Instructional Resources - Available Tools & Tech

Providing accessible content and using assistive technologies benefits a larger population than only those individuals with disabilities. The number of technologies available is growing quickly! Many of the tools are free, others do have a cost. UVA offers a few of these titles to the University community free of charge or through SDAC or the ADA Coordinator as an accommodation. 

*NOTE: When utilizing tools which incorporate recording of speech, University Policy PROV-008 dictates that recording is permissable only as an accommodation or by instructor consent.

Tools for Creating Accessible Content

Several of the tools we use every day have accessibility checkers and other features embedded and available at any time.

Help From Peers

Assistive Technologies

Assistive technologies (AT) are solutions to help individuals with disabilities complete a task. These technologies may be anything from "low-tech" (something as simple as a magnifying glass, reading glasses or pencil grip) to "high tech" (something as sophisticated as screen reading software or refreshable braille displays). The cost for these solutions run from free to thousands of dollars.

Students who qualify for accommodations through the Student Disability Access Center (SDAC) may be provided these solutions by the University as part of their accommodation. Employees of the University with a disability may also qualify for assistive technologies upon consultation with the ADA Coordinator.

 AT Available Free To the University Community:

  • Read & Write Literacy Software (texthelp)
    • Read & Write is a discreet toolbar which offers tasks such as reading text out loud, a dictionary for understanding unfamiliar words, word prediction, language translation, built-in research assistance, and proofing written work. In addition to assisting individuals with print disabillities such as dyslexia or other learning disabilities, it is designed in line with UDL (Universal Design for Learning) principles serving as a welcome tool for individuals whose first language is not English. When used on a tablet or hand-held device, the toolbar is replaced with an alternative keyboard.
    • Available for Mac OS, Windows, iOS, Android, Google Chrome
    • Available through the ITS Software Gateway
  • SensusAccess
    • SensusAccess is an on-demand file format conversion tool. This cloud-based service automatically converts documents into alternative media including audio books (MP3 and DAISY), e-books (EPUB, EPUB3 and Mobi) and digital Braille. 
  • UVA Collab
  • Blackboard Ally - McIntire School of Commerce only

Available as an accommodation or individual/departmental purchase:

  • Sonocent Audio Notetaker* 
    • Audio Notetaker records classes and meetings, allowing the user to chunk like topics as well as annotate by adding photos, slides, and text notes alongside the recordings.
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking
    • Speech recognition software.

Examples of Mobile Apps and Other Resources (not all have been tested by UVA):

  • Literacy
    • Voice Dream Reader / Writer (iOS/Android)
      • Text to speech - designed for people with dyslexia, visually impaired, other print disabilities and learning styles.
    • Lectio (iOS)
      • A spot reader for individuals with language-related learning disabilities.
    • Leo (iOS)
      • Recorder and transcriber
  • Sight
    • RightHear (iOS/Android)
      • An app providing orientation in public spaces for individuals who are blind or visually impaired within a previously configured accessible zone.
    • Be My Eyes (iOS/Android)
      • A free app that connects individuals who are blind or with low-vision with sighted volunteers and company representatives through a live video call.
    • Tap Tap See (iOS/Android)
      • The app utilizes the device’s camera and VoiceOver functions to photograph objects and identify them out loud for the user.
    • Talking Calculator (iOS)
      • This and other talking calculators are available for hand-held devices and tablets.
  • Hearing
    • Petralex (iOS/Android/Windows)
      • Use your device coupled with earbuds or headset, as a hearing aid.
    • P3 Mobile (iOS)
      • Video relay service (VRS) on the go.
    • RogerVoice (iOS)
      • Subtitles phone calls in realtime.
  • Speech
    • VoiceItt
      • Speech recognition software designed to understand non-standard speech due to ALS, brain damage, stroke, Parkinson's, Cerebral Palsy
  • Mobility
    • It's Accessible (iOS)
      • Crowd sourcing app to identify accessible places such as hotels, restaurants, parking, etc.

iPad Apps for Students with Disabilties (Western University of Health Sciences)

Devices

UVA Libraries provide devices in various libraries:

 

 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion