Skip to Main Content

Assistive Technology: Writing

Guide for assistive technology in the libraries, software available to students, and free or low cost tools

Writing Tools

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 writing.

Grammarly

Grammarly helps users improve their writing by identifying and correcting grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors in real-time. The tool can also provide suggestions for improving clarity, style, tone, and vocabulary. It checks for issues such as subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, sentence structure, word choice, and more.

Grammarly is available as a browser extension, a desktop app, a mobile app, and an online web editor. It can be integrated with various platforms, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and social media sites. Grammarly also offers a plagiarism checker that can help writers identify potential instances of plagiarism.


Cost: Free and Premium version

Compatibility: Chrome Extension; iOS; Android

More information: Grammarly

Co: Writer

Co:Writer helps users write more fluently and effectively. It works by providing word prediction, which suggests words based on the context of the sentence, as well as a built-in dictionary and thesaurus.

Co:Writer is available as a desktop app, as well as a web-based application and a mobile app. It can be integrated with various platforms, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and various assistive technology tools.

Co:Writer is particularly helpful for individuals who struggle with writing, spelling, and grammar. It can also benefit individuals with motor difficulties, such as those with cerebral palsy or Parkinson's disease, who may find it difficult to type accurately.


Cost: Free trial and $4.99/month

Compatibility: iOS; Chrome Extension; Microsoft Edge add-on

More information: Co:Writer

TextExpander

TextExpander reduces repetitive typing and improves accuracy and consistency in written communication. It works by allowing users to create and save snippets of text, such as commonly used phrases, email signatures, or form responses, which can be quickly inserted into documents or emails using a simple keyboard shortcut or abbreviation.

TextExpander is available as a desktop app for both Mac and Windows, as well as a mobile app for iOS devices. It can be integrated with various platforms, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and various email clients and web applications.


Cost: $3.33/month

Compatibility: iOS

More information: TextExpander

Have a recommendation?

If you would like to recommend software, websites, or apps for this guide, please contact Jessica Chrisman-DeNegri at jchrismandenegri@waubonsee.edu.