Free and Low-Cost Assistive Technology

Reading and Literacy
Writing
Notetaking
Dictation/Speech-to-Text/Speech Recognition
Mind Mapping and Brainstorming
Study Skills and Aids
Organization and Task Management
Focus/Distraction Free and Time Tracking
Research Tools
Mental Health, Stress Management, and Relaxation
Vision
Hearing and Auditory
Communication
Built-in Accessibility 

Reading and Literacy

  • Read&Write
    • Features:
      • A desktop toolbar
      • Improve study skills with revision, proofreading.
      • Highlights, voice notes, vocab, audio maker.
      • Dictate and read aloud.
    • Cost: Free with referral, MU Campus checkout license. Call the ACT Center at 573.884.2828.
    • Compatibility:
      • Windows 10 or above
      • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
      • Android Version 8 (Oreo) and above
        • Android tablets only (Mobile phones are not currently supported)
      • iOS 8 or higher
      • Web: Firefox, Chrome, and Edge
  • Immersive Reader
    • Features:
      • Built-in text decoding solutions for students to assist with reading
      • Enhanced dictation, focus mode, immersive reading, font spacing, short lines, parts of speech support, syllabification, and comprehension mode.
    • Cost: Free add-in through Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Teams
    • Compatibility:
      • Windows 10 or above
      • iOS 8 or higher
      • Web: Firefox, Chrome, and Edge
  • Kurzweil 3000
      • Features:
        • Text-to-speech, Magnification, Abbyy FineReader
        • Improve comprehension with American Heritage dictionaries, picture and talking dictionaries, study guides, and voice notes.
      • Cost: Free with referral, MU Campus site license. Call the ACT Center at 573.884.2828.
      • System and Software Compatibility:
        • Windows 10 or above
        • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
        • Web: Firefox, Chrome, and Edge
  • NaturalReader
    • Features:
      • Text-to-Speech software that converts Microsoft Word, Webpages, PDFs, and Emails into spoken text
      • Customize reading voice and speed for your readings.
      • Floating toolbar that reads text in other applications.
      • Online Text-to-Speech program with options to input text from various sources on your computer.
    • Cost: Free
    • System and Software Compatibility:
      • Windows 10 or above
      • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
      • Web: Firefox, Chrome, and Edge
  • Speechify
    • Features:
      • Reads text read out in natural-sounding human voices using AI technologies.
      • Upload documents into the application.
      • Reads text in a variety of languages.
    • Cost: Free and in-app purchases
    • Compatibility:
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher
      • Web: Firefox, Chrome, and Edge

Writing

  • Grammarly
    • Features:
      • Eliminate writing and contextual errors, spelling errors, and poor vocabulary usage.
      • Find the right word you are looking for with synonym suggestions.
      • Learn from your mistakes to avoid them in the future.
      • Grammarly works anywhere in your Chrome browser, including emails, essays, social media posts, and more.
    • Cost: Free or Premium
    • Compatibility:
      • Windows and macOS
      • Web: Safari, Firefox, Chrome, and Edge

Notetaking

  • Evernote
    • Features:
      • A one-stop place to collect notes, files, web clippings, and images with the ability to access them on virtually any device.
      • Collect and find your information easily.
      • Great tool for researching, planning events and everyday organizational use.
      • Collaborate with others on projects using the sharing features
    • Cost: Free or Premium
    • Compatibility:
        • Windows 10 or above
        • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
        • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
        • iOS 8 or higher
  • Microsoft OneNote
    • Features:
      • Take all your notes in OneNote by typing, writing with a touchscreen, importing pictures, video, web links, and other resources
      • Ability to record your lecture with this program
      • Divide up your classes and work by notebook, section, and pages
      • Using OneDrive online, share your OneNote document for others to work on and interact with
      • Search your notes for the ability to find what you need easily.
    • Cost:  Free use MU student account
    • Compatibility:
      • Windows 10 or above
      • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher

Dictation/Speech-to-Text/Speech Recognition

  • Dragon
    • Features:
      • Speech recognition software that recognizes your works and transcribes them.
      • Dictate words into text messages, emails, or social media, or paste them into other apps and programs using the clipboard feature.
      • Hands-free, quick dictation for anyone on the go.
    • Cost: Free with referral, MU campus license checkout. Call the ACT Center at 573.884.2828.
    • Compatibility: Windows 10 or above
  • Go to Built-in Accessibility to explore built-in dictions solutions.

