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Useful low cost programs
Through our partnership with the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Hub we are able to bring you a database of shareware programs and utilities that are used by people with a wide range of disabilities.
Whether you are a designer looking for tools to assist you in the testing process, have a disability yourself or know someone who has, this database of shareware and freeware will prove a valuable resource.
If you have a software recommendation you believe should be included on this page, we would love to hear from you.
Accessibility tools
Specifically for developers, we have written an article on our Top Ten Testing Tools. These are programs, web pages and Windows features you can use to help you test the accessibility of your website.
Please note: if you decide to download and install software that we have listed within this resource, that AbilityNet takes no responsibility for supporting it on your system.
AbilityNet is not responsible for the content of external sites.
57 results
You are searching for:
Disability Type: all Software Type: all
AMIS Reader
Helpful for: Vision, Literacy
Daisy book reader
Platform: 
Software type: Text to speech utility
Cost: No charge
AutoHotkey
Helpful for: Physical,
Create macros to sent keystrokes and mouse clicks. Can be used to cut down text entry and automate some tasks
Platform:
Software type: Macro facility
Cost: No charge
AutoMouseClicker
Helpful for: Physical,
Dwell clicking software. Mouse movement is monitored when the mouse stops for a predetermined time a click is sent. This removes the need to use the buttons on the mouse.
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
Basic Mouse Skills
Helpful for: Cognitive,
Simple program to help develop mouse skills. Registration fee for greyoltwit site makes it possible to download a wide range of games and educational programs. Orignially designed to support education of pupil with ADHD
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: under £10
Big Calculator
Helpful for: Vision, Cognitive
Software calculator with large labelling. Information can be spoken out.
Platform:
Software type: Other
Cost: No charge
BigKeys Software
Helpful for: Physical,
Move and click the mouse pointer by using keystrokes on a BigKeys keyboard (when Mousekeys is not available)
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
Click-n-Type
Helpful for: physical,
On-screen keyboard with prediction module. UK keyboard available as an additional download
Platform:
Software type: Input method
Cost: No charge
Dasher
Helpful for: physical,
Pointer driven text input method. Has a zooming interface. Choose letters by pointing towards a letter list on the right of the screen.
Platform:
Software type: Input method
Cost: No charge
Dolphin High Visibility Mouse pointers
Helpful for: Vision, Cognitive
A set of high visibility mouse pointers
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
Dwell Clicker
Helpful for: Physical,
Dwell clicking software. Mouse movement is monitored when the mouse stops for a predetermined time a click is sent. This removes the need to use the buttons on the mouse.
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
Edgeless
Helpful for: Physical,
Wraps the mouse pointer around the screen instead of it stopping at the edges
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
e-Text Reader
Helpful for: Literacy, Cognitive
Text-to-Speech document reader and study tool. Text can be highlighted and bookmarked. The program can extract outline and highlights.
Platform:
Software type: Text to speech utility
Cost: £11-£30
Fatbits
Helpful for: Vision,
Magnification utility. Magnifies the area around the mouse cursor. Colour changing and smoothing
Platform:
Software type: Magnifier
Cost: Free: Home use
FreeMind
Helpful for: Literacy, Cognitive
Concept Mapping/Mind-mapping software: useful for brainstorming and arranging ideas in a visual manner. A helpful writing and planning tool
Platform:
Software type: Concept Mapping
Cost: No charge
Gnome On Screen Keyboard
Helpful for: physical,
Open source on-screen keyboard for Gnome 2 desktop
Platform:
Software type: Input method
Cost: No charge
HelpRead
Helpful for: Literacy, Cognitive
Text to speech clipboard reader. Links to electronic texts in BOK format.
Platform:
Software type: Text to speech utility
Cost: No charge
ieSpell
Helpful for: Literacy,
Plug in for internet explorer - spell checks text input on web pages
Platform:
Software type: Spelling Utility
Cost: No charge
Inclusive CD player
Helpful for: Physical, Cognitive
Simple interface to play CDs. Can be operated via a pointer or using single switch or two switches.
