Assistive Technology can be used in or out of school to help you complete tasks more quickly, easily, or independently. The tools recommended on this page are available for free or at a low cost and support vision.
NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) Screen Reader is a free and open-source screen reading software designed for people with visual impairments. It reads the content of a computer screen using synthesized speech and provides access to the operating system and applications, making it easier for visually impaired users to navigate and interact with their computers.
NVDA is compatible with many popular applications, including web browsers, email clients, and office productivity suites. It also includes features such as support for multiple languages, customizable keyboard shortcuts, and Braille displays.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Windows
More information: NVDA
Color Enhancer is a Google Chrome extension that allows users to adjust the color, contrast, saturation, and brightness of the webpage they are viewing. It is designed to help people with visual impairments or color vision deficiencies to better see and distinguish content on websites.
The extension offers a range of presets and customization options, so users can fine-tune the color scheme to their individual preferences. Additionally, users can apply different color filters to a website, such as grayscale or invert, to further enhance the visual experience.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Chrome Extension
More information: Color Enhancer Chrome Extension
Be My Eyes is a free mobile app that connects blind and visually impaired users with sighted volunteers from all around the world, providing real-time video assistance through a live video call.
The app can be used in a variety of scenarios, such as reading labels, navigating unfamiliar surroundings, or identifying objects, where the user needs assistance with visual information. When a user requests help through the app, a volunteer is notified, and a video call is initiated, enabling the volunteer to help the user in real-time.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: iOS; Android
More information: Be My Eyes
High Contrast is a chrome extension that adjusts the color scheme of web pages to make them more accessible for users with vision impairments.
The extension provides several high-contrast themes, which can be customized to adjust the foreground and background colors, as well as the saturation and brightness of the page elements. This allows users to create a customized color scheme that works best for their individual needs. The High Contrast extension is particularly useful for people with low vision, color blindness, or other visual impairments that make it difficult to read text or distinguish between different colors on a webpage.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Chrome Extension
More information: High Contrast Chrome Extension
Can You See Me is a simple tool that offers guidance on webcam placement to people with limited amounts of useful vision. Based on simple verbal feedback given by the tool, blind people are able to independently position themselves appropriately in relation to their webcam before attending online meetings (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.) such that other sighted participants are able to see them.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Windows (compatible with NVDA, Dolphin Screen Reader and JAWS)
More information: Can You See Me
TapTapSee is an app that provides a visual recognition service to people who are visually impaired. It uses the device's camera to take a photo, and then identifies and speaks aloud the objects or text within the image. The app is designed to assist people in identifying items in their environment, such as clothing, packaged foods, and household objects.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Android; iOS
More information: TapTapSee
If you would like to recommend assistive technology for the libraries, please contact Jessica Chrisman-DeNegri at jchrismandenegri@waubonsee.edu.