LibGuides: Online Accessibility Resources: Home

Free Resources

NVDA
The NVDA screen reader can be downloaded free of charge by anyone.
10 Free Screen Readers For Blind Or Visually Impaired Users
"...A range of software is available that can help to make using a computer an easier, more enjoyable and more productive experience for blind or visually impaired users."
Google Acessibility: Built-in Screen Reader
Chromebooks have a built-in screen reader called ChromeVox, which enables people with visual impairments to use the Chrome operating system.
Apple VoiceOver
"VoiceOver is an industry‑leading screen reader that tells you exactly what’s happening on your device. VoiceOver can describe people, objects, text, and graphs in greater detail than ever."

Bookshare

Bookshare
Bookshare makes reading easier. People with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, and other reading barriers can customize their experience to suit their learning style and find virtually any book they need for school, work, or the joy of reading.

Readings for more information

File Tools

Blackboard Ally File Transformer
"File Transformer" allows you to upload a course file and download it in an alternative format. This way, you can personalize your learning experience to better fit your needs, devices, and learning preferences.
Grackle Docs
Grackle helps businesses manage the challenge to rapidly share or publish accessible materials online—easily—creating greater equity for the blind and visually impaired.

Remote Learning Resources for Accessibility

Described and Captioned Media Program Learning Center
DCMP is the leader for captioning and description standards, which provides not only accessible content but the standard for professionals and amateurs working to build quality, accessible media.
Brightspace Community - Accessibility Resources
Review recordings and discussions relating to accessibility in higher education.
Tools for language barriers
Digital tools on this page support learners that need support for transitioning to, and acquisition of the English language.

Awareness of Abeism

"Imagine a world without sexism, racism and ageism, an amazing place where we embrace each other’s gifts and proudly claim all of our identities. Ableism is a hidden ‘isms’ embedded in society—a belief in the superiority of typical able bodies/able minds over bodies/minds falling outside our definition of normal. What if we deconstruct the binary able/disabled and construct differences of body/mind as part of our beautifully diverse human continuum? How would that look? Where do we even start? Let’s not get theoretical—let’s get real."

Accessibility Settings for Electronic Devices

Related: Banning classroom use of electronic devices can be problematic for students (Educause)

Helpful Apps

Text to Speech for any browser
Simply copy and paste text in the box to hear speech.
Microsoft Any Text to Voice
Any Text to Voice is a powerful text-to-speech app to read out loud text on PC or phone, and save text to audio files.
Text to Speech!
Bring your text to life with Text to Speech! Text to speech produces natural sounding synthesised text from the words that you have entered in. With 178 different voices to choose from and the ability to adjust the rate and pitch, there are countless ways in which the synthesised voice can be adjusted.
Web Captioner
Web Captioner makes your event, speech, or classroom lecture accessible with real-time captioning.
Dictation.io
Dictation accurately transcribes your speech to text in real time.
Bard Mobile
BARD, the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download service, provides instant access to hundreds of thousands of books, magazines, and music materials in audio and electronic braille (ebraille). You’ll find current bestsellers, literary classics, mysteries, westerns, romances, and more; a wide selection of books for school-age children and teens; and books in Spanish and other world languages.

Online Accessibility Resources: Home

Universal Design