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This list is maintained by the LSA Disability Navigators for LSA community members
Some resources are available at no cost due to free subscription tiers or enterprise licenses (search U-M's Software Directory and/or contact LSA Technology Services to determine if a college-wide license exists).
LSA employees with relevant disability accommodation needs may qualify for some of these resources, with costs covered through LSA’s Central Accommodation Fund. Please submit disability accommodation requests via the single-sign-on Accommodate Employee Login on the Disability Equity Office’s website.
Use the “Document Outline” pane to navigate to sections of interest. Email LSA.Disability.Navigators@umich.edu to report broken links or suggest new content.
ASL Interpretation
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“SignUp Captions” Chrome extension provides free ASL Interpreting for movies on DisneyPlus and Netflix delivered by Deaf actors/entertainers. The library is constantly expanding and you can request a movie that isn't included yet.
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Signapse: AI-powered application that interprets and translates into ASL and BSL. Note: Lacking user-feedback, we are not confident about the quality of the interpretation, as both ASL and BSL have regional dialects where signs vary significantly.
Audio Supports
Hearing Aid-Related
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Windows 11 streaming to hearing devices: Bluetooth Low Energy Audio allows some Windows 11 devices to stream audio directly to hearing aids and cochlear implants.
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HeardThat: Phone-based application that pairs with bluetooth-enabled hearing aids and allows users to adjust the volume of ambient/background noise.
Noise Generators
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Ambie App: Free Microsoft/Windows app with multiple sounds, sound layering, and a focus timer. Sounds can be downloaded to work offline.
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Background Sounds on Mac: Built-in background noises available on iPhone, iPad, or Mac computers running macOS Ventura or later.
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MyNoise.net: immersive and customizable soundscapes that can enhance focus, relaxation, and sleep. Choose from noise generators, nature sounds and ambient music adjust individual sound levels to create your perfect audio environment.
Blocker & Break Apps
Blocker apps cut off access to the internet, particular websites, or a user's whole computer system. They aim to assist with focus and time boundaries on the workday. Access can be regained through a series of steps which are intended to ensure access during critical periods but the steps also disincentivize relaunching systems when it is not critical.
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Downtime for Mac: Locks Mac computer for scheduled period of time each day.
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Lock Windows PC using Task Scheduler: Locks PC for scheduled periods of time.
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Cold Turkey (Mac and Windows): Block websites, apps, the internet or lock your computer using "Frozen Turkey" mode.
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Freedom: Works across multiple systems and browsers. Block websites, apps, or the internet. Schedule recurring blocks. Includes ambient noise feature during focus periods.
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Break Timer: Schedule visual reminders to take breaks throughout the day. Ability to snooze breaks as needed.
Bluelight Filtering Apps
Captioning
Best Practices
Browser & Operating System Captions
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Google Chrome Live Captions: Fairly accurate AI captions which are great for videos and audio files that are not captioned or have been poorly captioned.
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Mac Live Captions: AI captioning of computer audio or sound captured by your device’s microphone.
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Microsoft Live Captions. AI captioning of computer audio or sound captured by your device’s microphone.
Phone-based Captions
Presentation Captions
Virtual Meeting Captions
Video Captions
Color Tools
Color Contrast Checkers
Color Vision Deficiency Simulators
All-in-One Color Tools
Data Visualization
Document Accessibility & Digitization
Fonts
Specialized Fonts
Note: The "UM Accessibility Font Pack" is pre-installed on new LSA computer builds and available in the LSA software catalog (includes Atkinson Hyperlegible and Open Dyslexic fonts). The fonts listed below are available for download and many are also available via Google Fonts.
Standard Fonts With Good Legibility
Note: Font size comparable to Arial 12pt recommended at minimum.
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Arial
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Calibri
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Georgia
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Montserrat
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Nunito
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Verdana
Headphones (Noise-Canceling)
Popular headphones that have good reliability and noise-canceling functionality, as reported by experts and LSA employees, include:
U-M Tech Shop stocks the Bose and Beats headsets if you want to check them out in person.
Image Descriptions/Alt Text
Alt Text Guides
AI Alt Text Generators
Note: Always review AI-generated alt text for accuracy.
How to Add Alt Text
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Adobe Acrobat Pro:
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Adobe InDesign:
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Google Suite:
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Microsoft Suite:
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Social Media Posts
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Websites:
Math
Math Accessibility Guides
Math Tools
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ArithmeType Keyboard: Displays math function keys for easier input; add tactile key covers for low-vision/blind users
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Equatio: Math extension that allows you to insert, edit, and interact with digital math in Google Suite apps.
