Low Cost/No Cost Alternatives
For Reading:
ReadPlease 2003. This award winning text-to-speech software was developed in Canada and has an excellent free version with excellent pronunciation and natural sounding voices.
Natural Reader. Text to Speech software with natural sounding voices. This easy to use software can convert any written text such as MS Word, Webpage, PDF files, and Emails into spoken words. NaturalReader can also convert any written text into audio files such as MP3 or WAV for your CD player or Ipod.
http://www.naturalreaders.com/
Project Gutenberg is a library of 17000 free ebooks whose copyright has expired.
Over 2 million ebooks downloaded each month. Project Gutenberg is the oldest producer of free ebooks on the Internet. Their collection was produced by hundreds of volunteers.
(Talking Web Browser) Simply Web 2000 is a speech friendly, speech enabled accessible web browser with advance features that allow easy navigation of complex pages by blind users or those with print disabilities.
For Mindmapping:
Freemind is a completely free mindmapping program.
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
For Voice Recognition:
Microsoft Speech Recognition is built into newer versions of Microsoft Office. MS Speech recognition is not designed for completely hands-free operation; you'll get the best results if you use a combination of your voice and the mouse or keyboard.
Disability Services Guide to Microsoft Speech Recognition
Microsoft's About Speech Recognition Page
For Study Aids:
For many people the use of white noise for sound masking can be a great benefit while studying, planning or writing. Much like the use of ear protection, white noise and similar 'ambient' noises may not be for everyone, but can sometimes make all the difference in the world.
Feel free to save these files to your computer, and run them through your music player of choice. The files are generally under 10 minutes, so you may want to set the player to repeat.
For Planning:
This is a free online tool that inputs your subject, start date, and due date, then provides you with target dates, and online resources to help you with each step of the process.
http://www.lib.umn.edu/help/calculator/
Master Notebook.
An organization tool, this outline teaches you how to make an all-in-one binder for each class.
Notetaking:
The Cornell system for taking notes is designed to save time but yet be highly efficient.
There is no rewriting or retyping of your notes. It is a "DO IT RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE" system.
Download the Cornell Template:
Additional Items:
Screen Magnifier (Lens Magnifier)
http://www.markuswelz.de/freeware/index.html
Talking QuickCalc 1.2
http://www.simtel.net/search.result.php?format=&SiteID=simtel.net
Big Simple Talking Calculator (also good for low vision)
http://www.simtel.net/search.result.php?format=&SiteID=simtel.net
Free OCR Software (for your scanner)