Mind Mapping and Brainstorming

  • GoConqr
    • Features:
      • Create mind maps, flowcharts, flashcards, notes, slides, and more
      • Enable email notifications for study material for subjects that are relevant to you
      • Share your created content with others
    • Cost: Free or Premium
    • Compatibility:
      • Web: Chrome Extension

Study Skills and Aids

  • Quizlet
    • Features:
      • Online resource of study tools and games for virtually any educational subject.
      • Seven modes, including traditional flashcards, allow students to study in varied ways to help master material.
      • Generate your content or use content other users have created.
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility:
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher
      • Web: Chrome Extension
  • Socratic by Google
    • Features:
      • Google’s AI learning tool for a variety of subjects
      • Get help with online resources, instructions, and study guides
      • Created for high school and post-secondary
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility:
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher

Organization and Task Management

  • Any.do
    • Features:
      • Manage your life in a simple, clever, and fun way using this to-do list app
      • Synch your tasks on your mobile device and computer, or use the Chrome extension to sync with Gmail
      • Use the reminder feature, so you never forget what you need to do or where you need to be
    • Cost: Free and Premium
    • Compatibility:
      • Windows 10 or above
      • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher
      • Web: Chrome Extension
  • Google Keep
    • Features:
      • A visual bulletin board of post-it notes with reminders and tasks lists
      • Ability to color code your notes, add reminders, and add photos and pictures to your notes
      • Use your Google account to sync this on your computer, tablet, phone and other Google Suite apps
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility:
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher
      • Web: Chrome Extension
  • MyStudyLife
    • Features:
      • Create an account to keep track of your schoolwork, assignments, course, schedule, and exams.
      • Use the dashboard to schedule all your school-related work.
      • Cross-platform allows for access to your organizer wherever, whenever.
      • Set reminders to help ensure all your work is done on time.
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility:
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iPad iOS 8 or higher

Focus/Distraction Free and Time Tracking

  • focus booster
    • Features:
      • Pomodoro Timer to help you stay on task when completing work.
      • Maximize your work session by using the Pomodoro Method of 25 minutes of work and a 5-minute break.
      • Track your time more efficiently within your account.
      • Productivity reports on your dashboard.
      • Different visual themes for your flexibility.
    • Cost: Free for starter; Professional: $5/month
    • Compatibility:
      • Windows 10 or above
      • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
      • Web: Chrome Extension
  • RescueTime
    • Features:
      • Personal-Analytic service to track how you spend your time on your computer, smartphone or tablet
      • Get a customized report of what sites you visit and what you do on your devices
      • No manual date-entry, it tracks as you work
    • Cost: Free for Chrome and mobile; charges apply for OS downloads
    • Compatibility:
      • Windows 10 or above
      • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher
      • Web: Chrome Extension

Research Tools

  • Quillbot CitationGenerator
    • Features:
      • This tool helps to create citations for APA, MLA, and Chicago
      • Ad Free
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility:
      • Web: Chrome Extension
  • LiquidText
    • Features:
      • Add articles and documents into one space
      • Link all of your notes and highlights next to the article for review later.
      • Pinch search and highlight mode allow for condensing an article or document to view your selected content together.
      • Additional features are available in the Pro version.
    • Cost: Free for the Lite version or one time $30 purchase for the Pro version
    • Compatibility:
      • Windows 10 or above
      • Mac OSX 11(Yosemite) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher

Mental Health, Stress Management, and Relaxation

  • Sanvello: Anxiety & Depression App
    • Features:
      • Sign up with a .edu account, and you get free access to their premium Guided Meditations.
      • Mood tracking, tracking daily health habits, and lots of free meditations.
      • Breathing exercises, mindfulness meditations, calming and inner strength tools, and support for stressful situations.
      • Online support community.
    • Cost: Free with a .edu account
    • Compatibility:
      • Android Version 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher
  • Self-help App for the Mind (SAM) SAM app
    • Features:
      • Help you monitor and manage your mental health
      • Self-help techniques to help with anxiety, depression, loneliness and coping
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility:
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher
  • Go to MizzouOne and search using the word *stress* to explore additional campus resources or visit the Student Health & Well-Being website.