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MathKicker: convert a pdf/image file to an accessible .docx file + tool to assist blind students with visualizing complex expressions and formulas that include advanced calculus concepts such as limits, integrals and matrices.
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Mathpix: AI-powered. Quickly and accurately convert PDFs and images to searchable, exportable, and machine readable math text.
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WRIS MathType: Integration for word processing programs to easily add math equations. Compatible with: Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Canvas, HTML, etc.
Magnification
Meetings
Turn-taking
Transcription (refer to “Captions” section)
Notetaking Software
Notetaking Assistance Tools
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Genio Notes (formerly known as Glean): 30-day free trial. Captures notes, transcribes and records dialogue for playback, has annotation tools, can attach media (presentations, images, etc.), and includes copy function to move notes into other applications.
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Zoom AI Companion at U-M:
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AI Companion questions - Quickly catch up and get clarity on what you missed during a meeting without interrupting it
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Smart Recording - Review cloud recordings faster through highlights, smart chapters, summaries, next steps, and more.
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Meeting Summary - Generate a summary and next steps of what was discussed in your meetings
Digitized Handwriting Tools
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OneNote: an option for folks that use Microsoft based tools and files.
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Adobe Acrobat Pro offers a "draw freeform" tool that can be used for writing on files, but it won't digitize the handwriting to font face text.
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Adobe Acrobat OCR or Google Docs OCR could be used to digitize notes from a physical book. OCR's performance will vary depending on how legible the writing is.
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For Adobe, use the Adobe Scan app on a phone/tablet to capture an image of the physical file and run OCR.
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For Google Docs, use default device camera to take an image.
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Pen to Print: Android & iOS app that can turn handwritten notes into digital text. (Not yet cleared for use with U-M files, especially those containing sensitive information.)
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Notability: Handwriting to digital text conversion in subscription version. (Not yet cleared for use with U-M files, especially those containing sensitive information.)
Phone Navigation
Android
iPhone
PDF Accessibility
Note: PDFs are notoriously difficult to make accessible. The tools below can assist with making PDFs more accessible, but you should not expect to create a document that meets the WCAG PDF standard or PDF/UA standard unless you have technical training. Where possible, distribute read-only or view-only versions of text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
PDF Accessibility Guides & Training
Free PDF Remediation Tools
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Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Checker: Checks for common PDF accessibility errors and assists with repairs. Passing this check does not indicate your document meets WCAG or PDF/UA standards. Can’t be used on dynamic forms (XFA documents) or portfolios.
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Adobe Acrobat AI Tagging Tool: Use with caution, as this tool often does not tag accurately. Use to create an initial tag tree, review, and make required edits.
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Adobe Acrobat Preflight: Can be used to evaluate whether a PDF meets some PDF/UA standards and assist with some repairs.
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CommonLook Validator: Plug-in for Adobe Acrobat. Only available for PCs running Windows 8 or higher. Evaluates PDF accessibility and assists users with fixes.
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PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker) 2024: Free tool. Only available for PCs running Windows 10 or higher. Most comprehensive tool for evaluating PDFs against the PDF/UA accessibility standard.
Paid PDF Remediation Tools
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axes4 Tools: Only available for PCs running Windows 10 or higher. Offers tools for fixing PDFs to meet PDF/UA standards and converting PowerPoint and Word documents to a PDF/UA compliant PDF.
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Callas pdfaPilot: Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Use as a plug-in in Adobe Acrobat Pro or as a standalone application.
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Equidox Software: Online tool for creating accessible PDFs.
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MathPix Snip: Create accessible PDFs with math equations.
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PREP: Online tool for remediating PDFs to WCAG standards.
Project & Task Management Software
Beginner/Simple Functionality (Tasks)
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Amazing Marvin: Customizable interface with task timers and Google calendar integration (tasks can be reflected on a Google calendar and will update as you update them in the app).
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Goblin: A free AI tool designed for neurodivergent individuals. Users input an activity and the tool breaks it down into small, simple steps.
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Habitica: A gamified task completion tool with rewards for reaching goals and consequences for falling behind.
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Sunsama: Clean user interface with daily or weekly planning module to guide you through task identification and scheduling. Task timer. Google email and calendar integration.
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Todoist: Todoist offers a lot of the same features as Marvin and Sunsma, but they are through third-party services that need to be added on. Some people don't mind doing this, but it can be overwhelming for people seeking a simple, all-in-one interface.
