Setting up your Assistive Technology
for visually impaired users
Free Websites
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Doorway Online is a collection of highly accessible educational games (literacy, numeracy & memory) that learners will be able to use independently (includes Touch Typing). Suitable for primary aged children and young people with SEN.
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Animated movies covering many curricular areas with creative thinking tools, interactive quizzes and playful assessments make this an excellent website. Suitable for all ages. Fantastic this is currently free. Love it!
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Maths, spelling and grammar practise for students aged 5 – 14 years old. Some pupils may experience visual accessibility issues but have a go and see if it works for you.
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The structured language programs automatically guide the instruction of phonics, reading, spelling and writing to children aged 5-12 years. Nessy is effective for all children, not just those with dyslexia. Used widely in primary schools.
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Great for young children who are significantly sight impaired. Apps can be accessed from home, on Chromebook, iPad, Mac, Windows or Android Devices. Each app has visual and audible accessibility built right into the browser. These apps are built to support students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, have reading difficulties or just want something fun and different. Free for 45 days from access.
Visit Accessibyte.
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Purple Mash. Spelling, grammar, maths, art, coding, story creation, publishing, cross curricular projects…and more.
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Autism NI, have produced a resource pack (containing social stories, free apps and daily schedule pictures etc.) that can be accessed via the website. An ‘anxiety pack’ has also been added.
Visit Autism NI
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Lots of engaging and fun learning material, for primary, secondary and post-primary pupils. Covers a wide range of topics and curricular areas.
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Free resources to use and share from Gwyn McCormick. Online classes also taking place. Covering literacy, numeracy and projects. Good for younger children or some with additional needs.
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British Blind Sports have complied accessible activities to do indoors, from Yoga to HIIT. Fun for all the family.
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RNIB are working to put together guidance, resources and ideas about supporting your children at home.
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Topmarks is a fantastic site with may links to various online games and resources across all curricular areas. Best for early learners and primary aged pupils.
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TES (Times Educational Supplement) have put together a collection of teacher-made resources covering all curricular areas from Early Years to A-Level. Not all of these will be accessible but may help with ideas.
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Computer science: learn programming from home with fun online tutorials, aimed at 5 –13year olds. This site may not be accessible for all. Use with in-built accessibility features of your device to improve viewing.
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Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalised learning dashboard for learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. It covers math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Suitable for all ages.
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Starfall. American site (so careful of pronunciation) but covers early learning of letters and reading.
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For your older ‘children,’ this is a link to a site listing 50 free revision resources for 11+, GCSEs and A-Levels. Accessibility is good for videos etc. For others, use in-built accessibility features etc. Have your child have a go.
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For resource ideas and print outs look at Twinkl. Covering all ages and featuring print outs for timetables and all curriculum areas. There are ideas for games and if you don’t have a printer, why not make some of the resources with your children?!
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YouTube has many channels with great videos on science, history etc. Ensure you view the channels and content first, before sitting down to watch with your child!
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National Geographic has many great videos to watch and discuss as a whole family.
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Clicker for primary schools – works on iPad, Chromebook, Windows & Mac. DocsPlus for secondary schools – works on Chromebook, Windows & Mac. Reading and writing software to support children with literacy difficulties. This is educational software and is used widely in schools
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Parents’ Guide to Google Classroom. Many children and young people will be communicating and receiving set work from teachers via Google Classroom.
Basic Guide: Inbuilt Accessibility Features in iOS13.4
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This makes the content of your screen bigger. The zoom level can be set from 1.2 x to 15x magnification. When zoom is activated all the regular gestures (e.g. tapping & pinching) work the same. You can pair Zoom with VoiceOver for further assistance.
1. Tap Zoom on the screen
2. Several features will be available to you (listed below the first Zoom option/button)
3. Go through each option and adjust as required
4. When satisfied, tap the button on Zoom at the top right to activate
5. Your child may need to spend a little time practising using this function
6. Zoom can be used with apps, including reading apps if the text cannot be enlarged enough (e.g. OverDrive)
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This allows your device’s camera to magnify your surroundings. When enabled triple-click the Home button to start Magnifier. You can use it to see things in the distance or with some close work (e.g. reading a menu). You can also purchase stands for your iPad that will help steady the device, hands free.
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1. Bold text can help with ease of reading
2. Use the slider scale in ‘Larger text’ to adjust to a comfortable reading size. Then all the devices in-built text will be larger
3. Changing the button shapes can help with navigation, making the buttons easier to find (default is borderless text)
4. Increase of contrast can help make text and visuals easier to access. It increases the colour contrast between the app foreground and background colours
5. Smart Invert & Classical Invert will reverse the colours in the display. For some, this can make the screen easier on the eyes if sensitive to brightness
6. When you enable Reduce White Point, it dims the brightness of whites and bright colours on the iPhone and iPad screen. It is different than simply dimming your screen. It adds a layer of very transparent fog across the screen so that things just aren't quite so bright. It is helpful for people that have brightness sensitivity.