Platform:
Software type: Other
Cost: No charge
IntelliEdit
Helpful for: Physical, Literacy
Autocomplete pre-defined phrases in any application
Platform:
Software type: Prediction
Cost: £11-£30
iZoom Freeware 1.1
Helpful for: Vision,
Magnification utility - 1.5-16X magnification. Inverted colours option.
Platform:
Software type: Magnifier
Cost: No charge
Joystick2Mouse
Helpful for: Physical,
Software to turn a gaming joystick into a Windows pointing device.
Platform:
Software type: Input method
Cost: £11-£30
KeyIt
Helpful for: Physical,
Macro facility. Works by monitoring what is typed. When trigger words are entered the program replaces the word; launches an application; opens a website.
Platform:
Software type: Macro facility
Cost: £11-£30
Large Mouse Pointers
Helpful for: Vision, Cognitive
A set of 80 large and colourful mouse pointers - helpful for people with vision impairments or vision perception difficulties
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
Let Me Type
Helpful for: Physical, Literacy
Prediciton software. Starts with an empty prediction database. Learns new words through use. No longer being updated, last version 2 years old
Platform:
Software type: Prediction
Cost: No charge
McNib
Helpful for: Physical,
Dwell clicking sofware with break timer. Mouse movement is monitored when the mouse stops for a predetermined time a click is sent. This removes the need to use the buttons on the mouse.
Platform: 
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: £31-£50
Mouse and Caret Buddy
Helpful for: Vision,
Displays a picture next to the caret and mouse to make them easier to see. Free 30 day trail.
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: £11-£30
MouseWrap
Helpful for: Physical,
Makes the mouse circulate around the screen rather than stopping at the edges.
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
MyCorkBoard
Helpful for: Cognitive,
Memory aid that uses a customisable screen saver screen containing notes to-do list and calendar.
Platform:
Software type: Other
Cost: No charge
MyVoiceEmail
Helpful for: Cognitive, Literacy
Send voice messages to email recipients as compressed MP3 files. Easy interface. Standalone email client.
Platform:
Software type: Other
Cost: £11-£30
Natural Reader
Helpful for: Literacy, Cognitive
Text to speech program. Reads webpages and text files. Written text can be converted to Wav or MP3 files. Can be configured to read text pasted to the clipboard automatically
Platform:
Software type: Text to speech utility
Cost: No charge
Nib Clickless
Helpful for: Physical,
Dwell clicking sofware with break timer. Mouse movement is monitored when the mouse stops for a predetermined time a click is sent. This removes the need to use the buttons on the mouse.
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: £31-£50
Philips Cursors
Helpful for: Vision, Cognitive
High visibility mouse pointers.
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
PointNClick
Helpful for: Physical,
Dwell clicking program.
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
RapidKeys
Helpful for: Physical,
On-screen keyboard with prediction module. Keyboard is resizeable.
Platform:
Software type: Input method
Cost: No charge
RapidSet
Helpful for: Literacy, Cognitive
Provides an easy method of changing background and font colours without going through control panel/display properties.
Platform:
Software type: Colour changing
Cost: No charge
Reading Bar
Helpful for: Literacy, Vision
Plug in for Internet explorer. Makes it possible to read web pages and create WAV and MP3 files from content. Magnifies pages pictures and text. AT&T natural voices.
Platform:
Software type: Text to speech utility
Cost: £31-£50
Readplease
Helpful for: Literacy, Vision
Text to speech utility that can read any information copied to the clipboard. Text is read in the Readplease window - words can be increased in size and are highlighed as they are spoken. Uses free Microsoft Voices
Platform:
Software type: Text to speech utility
Cost: No charge
Readplease Plus 2003
Helpful for: Literacy, Vision
similar to ReadPlease but additional features. Readback can be started from any point. Pronunciations can be added. AT&T voices used
Platform:
Software type: Text to speech utility
Cost: £31-£50
SAW5
Helpful for: physical,
Switch access software to control windows from one or two switches.
