Links to useful online resources
Grammar and Spell-Check Software
- Ginger at http://www.gingersoftware.com/ helps you to correct your grammar and check your spelling while typing.
Word-Prediction Software
- LetMe Type at http://letmetype.en.softonic.com/ predicts and completes words as you type the first two-three letters of the word. It gets better with usage.
Text-to-Speech Software
- WordTalk at http://www.wordtalk.org.uk/Home/ is a free text-to-speech plugin for Microsoft Word. It reads and highlights the text at the same time.
- Thunder at http://www.screenreader.net/ is a screen reading software for blind and sight impaired individuals. You will need a computer running Windows with speakers or headphones.
- NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access) at http://www.nvda-project.org/ is a free screen reader.
- Natural Reader at http://www.naturalreaders.com/ is a Text to Speech software with natural sounding voices.
- MStudy Bar at http://eduapps.org/ is a free, compact and convenient package of a combination of assistive technology tools that can be used from a USB stick on any computer that has a Windows operating system. Please check out the above website for more details.
PDF Reader
- Foxit pdf reader at http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/ is a fast and convenient application. It reads, changes document background colours, allows annotation and also converts text into a simple text file.
Daisy Player
- AMIS Reader at http://www.daisy.org/projects/amis is an open source DAISY book player. DAISY books are synchornized text/audio multimedia books.
Screen Magnifiers
- Dragnifier at http://halley.cc/stuff/dragnifier.html
- Lens at http://www.abf-soft.com/lens-magnifying-glass.shtml
Mind Mapping Software
- FreeMind at http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Download
- Edraw at http://www.edrawsoft.com/freemind.php
These are basic mind mapping applications that can help you to caputre your initial ideas and thoughts which can later be reorganised to communicate information or produce a quality piece of writing.
Scientific Processors
- JSC Learning Technologies - has useful information on science learning technologies for the sight impaired interested in pursuing careers in science.
Disclaimer
The software applications mentioned above are free of cost and offer no warranty. Disability Resource Service provides this list as only a guide to open source software and does not accept liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of this information.