Tool

Blind and low-vision – Assistive technology tools

Accessibility, Student support, Assistive technology, Supporting learners, Supporting staff, Workplace learning, Adult and community education, Literacy and numeracy skills, Learning Progressions

JAWS

Jaws Screen Reader Cost

Screen reader tool that can navigate a device and provides speech and Braille output.

  • Speak any text or buttons on a screen.
  • Scan and read out documents (including PDFs).
  • Speech-to-text.
  • Recognise images.

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NVDA

NVDA Free

Free download screen reader. Can read out every aspect of the screen and works with Windows operating system as well as some others.

  • Read out browsers, general screens, buttons, etc.
  • Compatible with many Braille devices and displays.

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Braille reader/ Braille display

Cost

A Braille reader, also called a Braille display, is an electronic device that allows a blind person to read the text displayed on a computer monitor. The computer sends the text from specialised software to the output device, where it's converted to Braille and ‘displayed’ by raising rounded pins through a flat surface.

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Devices and Microsoft Office – Assistive technology tools

Microsoft's range of free tools within their products, tailored for learners and available across popular applications like Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.

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Tool

Hardware & simple apps – Assistive technology tools

These are some new tools and apps being developed regularly that learners have found useful.

Two learners looking at the laptop

Resource collection

Basic Assistive Technology tools to support study

This resource collection includes an overview of a range of Assistive Technology tools that can be particularly useful for those who are disabled or neurodivergent, but can be beneficial for all learners and support LLN development.