Vision

  • Color Enhancer Chrome Extension
    • Features:
      • Google’s accessibility extension for color adjustment on web pages.
      • Customizable settings to help with color perception.
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Web Chrome Extension
  • Lookout – Assisted vision app
    • Features:
      • Google’s vision assistance app utilizes a phone camera.
      • Available Lookout modes include text, explore, food labels, documents, and currency.
      • Contains optical character recognition (OCR)
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Android 8 (Oreo) and above
  • Microsoft Soundscape app
    • Features:
      • Spatial audio app that provides audio cues for navigation.
      • Customizable audio beacons.
      • Describes your location, nearby markers, and things around you and ahead of you.
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: iOS 8 or higher
  • NVDA Screen Reader
    • Features:
      • Nonvisual Desktop Access (NVDA) is a free, open-source screen reader built for Windows-based operating system computers
      • Download to your computer directly or to a USB drive and run on any computer without installation
      • Works with many popular applications such as web browsers, email, and Microsoft Office programs
      • Ability to convert text into Braille using Refreshable Braille Display
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Windows 10 or above
  • Fusion
    • Features:
      • ZoomText screen magnification with visual enhancements and narrator
      • Jaws Screen reader
    • Cost: Free with referral, MU Campus checkout license. Call the ACT Center at 573.884.2828.
    • Compatibility: Windows 10 or above

Hearing and Auditory

  • CaptionMate
    • Features:
      • Real-time Captioning through AI technology for phone calls
      • View conversations on phone, tablet, or computer
      • Captions in 100 different languages
      • Not intended for in-person events, but can be used for any event that you can dial into
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility:
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above
      • iOS 8 or higher
  • Live Transcribe & Sound Notifications app
    • Features:
      • Speech recognition software that generates real-time transcriptions on Android devices.
      • Set custom notifications
      • Save past transcriptions
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility:
      • Android 8 (Oreo) and above

Communication

  • TD Talk app
  • Features:
    • Text-to-speech communication app
    • Create phrases and select from various voice options
    • Offers word prediction when typing
    • Customizable keyboard settings
  • Cost: Free
  • Compatibility:
    • iOS 8 or higher

Built-in Accessibility

Accessibility Features on Microsoft Windows
You can personalize your Windows computer with the built-in accessibility features to support ease with vision, hearing, mobility, and learning. Features include but are not limited to:

Accessibility Features on Apple macOS and iOS
Personalize your mac with built-in accessibility features to support ease with vision, hearing, reading, mobility, and learning. Features include but are not limited to:

  • Text-to-Speech
  • VoiceOver screen reader
  • Zoom screen magnification
  • High Contrast schemes
  • Sticky Keys
  • Speech-to-Text and Voice Control (Speech Recognition)
  • Word Completion (Word Prediction)

Android Accessibility Suite
Personalize your Android device with accessibility suite features to support ease with vision, hearing, reading, mobility, and learning. Features include but are not limited to:

  • Live transcribe
  • TalkBack screen reader
  • Live captions
  • Switch access
  • Voice Access
  • Sound Amplifier

Explore the Android Accessibility Help for how to.

Note: Some Android devices already have the Accessibility Suite downloaded onto the phone or have built-in accessibility features. To check if the Accessibility Suite is downloaded on your phone, you can either search your apps for it or check the Google Play Store. Once the Accessibility Suite is installed on your Android device, you can navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Installed services to see all available features. Any accessibility features you see outside of installed services are accessibility features already built into your device.

Microsoft 365 Accessibility Features
Personalize your Microsoft 365 with the powerful built-in accessibility features to support Vision, Hearing, Neurodiversity, Learning, Mobility, and Mental health. Features include but are not limited to:

Google Accessibility
Google offers products and features with accessibility features:

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