Low-cost & Free AT Tools
Low-cost and Free Assistive Technology Tools
Here you’ll find accessibility features available on your devices, plus low- and no-cost apps to try out.
Windows Accessibility Settings
How to enable: Select the Start button, then select Settings, then Ease of Access, and choose the features you’d like to enable.
Find more Windows accessibility settings on the Microsoft site.
Available Vision Features
Display:
Makes text bigger, everything bigger, and/or everything brighter.
Mouse:
Changes pointer color and style.
Text cursor:
Offers options to change your cursor color and thickness.
Available Hearing Features
Audio settings:
Change the device volume, turn mono audio on and off, and show visual alerts.
Closed captions:
Can be updated with different visual treatments to make them easy to read.
Available Interaction Features
Speech:
Enables text-to-speech input.
Keyboard:
Allows the use of an on-screen keyboard and more.
Eye control:
Enables eye tracking tech to control the mouse (requires external hardware).
Apple Accessibility Settings
Note: Some features are only available in newer Apple devices.
Find more iOS accessibility settings on the Apple site.
Available Vision Features
Display:
Settings change text size, contrast, colors, and much more.Available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
Magnifier and door detection (available for iPhone and iPad):
Works like a digital magnifying glass and can help identify items and people
Zoom:
Enlarges an area of the screen and offers picture-in-picture view. Available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
Available Hearing Features
Sensory alerts:
Provide notifications through vibration or LED lights. Available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
Sound recognition (available for iPhone and iPad):
will notify you when it hears a device like an alarm, car horn, or knock on the door.
Live captions:
offer real-time transcription of speech, audio, or video content. Available on newer models of iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Android Accessibility Settings
Note: Some features are only available in newer Android devices.
Find more Android accessibility settings at Google’s Android accessibility site.
Available Vision Features
TalkBack Screen reader:
Provides spoken feedback and notifications.
TalkBack braille keyboard:
Allows you to enter a 6-dot braille on screen.
Select to Speak:
Provides spoken feedback about items on screen or as seen through your device’s camera.
Available Hearing Features
Sound amplifier:
Allows you to connect headphones for improved sound quality.
Hearing aid support:
Allows you to pair your hearing aids with your Android device.
Live captions, live transcribe, sound notifications, and real-time text (RTT):
May all be available on your Android device.
Microsoft 365
From connecting to screen reader devices to turning printed documents into digital materials, there are many accessibility features available in Microsoft 365 software.
Low-cost and Free Assistive Technology Apps
Apps for Students with Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities
These apps may be helpful to individuals with dyslexia, parents of dyslexics, or the professionals who work with dyslexics (like teachers, tutors, reading specialists). Includes trusted apps that aid with the cognitive processes used in speaking, reading, spelling, and writing. Apps that support visual aids for reading are not included, because evidence shows that dyslexia is not a visual disability
Visit Apps for Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities
iPad Apps for Learners with Dyslexia
Shows a variety of useful apps for people with dyslexia. Links on the electronic version are ‘clickable’ and will take you to the Apple App store where you can learn more about each app.
View iPad Apps for Learners with Dyslexia
iPad Apps for Learners with Dyscalculia/Numeracy Difficulties
Shows a variety of apps to support numerical learning and to give practice of concepts that cause difficulty. These apps are not intended as a replacement for teaching, but instead provide useful practice and reinforcement of mathematical concepts.
View iPad Apps for Learners with Dyscalculia/Numeracy Difficulties
IPad Apps for Students with Complex Communication Needs
Provides a list of iPad apps for individuals with complex communication support needs, who may need to use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
View iPad Apps for Students with Complex Communication Needs
Related AT Topics
What Is AT?
Learn the basics about assistive technology and the differences between no-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech AT.
Types of AT
From assistive technology for reading to daily organization, there are many different categories of AT in schools.
Low-cost & Free AT Tools
Enable simple features on your devices and learn where to find free and low-cost AT apps.