16 million people reported having a disability in 2022 and for many of these people, technology is a lifeline, a means of independence and empowerment.

That being said, the world of assistive technology can be overwhelming and finding the right technology to meet your needs can be tricky. Luckily, we have over 25 years of experience and are here to help!

Here are some of the most popular and best assistive technology for disabilities and how exactly they are helpful for specific needs.

TextHelp Read & Write

TextHelp Read & Write is literacy support software in the form of a toolbar that hovers on the computer screen. Offering support with reading, writing spelling and grammar, TextHelp is an excellent tool for people with learning disabilities.

TextHelp Read & Write is valuable for people with the following disabilities:

• Neurodiverse conditions including ADHD, ADD and Autism.
• Dyslexia.
• Dyspraxia.

Software features include:

• Reading aloud – Great for proofreading or those who struggle to read.
• Written and picture dictionaries to help understand the meanings of words.
• Rewordify – Get rid of the ‘waffle’ in a body of text to understand key points.
• Spelling and grammar check.

Dragon Speech Recognition

Dragon speech recognition by Nuance Communications is the most advanced real-time speech-to-text engine on the market, using AI to learn the voice of the user for the utmost accuracy.

Offering various versions, Dragon Professional 16 is the most suitable version for people with assistive needs. DP16 allows for customisation of the voice profile to enable assistive features such as hands-free control, step-by-step commands and much more.

We recommend Dragon Professional 16 for people living with:

• Dyslexia.
• Dyspraxia.
• Physical disabilities such as Multiple Sclerosis.
• Physical injuries such as fractured wrists/fingers/hands.
• Neurodiverse conditions including ADHD, ADD and Autism.

Disability-friendly features:

• Custom voice commands – Great for hands-free control.
• Auto-text – Insert custom templates/text with one simple phrase.
• Step-by-step commands – Create a sequence of mouse clicks for easy navigation.
• “Read That” command – To get the software to read your dictations back to you.
• Machine learning identifies the context to use correct homophones.

MindView Mind Mapping

MindView is a software that allows you to conceptualise ideas in an online format.

Take detailed Word, PowerPoint and Excel templates and export your mind maps into a polished document with a single click. Perfect for collaboration, presentations and strategies.

MindView is especially helpful for the following disabilities:

• Neurodiverse conditions including ADHD, ADD and Autism.
• Dyslexia.
• Dyspraxia.
• Blindness and visual impairment.

Software features include:

• Capture tool – Copy and paste content with ease.
• Drag and drop – Compile ideas into simple, colour-coded plans.
• Collaboration – Share with colleagues or friends with SharePoint Google Drive and DropBox links.
• Integration with Microsoft Office applications.

ClaroRead Pro

ClaroRead aims to make reading and writing easier and was specifically designed for neurodiverse people and those with learning disabilities.

The purpose of ClaroRead is to empower both students and professionals in the workplace to work independently and to the best of their ability.

ClaroRead is suitable for people living with:

• Dyslexia.
• Dyspraxia.

Key software features include:

• Scanning – Convert PDF and Word documents into images and other formats.
• Spell check.
• Read aloud from emails, websites and other sources.
• Listen later – Have text saved into an audio file to listen to later.

That concludes the run-down of our favourite assistive technology for disabilities – All of which we are able to supply along with dedicated software training.

All of the above technologies are available through the Access To Work scheme which means you can claim funding if you have a disability.