{"id":472,"date":"2016-07-19T13:55:11","date_gmt":"2016-07-19T17:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education\/?page_id=472"},"modified":"2026-07-28T14:38:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T18:38:51","slug":"free-and-low-cost-assistive-technology-resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/assistive-technology\/free-and-low-cost-assistive-technology-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Free and Low-Cost Assistive Technology Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
Reading<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Writing<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Visual<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Hearing<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Fine Motor\/Dexterity<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Communication<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Study Tools<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Organization & Time Management<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

READING<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME <\/strong><\/td>\n COMPATIBILITY<\/strong><\/td>\n DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\n COST<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adobe Reader<\/a> (Read Out Loud Feature) <\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00b7 Text-to-speech tool that reads PDFs aloud\u00b7 Instructions for how to use the feature are available on the Adobe Accessibility Features<\/a> page<\/td>\n\u00a0Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Microsoft Reader<\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/td>\n\u00b7 Text-to-speech reader feature embedded in Word\u00b7 Instructions for how to use the feature can be found on the Microsoft website<\/a><\/td>\nBuilt-in feature in Microsoft Word<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Read & Write<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Google Chrome<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Simple to use text-to-speech reader\u00b7 Reads PDFs, Bookshare files, websites aloud<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Built-in study tools and other features<\/td>\n

Free download for Bates students.\u00a0 Contact us at accessibility@bates.edu so we can activate your account<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Central Access Reader<\/a>\"CAR\"<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/td>\n\u00b7 Text-to-speech application designed specifically for people with print-related disabilities\u00b7 Reads MS Word, PDF, math and logic equations<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Flexible MP3 output<\/td>\n

Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VoiceOver<\/a>\"voiceover\"<\/a><\/td>\nMAC<\/td>\n\u00b7 Built-in screen reader\u00b7 Allows complete control over the computer without needing to see the screen<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bookshare<\/a>\"bookshare\"<\/a><\/td>\nWeb-based<\/td>\n\u00b7 Web-based library of digital books in accessible formats\u00b7 Membership is free with a documented print disability (contact Accessible Education and Student Support for assistance)<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Books are available in the following formats: Daisy, BRF, MP3, Bookshare WebReader (customized reading tool for members)<\/td>\n

Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Learning Ally<\/a>\"learningally\"<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Chromebook<\/p>\n

Android<\/p>\n

iOS<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Audio books\u00b7 Access to nearly 80,000 titles, including world\u2019s largest library of audio textbooks<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Annual membership fee but application for partial fee waiver is available<\/td>\n

$119 per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OpenDyslexic Font<\/a> <\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Chromebook<\/p>\n

Android<\/p>\n

iOS<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Open source font created to increase readability for readers with dyslexia\u00b7Free for commercial and personal use<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Google Dictionary<\/a>\"Google<\/a><\/td>\nGoogle Chrome Extension<\/td>\n\u00b7 View definitions easily as you browse the web\u00b7 Double-click any word to view its definition in a small pop-up bubble<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Includes audio pronunciation<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n

WRITING<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME<\/strong><\/td>\n COMPATIBILITY<\/strong><\/td>\n DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\n COST<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dictation Feature<\/a>\"Dictation<\/a><\/td>\nMACiOS<\/td>\n\u00b7 MAC devices have a built-in dictation feature\u00b7 Say out loud what you want to write and it will convert your words into text<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Instructions for use<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00b7 Instructions for iPhone and iPad<\/a><\/td>\n

Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Voice Note II- Speech to Text<\/a>\"Voice<\/a><\/td>\nGoogle Chrome<\/td>\n\u00b7 Say out loud what you want to write and it will convert your words into text\u00b7 Have the option to speak punctuation or use the punctuation buttons to insert them<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio Note<\/a>\"Audio<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Chromebook<\/p>\n

Android<\/p>\n

iOS<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Synchronized note taking and audio recording\u00b7 Tap notes to seek in the audio, taking you instantly to what you want to hear<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Automatic audio amp for recording in large classrooms<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Must have instructor permission or be approved for permission to audio record lectures as an accommodation<\/td>\n

$4.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Popplet<\/a>\"Popplet\"<\/a><\/td>\nWeb-based<\/td>\n\u00b7 Tool for mind mapping, brainstorming, and organize ideas\u00b7 Can help people who think and learn visually<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ginger<\/a>\"Ginger\"<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Android<\/p>\n

iOS<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Robust spelling and grammar checker\u00b7 Will make suggestions for rephrasing sentences<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Can help ensure you are using the word and the correct spelling (ex: there, their, and they\u2019re)<\/td>\n

Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n

VISUAL<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME <\/strong><\/td>\n COMPATIBILITY<\/strong><\/td>\n DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\n COST<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NVDA Screen Reader<\/a>\"NVDA<\/a><\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\n\u00b7 NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) is an open source screen reader\u00b7 Allows users who are blind or have low vison to access computers running Windows<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Has ability to run entirely from USB drive with no installation<\/td>\n

Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VoiceOver<\/a>\"voiceover\"<\/a><\/td>\nMAC<\/td>\n\u00b7 Built-in screen reader\u00b7 Allows complete control over the computer without needing to see the screen<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thunder Screen Reader<\/a>\"Thunder<\/a><\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\n\u00b7 Allows users who are blind or have low vison to access computers running Windows\u00b7 Can be installed in several different languages<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n