7. Some people have colour preference and find it easier to read with a coloured overlay, reducing glare. Colour filters can help those with colour blindness – there are specific filters for specific types of colour blindness. Experiment with this to see if it eases access
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This allows selected text to be read aloud. For example, when in ‘Notes’ you can hold your finger on the text and select (using the bar to highlight) the text you wish to have read aloud. Then select ‘speak’ from the black menu bar above the highlighting. You can select different voices and reading speed.
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This can be used with Notes or with some bought apps.
1. Ensure you are connected to the internet and your Bluetooth keyboard is switched off
2. On the on-screen keyboard, the microphone (dictation) button is located at the left-hand side of the spacebar
3. Tap to activate. When finished tap the keyboard icon on the right-hand side of the screen
4. Tips: to insert punctuation – simply name it, for a new line, say ‘new line,’ for a new paragraph say’ new paragraph.’ The screen text will update/ change as it comprehends the context of the words etc.
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In Setting, find Bluetooth on the left-hand side menu. Ensure this is enabled. Bluetooth keyboards are a great way to support your child learning to touch type and use Note Taking Apps for school and home working. Apple have a Bluetooth keyboard; Logitech keyboards are also recommended. Some cheaper options are also available through Amazon and other shops.
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1. Press & hold the Home Button or simply say “Hey Siri to activate
2. Tell Siri you want to send an email or text message. Then follow the instructions as she prompts you. At the end you will be asked to confirm but you still have time to ‘add’, ‘change subject,’ ‘change message’ or ‘cancel.’
To access the Accessibility Features, go to settings on your screen, and locate ‘Accessibility’ on the left-hand side menu. A menu will appear on the right of all the in-built features in your device. These are grouped by access need: Vision, Physical & motor, hearing and general. This guide will look at those listed under ‘Vision.’
Electronic, Audio and Online Resources
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RNIB Bookshare: Parents can now access this free learning resource (if your child’s school hasn’t already signed up). RNIB Bookshare can help with access to nearly half a million curriculum and leisure titles in accessible formats at all educational levels. Please email RNIB proof of your child’s disability along with your name and your contact details. Contact us at Bookshare@rnib.org.uk or tel. 0300 3038313.
Download the free Dolphin EasyReader App from your app store to access Bookshare (Android & Apple). This is a fantastic free app for children with literacy difficulties, including vision impairment. Individualise the visual and other settings to support your child’s needs.
RNIB OverDrive (audiobooks or Talking Books) is now accessed through the EasyReader App. Membership is free.
Project Gutenberg can also be accessed through the EasyReader App or online.
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Amazon & Audible cancelled the subscription of books and audio stories for children and students of all ages as long as schools are closed, kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.
All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet .
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Libraries NI – borrow electronic/ audio books. Use the free OverDrive App to access (available instore for android, Windows and Apple devices) the library. Just use your membership details. Some visual settings can be customised to suit your child’s needs.
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Oxford Reading Owl, for home and school. Access Oxford Reading Books and many more resources for literacy and numeracy. You just need to sign up for free membership. Use with in-built accessibility features of your device to adjust text size, brightness etc.
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Scholastic Magazines, learn at home with project ideas for reading, thinking and growing.
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Calibre Audio Books (Free Lending Library)
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Seeingear – online library with books available in various formats: Word, plain text and Braille.
Books can be also downloaded and read through Voice Dreamer app (this app is £7.99 at time of publishing document).
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Kindle (Android, Windows and Apple) and iBooks (Apple only) – books can be purchased through these apps. Apps can be customised to support your child’s individual needs. Some free books available, but extremely limited.
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Listening Books – NOT FREE: membership starts from £20 annually. This site has books for pleasure as well as National Curriculum (England) from Key Stage 2 to A Level, with unabridged set texts, study guides and revision aids like the CGP books available on audiobook.
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World of David Walliams is releasing an audio story every day from The World’s Worst Children! every day over the next 30 days from 23 March 2020, during COVID 19.
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Book Trust. Free online books and videos. Your child can play games, win prizes, test their knowledge with book-themed quizzes, or learn how to draw some of their favourite characters.
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Franklin Middle School (USA) have posted a list of links to various websites offering free teen books. A lot here, and American centric but worth a look for teens and young adults, with some great classics available.
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Tumblebooks Library (USA Site) have made all of their collections available free to USA Public Libraries. Usernames & Passwords available on the site link. Books include books for younger children, teens & young adults and story books learning maths skills. Not all will be suitable, but worth a look. Use with your device’s in-built accessibility features.
Visit Tumblebooks Library
Access Printed Books
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Guide Dogs – Custom Eyes Books. Not free. The books are ordered in the specific font size and cost no more than the recommended retail price.
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RNIB Large Print Library - (Free Lending Library with free P&P) – size point 24
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Living Paintings: Free lending library producing tactile and audio books & ideas for reading, learning and playing. For ages pre-school to adult.
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Access2books: Early years’ books in dual format- giant print (75pt) & braille
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Clear Vision Books - (Free Lending Library). Free membership and P&P for homes & schools. Print, braille and tactile books. Designed for shared reading with your child.
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Large Print Bookshop - Large print books and eBooks for sale
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Books with VI Characters to read with young children:
25 Books listed by Wonderbaby
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Healthybooks – list of various books with characters with a range of additional support for learning needs and disabilities. Use the browse tab to find books listed under ‘sight’.