Advanced/Complex Functionality (Projects)
Digital Planners
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Artful Agenda: Available in browser, desktop, and phone app versions (Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android). Settings to adjust appearance, integrations with other apps (calendar, tasks), different views (month, day, week), list creation tool (notes, checklists), tracking of priority tasks and self-care needs (meals, water intake).
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Artful Agenda stylus compatibility: Handwriting-to-text feature available on iOS devices with Scribble; drawing available on iOS and Android devices.
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Free two-week trial. $40/yr subscription fee (as of Fall 2024).
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Pencil Planner: Available for iOS devices. Calendar integration, task/event reminders, syncing between iOS devices, different views (year, month, week, day), light and dark modes, split screen option, converts stylus handwriting to digital text, add attachments, track habits, export and share notes or full planner.
Screen Readers
Slideshows
Note: There is currently no approved tool for checking Google Slides for accessibility. Recommended to convert to PowerPoint and use the Microsoft accessibility checker. If using Google, review U-M Google Slides Accessibility Guidance and turn on screen reader support, braille support, and magnifier support through the Google Suite Accessibility Settings Tool.
Speech Fluency Tools
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Project Relate (Android only) - Google app that records irregular speech patterns in users with speech-related disabilities and translates the speech into clearer, fluent speech. As of April 2024, Google is seeking beta test users. Note: Linked project website uses parallax scrolling which may pose accessibility issues to assistive technology users or trigger dizziness, queasiness, or seizures in individuals with neurological or inner ear disorders.
Speech-to-Text Software
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Windows Voice Recognition (Windows 10 and 11): Open and close programs
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VoiceControl (Mac):
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Navigation features: Open and close programs, open blank docs or files, open new tabs in browsers, etc.
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Speech to text: Add text (with punctuation), to Word, Google Docs, Canvas, and email!
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Dragon NaturallySpeaking for Windows allows users to dictate text, as well as perform mouse functions via spoken commands. Users will need to bring their own USB microphone headsets when using NaturallySpeaking.
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Dictanote/Voice In: Free and premium options. 50+ languages and 80+ dialects are supported. Chrome extension for completing text fields on almost all websites, as well as browser-based application for generating note files (which can be shared via shortlink).
Program-Specific Dictation Tools
Surveys & Forms
Tablets
Tablets may be beneficial for retaining access to assistive technology when performing work away from a workstation (e.g., magnification tools, screen reader software, color contrast tools) as well as for individuals who have a need to handwrite information and convert it to digital text. Screen protectors can be added to change the tactile feel of the tablet surface when writing/drawing.
Tablet recommendations for LSA employees are listed below. Due to storage and memory limits, tablets typically are not an appropriate replacement for college-issued computers.
Windows-Based Tablets
U-M offers OneNote for drawing and handwritten digital note taking on Windows-based tablets. OneNote can convert handwriting to digital text.
iOS-Based Tablets
Newer Apple iOS tablets can be paired with an Apple Pencil the Scribble app to convert handwriting to digital text. The Apple Store offers various apps for drawing.
Tablet Add-ons
Tactile Images
Textbooks
Text-to-Speech/Read Aloud Software
Program-Specific Read Aloud Tools
User Interface Accessibility
Vendor Assessment
Visual Navigation
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Be My Eyes: Smartphone application (iPhone & Android) that allows blind and low vision users to connect with a live network of sighted volunteers who can assist with daily tasks such as identifying items, reading text aloud, and navigating environments. Quality varies depending on Wi-Fi or data connection.
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Seeing AI: Smartphone application (iPhone & Android) for the blind and low vision community. This ongoing research project harnesses the power of AI to assist with daily tasks from reading, to describing photos, to identifying products, and more.
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VizLens assists Blind and low vision individuals with access to everyday appliances (available for iOS devices only)
Voice Control
Website Testing
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ARC Toolkit (free): Firefox and Chrome extension. Best for intermediate testers.
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axe Monitor (enterprise version available from U-M IT): Accessible scanning tool for a large volume of webpages. Best for advanced testers.
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JAWS Inspect (fee-based): Insight into how web components will be detected and described by JAWS screen reader.
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FS Companion (free): Freedom Scientific’s AI tool to get help with JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion. Ask about program commands to accomplish different tasks, understand what impacts user experiences, and more! Sample prompts are featured in this FS Companion overview video.
WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (free): Browser-based tool or extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Best for beginner testers.