HEARING<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME <\/strong><\/td>\n COMPATIBILITY<\/strong><\/td>\n DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\n COST<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio Note<\/a>\"Audio<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Chromebook<\/p>\n

Android<\/p>\n

iOS<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Synchronized note taking and audio recording\u00b7 Tap notes to seek in the audio, taking you instantly to what you want to hear<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Automatic audio amp for recording in large classrooms<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Must have instructor permission or be approved for permission to audio record lectures as an accommodation<\/td>\n

$4.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Notability<\/a>\"Notability\"<\/a><\/td>\niOS<\/td>\n\u00b7 Create, share, and manage notes\u00b7 Combines handwriting, typing, audio recordings, and photos so you can create notes that fit your needs<\/td>\n$7.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n

FINE MOTOR\/DEXTERITY<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME <\/strong><\/td>\n COMPATIBILITY<\/strong><\/td>\n DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\n COST<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dictation Feature<\/a>\"Dictation<\/a><\/td>\nMACiOS<\/td>\n\u00b7 MAC devices have a built-in dictation feature\u00b7 Say out loud what you want to write and it will convert your words into text<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Instructions for use<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00b7 Instructions for iPhone and iPad<\/a><\/td>\n

Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Voice Note II- Speech to Text<\/a>\"Voice<\/a><\/td>\nGoogle Chrome<\/td>\n\u00b7 Say out loud what you want to write and it will convert your words into text\u00b7 Have the option to speak punctuation or use the punctuation buttons to insert them<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio Note<\/a>\"Audio<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Chromebook<\/p>\n

Android<\/p>\n

iOS<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Synchronized note taking and audio recording\u00b7 Tap notes to seek in the audio, taking you instantly to what you want to hear<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Automatic audio amp for recording in large classrooms<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Must have instructor permission or be approved for permission to audio record lectures as an accommodation<\/td>\n

$4.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Notability<\/a>\"Notability\"<\/a><\/td>\niOS<\/td>\n\u00b7 Create, share, and manage notes\u00b7 Combines handwriting, typing, audio recordings, and photos so you can create notes that fit your needs<\/td>\n$7.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n

Communication<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME <\/strong><\/td>\n COMPATIBILITY<\/strong><\/td>\n DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\n COST<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iSpeech<\/a>\"iSpeech\"<\/a><\/td>\niOS<\/td>\n\u00b7 Mobile app with open source text-to-speech\u00b7 Simply enter text and iSpeech will instantly read what you\u2019ve written<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
My Talk Tools Mobile Lite<\/a>\"My<\/a><\/td>\niOS<\/td>\n\u00b7 Allows users with communication difficulties to express their needs and desires to those around them\u00b7 Communicate through a variety of images, pictures, symbols, video and audio files including human voice<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Full version available for $99<\/td>\n

Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n

Study Tools<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME <\/strong><\/td>\n COMPATIBILITY<\/strong><\/td>\n DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\n COST<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio Note<\/a>\"Audio<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Chromebook<\/p>\n

Android<\/p>\n

iOS<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Synchronized note taking and audio recording\u00b7 Tap notes to seek in the audio, taking you instantly to what you want to hear<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Automatic audio amp for recording in large classrooms<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Must have instructor permission or be approved for permission to audio record lectures as an accommodation<\/td>\n

$4.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Notability<\/a>\"Notability\"<\/a><\/td>\niOS<\/td>\n\u00b7 Create, share, and manage notes\u00b7 Combines handwriting, typing, audio recordings, and photos so you can create notes that fit your needs<\/td>\n$7.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Quizlet<\/a>\"Quizlet\"<\/a><\/td>\nOnline resource<\/td>\n\u00b7 Create powerful learning tools, like interactive games, flashcards, and practice tests\u00b7 Mobile version also available<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Khan Academy<\/a>\"Khan<\/a><\/td>\nOnline resource<\/td>\n\u00b7 Collection of micro lectures and tutorials teaching mathematics, history, healthcare, finance, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, economics, cosmology, organic chemistry, American civics, art history, microeconomics, and computer science<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
gFlash+\"gFlash+\"<\/a><\/td>\nAndroid<\/a>iOS<\/a><\/td>\n\u00b7 Create, download, and manipulate flash cards in \u201cevery subject under the sun\u201d<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Evernote<\/a>\"Evernote\"<\/a><\/td>\nWindowsMAC<\/p>\n

Android<\/p>\n

iOS<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Create or upload notes, to-do lists and images that are synched across all of your devices\u00b7 Plus and Premium versions with additional features available<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coffitivity<\/a>\"Coffitivity\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

Online resourceAndroid<\/p>\n

MAC<\/td>\n

\u00b7 Recreates the ambient sounds of a caf\u00e9 to boost your creativity and help you work better<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n

*Adapted with permission from The Office of Disability Services at Keene State College.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading Writing Visual Hearing Fine Motor\/Dexterity Communication Study Tools Organization & Time…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1431,"featured_media":0,"parent":54,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"bates_author_byline_override":"","_hide_page_title":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"class_list":["post-472","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","with-sidebar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1431"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=472"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2532,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/472\/revisions\/2532"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/54"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/accessible-education-student-support\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}