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Assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment, or system that can increase, maintain, or improve independence. These items may be high- or low-tech. While many assistive tech devoices were designed for people with disabilities, many people use them. If you’ve used Siri or another voice-activated assistant on your phone, you’ve used assistive technology!

Whether or not you have a disability, you may find using some assistive technology helpful. While this is not a comprehensive list, you can explore different assistive technologies and find one that may help you.

Disclaimer: Links on this page point to external sites not affiliated in any way with Ensign College.

Bookshare

  • Largest online library of accessible reading materials for people with print disabilities

Kurzweil

  • Text-to-speech/screenreader software
  • You have free access with your Ensign email!

Mercury Reader

  • Chrome extension that can remove ads and distractions, leaving only text and images
  • Adjust typeface and text size

Rewordify

  • Replaces higher-level vocabulary with words that are easier to understand

Spreed

  • Chrome extension that helps you read at double or triple your normal speed

Ginger

  • Corrects your typos, phonetic mistakes, severe spelling mistakes, and misused words based on the context of a sentence

Grammarly

  • Eliminate writing mistakes and contextual errors, spelling errors, and poor vocabulary usage
  • Find the word you are looking for with synonym suggestions

Hemingway

  • Helps you make your writing bold and clear
  • Highlights lengthy and complex sentences, points out adverbs, weakening phrases, and passive voice

AudioNote

  • Synchronize your notes with the audio recording of your lecture

Evernote

  • A one-stop place to collect notes, files, web clippings, and images with the ability to access them on virtually any device
  • Collaborate with others on projects using the sharing features

Microsoft OneNote

  • Take all your notes in OneNote by typing, writing with a touchscreen, importing pictures, video, web links and other resources
  • Ability to record your lecture with this program
  • Divide up your classes and work by notebook, section, and pages

Notability

  • Create multimedia notes (text, audio, images, etc.)

Brain.fm

  • Music created to support you in everyday activities, including helping to get more done

Cold Turkey

  • Block distracting websites for set amounts of time

Focus Booster

  • Set up Pomodoro sessions and track where you’re spending your time

Focus Keeper

  • Pomodoro app helps you to focus your work efforts in timed 25-minute chunks

Freedom

  • Block distracting websites and apps

My Study Life

  • Organizes your classes, tasks, and exams and syncs across all your devices

StayFocusd

  • Chrome extension that restricts the time you can spend on time-wasting websites
  • Once your allotted time is used up, the sites you have blocked will be inaccessible for the rest of the day

Be My Eyes

  • App that connects people who are blind with sighted volunteers around the world
  • Using video chat, volunteers help people who are blind with a variety of tasks as they serve as the eyes for the person who is blind

JAWS Screenreader

  • Screen reader developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse

Atvisor

  • From hygiene and self-care products to electronics and accessories, search through Atvisor’s Products Catalog to find and select products that best fit your needs

Augsburg University Disability Resources

  • Augsburg University put together a list of various assistive tech that may help students.

MaxiAids

  • Products for independent living

National Directory of Home Modification and Repair Resources

  • This directory provides resources for home modifications (e.g., grab bars, roll-in showers, and ramps) and repairs for each state. A directory of local home modification service providers can be found through a state search.

Pass It On Center (PIOC)

  • PIOC assists people with disabilities in gaining access to and acquisition of reused AT.

Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR)

  • Search and find information about various accommodation options in work and educational settings for people with disabilities through SOAR, a database maintained by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN).

Unified Listing

  • Search through this database to find access to communication, computers and digital devices.

Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP)

  • Puts assistive technology into the hands of people who need it.

Have a question? Our Virtual Assistant may be able to help.