left turns into an MP3 on a free Gabcast site.

Alternative Input/Interface Tools

oThunder Screenreader –
Thunder is a freely available (for personal use) screen reader which provides audio navigation and text to speech output from a computer. AbilityNet videos on the use of Thunder are available from YouTube:

oNVDA –
NVDA is a Windows compatible screen reader which provides audio navigation and text to speech output from a computer.It will also run as aportable application – see Regional Support Centre Scotland AccessApps site for more details.

Visual Mouse –
Enables a user to move the mouse, and select information using head movements combined with a web cam.

oClick-n-Type –
Click-n-Type is a switch compatible onscreen keyboard with word prediction and completion built in.

Visualisation Tools

oWink –
Wink enables users to capture screenshots, add explanation boxes, buttons, audio content and titles and then join a number of slides together to create a ‘movie’.

oCamstudio –
Camstudio is a piece of screen capture software which will record (in AVI format) any activity that is occurring on a computer screen. Camstudio also synchronises the audio (either via a microphone or directly from the computer).

oMicrosoft® Photo Story 3 –
Create slideshows using your digital photos and images. Crop or rotate pictures, add special effects, titles, captions, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to images. Can export as small file sizes, ideal for display on portable devices.

Handy add-ons for Mozilla Firefox

  • NoSquint –
    NoSquint is a Firefox extension that allows you to adjust the default text zoom level, which is useful if you have a small display or run at a very high resolution. NoSquint also remembers the zoom level per site (this feature can be disabled).
  • Fire Vox –
    Fire Vox is an open source, freely available talking browser extension for the Firefox web browser. Think of it as a screen reader that is designed especially for Firefox. In addition to the basic features that are expected of screen readers, such as being able to identify headings, links, images, etc. and providing navigational assistance, Fire Vox provides support for MathML and CSS speech module properties. It also works on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux.
  • Accessibar –
    Accessibar is a toolbar extension for Firefox which aims at providing various accessibility features for users who could benefit from them. These features primarily focus on the dynamic manipulation of the visual display of the web page in addition to the integration of a text to speech reader which can read out loud the browser's user interface as well as web page content.
  • Mouseless Browsing –
    This add-on enables the user to “tag” all links, form elements and frames etc. with IDs to enable the user to browse the web using the number keypad only.
  • CLiCk, Speak -
    CLiCk, Speak is an open source, freely available extension for the Firefox web browser. It is part of the CLC-4-TTS Suite of products, it features a mouse driven interface, and it reads web pages. Unlike Fire Vox which is designed for Visually Impaired users, CLiCk, Speak is designed for sighted users who want text-to-speech functionality.

Making use of mobile devices

Mobile devices such as phones, MP3 players etc offer a range of benefits for disabled staff and learners. These include both generic advantages (portability, audio recording and playback etc) and specific assistive technologies including text to speech. Advice and guidance on the use of mobile learning as an assistive technology can be found on the JISC TechDiswebsite at and specific advice on getting started with mobile learning can be found at which is also available as a DVD with accompanying GoMobile publication from the LSN – contact for more information.

Further Links and Information

  • AccessApps –
  • AbilityNet –
    Useful information on low cost and no cost technologies to support accessibility.
  • Assist-I.T. –
    Very good list of tools and links available on the tools available to support accessibility.

Contact Details

JISC TechDis Service

The Higher Education Academy Building

Innovation Way

York Science Park

York

YO10 5BR

Web:

Email:

Tel: +44 (0)1904 717580

Fax: +44 (0)1904 717505

Page 1 of 6Updated March 2009