Platform:
Software type: Input method
Cost: No charge
ScreenTinter Lite
Helpful for: Literacy, Cognitive
Provides an easy method of changing background and font colours without going through control panel/display properties.
Platform:
Software type: Colour changing
Cost: No charge
SEN Switcher
Helpful for: Cognitive,
Suite of programs to help teach early ICT skills to people with profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Platform:
Software type: Other
Cost: No charge
Senselang Typing Tutor
Helpful for: Vision, Literacy
Typing tutor. Can be run from the Web or downloaded. Relatively large lettering so helpful for people with mild vision impairments.
Platform:
Software type: Typing Tutor
Cost: No charge
Sonar3
Helpful for: Vision,
Draws an expanded ring around the mouse pointer to make it more visible
Platform:
Software type: Mouse Utility
Cost: No charge
SpellCatcher
Helpful for: Literacy,
Pop-up spell checker that works across applications - can be used on websites, emails, documents etc. Customisable, supports autocorrect.
Platform:
Software type: Spelling Utility
Cost: £11-£30
Stickies
Helpful for: Cognitive,
Reminder tool - stickies can be placed onto the desktop to act as reminders. (electronic Post-It notes)
Platform:
Software type: Other
Cost: No charge
Techdis Toolbar
Helpful for: Vision, Literacy
Toolbar for use with Internet Explorer makes it easy to change preferences e.g. colours, fonts. Also facilities to magnify text and images
Platform:
Software type: Web utility
Cost: No charge
The Magnifier
Helpful for: Vision,
Magnification utility - 2-10 times magnification
Platform:
Software type: Magnifier
Cost: £11-£30
Thunder
Helpful for: Vision,
Screen reading system free to home users. Speaks menus dialogue boxes and gives feedback in wordprocessing applications. WebbIE is required for web browsing. See www.xpscreenreader.com for commercial licenses.
Platform:
Software type: Screen Reading
Cost: Free: Home use
TinySpell
Helpful for: Literacy,
Checks spelling on the fly in any windows application. Customisable alerts for mis-spellings. Words can be added to dictionary.
Platform:
Software type: Spelling Utility
Cost: No charge
TinySpell+
Helpful for: Literacy,
More advanced version of TinySpell. Can add auto-replacements to the dictionary. Extra facilities to ignore paswords email addresses and flag mixed case errors
Platform:
Software type: Spelling Utility
Cost: under £10
Virtual Magnifier
Helpful for: Vision,
Simple magnifier which magnifies the area around the mouse pointer. Can be turned on and off via a system tray tool or by using a hotkey
Platform:
Software type: Magnifier
Cost: No charge
Vu-Bar
Helpful for: Literacy,
On-screen reading ruler. Colour and height can be altered moved around the screen via the mouse.
Platform:
Software type: Other
Cost: No charge
Webbie
Helpful for: Vision,
Reformats web pages so they can be magnifier and spoken using text to speech. Vision impaired users can fill out forms and naviagate using the keyboard only.
Platform:
Software type: Web utility
Cost: No charge
Word Talk
Helpful for: Literacy, Cognitive
Text to speech and spelling plug-in for Microsoft Word. Wordtalk installs a simple toolbar in Word which gives buttons to read word,sentence, paragraph or highlighted text. Also incorporates a talking spell checker.
Platform:
Software type: Text to speech utility
Cost: No charge
WorkRave
Helpful for: Physical,
Break reminder software - monitors activity and prompts for breaks. Helpful for RSI.
Platform:
Software type: Other
Cost: No charge
Zenkey
Helpful for: physical,
Keyboard macro facility.
Platform:
Software type: Macro facility
Cost: No charge
Zoom
Helpful for: Vision,
Magnification utiity. Tracks mouse cursor and insertion point. Can show ruler to give location of pointer.
Platform:
Software type: Magnifier
Cost: No charge
Sponsor
Produced with funding from the ICT Hub.
