There are a variety of assistive technologies available to students. Some technologies are provided free of charge through the Office of Information Technology and others are available for a nominal fee. This is not an exhaustive list of all technologies available, so students are encouraged to explore the technologies that best meet their needs.
Blackboard Ally
Ally is a great tool for students who use text-to-speech and screen readers, struggle with visual tracking or eye fatigue, or benefit from highlighting, annotating, and searching content.
Note Taking
New apps are constantly being created! There may be an app out there that works better for you than anything on this list. The apps or platforms below were selected based on their:
- compatibility – with both Apple and Google products, and to be used on phones, laptops, tablets, etc.
- price – ranging from free to $12 monthly, with the exception of the Livescribe* pen
- popularity – all are highly rated for note-taking
*Note: ODS has a small number of Livescribe pens available to check-out and return at the end of the semester. The purpose of this is to give you a chance to see if you like the Livescribe before buying your own. If you’re interested in this, get in touch with your Accommodations Specialist.
Reading/Text-to-Speech
Apps that are designed for reading include built-in features such as:
- reading text aloud to you (also known as text-to-speech)
- highlighting individual lines of text as you read
- removing distractions from your screen, or color masking (color overlay on your screen)
- read and annotate PDFs
Writing
Technologies designed to assist with writing include features such as:
- built-in editing features (i.e., grammar and spelling check)
- voice dictation, also known as speech-to-text
- tools for planning, drafting and revising your work
Time Management
Apps in this category include features such as:
- task lists / to do lists
- timers you can use when studying or completing tasks
- distraction blockers
Don’t forget – Windows and Mac offer a variety of built-in accessibility features that can also help with reading, writing, and distractions. Learn more below:
