Useful low cost programs

These pages bring you a database of shareware programs and utilities that are used by people with a wide range of disabilities.

Whether you are a designer looking for tools to assist you in the testing process, have a disability yourself or know someone who has, this database of shareware and freeware will prove a valuable resource.

If you have a software recommendation you believe should be included on this page, we would love to hear from you.

Go to AbilityNet's shareware and free resources web page . . .

Free Assistive Software Resources

• Free assistive software written by Chris Stringfellow, principal consultant with AbilityNet. Some brilliant programs available - large mouse pointers, fun mouse pointers, screen filters, magnification, dwell clicking and many more.
  Go to Chris's website . . .
  
  
• ATutor. An Open Source Web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS) designed with accessibility and adaptability in mind. Administrators can install or update ATutor in minutes, develop custom themes to give ATutor a new look, and easily extend its functionality with feature modules. Educators can quickly assemble, package, and redistribute Web-based instructional content, easily import prepackaged content, and conduct their courses online. Students learn in an adaptive learning environment.
  More information about ATutor . . .
  
  
• AccessApps consists of a range of open source and freeware assistive technology applications which can be accessed from a USB flash drive. These programs will run without the need to install them onto a computer and offer a range of e-learning solutions to support writing, reading and planning as well as visual and mobility difficulties. There are over 40 applications, utilties and learning games pre-installed on AccessApps - something for everyone! AccessApps also features the complete series of TechDis ‘Accessiblitly Essentials’ in an accessible web-based format as well as a comprehensive easy-to-follow user guide.
  Find out more about AccessApps . . .
  
  
• Design Science MathPlayer™ enables Microsoft Internet Explorer to display mathematical notation in web pages. It is based on MathML technology and requires Internet Explorer for Windows version 6.0 and later. We make MathPlayer available for free in order to foster the adoption of MathML in the math, science, and education communities.
  Download MathPlayer>
  
  

• OATSoft is dedicated to improving Assistive Technology and computer accessibility through the power of Open Source development techniques. OATSoft makes the best Open Source Assistive Technology Software (OATS) easy to find. Users and developers meet at OATSoft to create better software. Open Source Software is free and the 'source code' that makes the software is freely available. It is developed by international communities operating on-line.
  http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/listing/Repository
  
  
• ICT Hub - Choosing software: http://www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk/softwarebasics
  
  
• Internet4Classrooms (I4C) - Free training resources for teachers: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/assistive_tech.htm
  
  
• SENSELANG. A free touch typing tutor on the internet at http://sense-lang.org/typing/. It can be used online or downloaded.
  
  
• Wisdom-Soft. From the people who brought you ScreenHunter, here is a FREE program called AutoScreenRecorder 3
  The program apparently allows you to record anything you see, do and hear on your screen and save it to a video file or Flash movie.

Linux Accessibility

KDE is a powerful Free Software graphical desktop environment for Linux and Unix workstations. It combines ease of use, contemporary functionality, and outstanding graphical design with the technological superiority of the Unix operating system.

• Accessibility features in KDE

• Accessibility aids in KDE : The kdeaccessibility package contains three KDE Accessibility Aids: KMouseTool, KMag and KMouth.

KMouseTool is a Linux-based KDE program. It clicks the mouse for you, so you don't have to. KMouseTool works with any mouse or pointing device.

KMagnifier (or kmag, its unix name) is a small utility for Linux to magnify a part of the screen. It magnifies the area of the screen around the mouse pointer or optionally a user defined area. Additionally it offers to save a magnified screenshot to disk.

KMouth is a KDE program which enables persons that cannot speak to let their computer speak, e.g. mutal people or people who have lost their voice. It has a text input field and speaks the sentences that you enter. It also has support for user defined phrasebooks.