Assistive Technology Resources

Assistive Technology Tools enable disabled students to have a more comprehensive and equitable educational experience than their non-disabled peers. Below is a list of free and purchasable Assistive Technologies. Most of these resources have free trials and how-to videos you can explore. If you have any questions about a specific technology, please contact your SSD Coordinator. 

Information and Technology Services supports all public computing sites across campus and provides assistive technology on those computers. The supported technologies are listed below. 

Helpful Recording/Note-Taking Applications 

These applications allow users to record and organize notes in ways that benefit their learning style. 

• Voice memo on phone (built-in)
• Voice Record Pro (free, Apple Store & Google Play) 
• Otter.ai
• LiveScribe Smartpen 
  • Printable Livescribe Notebooks
• Neo Smartpen 
• Evernote 
• Notability
• SoundNote 
• WritePad
• AccessNote 
• Penultimate 
• AudioNote 

Text to Speech (TTS)

This is your computer's ability to play back written text as spoken words. 

• Read and Write for Windows  (free for U-M Students and available on all public site machines throughout campus)
• Balabolka (available on all public site machines throughout campus)
• Microsoft Learning Tools
  • Adding the Read Aloud shortcut
  • Use Immersive Reader for OneNote
  • Learning Tools in Word
  • Learning tools in the Edge Browser
  • Immersive Reader for Outlook
• Mac Speak Selection
  • Apple Learning and Literacy Tools
• Central Access Reader (CAR)
• Capti Voice
• Adobe Read Out Loud

Voice Recognition / Voice Input

Speak to the computer to write papers, emails, or control the computer. 

• Dragon NaturallySpeaking 
• Office 365 Dictate (requires internet connection) 
• Apple/Mac Voice Recognition 
  • New options available in Catalina OS
• Quillsoft - WordQ 

Concept Mapping

Software for visual outlining/concept mapping to assist with the writing process. 

• C-Map (Concept Map)
• XMind
• Gliffy

Screen Overlays

Color Masking Tools, which may make reading on a computer screen a bit easier. These are programs you will need to download to your computer. 

• SS Overlay
• Color filters on Windows 10
• Beeline Reader

Physical Screen Overlays

Instead of Screen Overlay programs, there are Physical Screen Overlays.

• Crossbow Dyslexia/Visual Stress Aid
• ColorVeil Screen Filter

Screen Magnification

Enlarge the screen for visually impaired individuals with limited speech reading capabilities. 

• MAGic
• ZoomText (available on all public site machines throughout campus)
• Microsoft Magnifier 
• Mac Vision Tools

Screen Reader

Reads aloud all information on the computer screen, allowing access for visually impaired individuals. 

• JAWS (available on all public site machines throughout campus)
• NVDA (free and available on all public site machines throughout campus)
• Microsoft Narrator
• Mac VoiceOver (available on all public site machines throughout campus)

Braille Translation

Converts text to Braille for embossing.

• Duxbury Braille Translation
• RoboBraille - (free) text conversion tool

Digital Book Resources

• Bookshare offers digital books, textbooks, periodicals, and assistive technology tools. Bookshare is free for all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities.
• Project Gutenberg offers free ebooks whose copyright has expired: You can choose among free EPUB books, free Kindle books, download them, or read them online.