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Freeware Products

Here are some free and open source programs to download.

Portable Free and products for use on a can be found on the RSC Scotland SE web pages, e.g. My аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûBar.

The free desktop application names below are linked to the publishers.

Calculators, Time and Measurement

Calculators (Software)

Full screen calculator which is easy to read with speech output for answers.

Power Calculator Graphing functions as well as various conversions and evaluations.

Customisation Software

Accessibility Enhancement Tools

ClearType is an integrated Windows-specific technology, an adjustment tool, that helps to improve the readability of text on an LCD screen.

Stop or start a CD on the PC with switch access or the space bar

Customisation and Web Software

Colour contrast / Magnification

is a free utility which allows the screen foreground and background colors to be changed at the click of a button. It help people with SpLDs, visual impairments and anyone who prefers a different background color. It is available from the website. It was created by Thomson Software Solutions.

provides an on-screen slotted ruler to highlight and limit the field of view to an area as small as a single line. Useful for dyslexic users who may be distracted by adjacent text in the line of sight, VuBar can be locked to the mouse pointer for easy positioning and control over text on screen. VuBar can downloaded from

Colour / Pointer Changes

Colour checker for webpages

Web Browser Additions

Browsealoud is an Internet browser plug-in providing text to speech and dual colour highlighting of text.

Web Browser Programs

Text to speech for any accessible text document or web page loaded into the browser.

Memory Tools

Reminder / Revision Aids

Drag and drop note items from the web, electronic documents and attach pictures to provide a scrolling record of notes.

Free sticky note program for reminders with customisable settings and system tray keystroke access.

Organisational Tools

Mindmapping (Software)

Free open-source mind mapping software with ideas within symbols and speedy idea generation.

Planning (Software)

A free outline program for organising ideas in a linear fashion

Reading Support (Software)

Electronic Book / PDF Readers (speech output)

Free of charge, open source DAISY book playback software

Microsoft Reader is a text to speech reader for eBooks, desktop, laptop and tablet computers as well as Pocket PC handheld devices.

A free Daisy 2.02 talking book player for Windows with speech support.

Text to Speech with spell checking

Free text to speech toolbar using a Microsoft Word template.

Text to Speech

Text to speech application with highlighting and 4 times magnification – free trial only.

Free text to speech reader for Internet Explorer. Word, Adobe Reader, Outlook and plain text.

Reference

English Dictionary and Thesaurus

This is a free thesaurus/dictionary that can be used from a word processor or as a stand-alone program.

Writing/Typing

Spell and Grammar checkers (Software)

Free open source spell checker that works with Windows applications.

Typing Software

Flash touch typing lessons and cut and paste own text.

Word Processing / Presentation Software

Free Office suite that supports Microsoft Office files and offers word-processing, spreadsheet, database and drawing applications.

Automatic narration of a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation with synthesised text to speech.