Accessibility Resource Center

Communication, Mind Mapping/Brainstorming and Vision Support

The following free or low-cost assistive technology software programs are available for anyone to use. These programs, software, websites and apps focus on different forms of communication, mind mapping, brainstorming, and vision support.

Software Programs

Communication Support

Proloquo2Go

  • Augmented and Alternative Communication tool for people who cannot speak or have difficulty speaking for themselves
  • Over 75,000 pictures to help convey any needs throughout the day
  • Free Text-to-Speech to let others hear your speech out loud
  • More Information: 
  • Cost: Donation Program
  • Compatibility: iOS: iPad

Mind Mapping and Brainstorming Support

  • Popplet

    • Online and app based mind mapping too
    • Visually put your thoughts down to create mind maps easily
    • Print these mind maps for yourself or share with others
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: Free: web and lite app, $4.99: full app
    • Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS: iPad; iPhone, iPod touch
  • MindMeister

    • Mind Mapping/Brainstorming tool for use on personal devices and the web
    • Collaborate in real time with other people
    • Use the program to present your work
    • Full use of software program and features costs a small, monthly fee
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: Free; Premium – $6.00/month 
    • Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch; Android
  • Idea Sketch

    • Draw and create mind maps, concept maps, and flow charts
    • Convert your diagram into a text outline, or outline and turn it into a concept/mind map
    • Use to brainstorm, illustrate concepts, make lists and outlines, plan presentation and create organizational charts
    • Import text into Idea Sketch and automatically create diagrams and outlines
    • Share your idea using email, Dropbox and other 
    • More Information:  
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Windows; Mac; iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Windows Phone
  • Mindmanager

    • Create visual mind maps to organize brainstorm, concepts, tasks, ideas, lecture or meeting notes, or action items
    • Easy to use gesture based commands
    • Mapping features include text styling, relationship, and various other tools
    • Integrate your maps to Dropbox for easy sharing
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: iOS: iPad; Android

Vision Support

  • TapTapSee

    • Use this app to help identify everyday objects for anyone with a visual impairment or who is blind
    • Double tap the screen, take a picture of the object, and hear what the object is spoken out loud
    • Turn VoiceOver on to have the object description read out loud
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
  • LookTel Recognizer

    • LookTel Recognizer allows users who are blind or low vision to recognize objects
    • Build a library of images of objects commonly found in your daily life
    • Once the library is built, place object in front of camera of phone and instant recognition and description of the object will occur
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: $19.99
    • Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
  • LookTel Money Recognizer

    • LookTel Money Recognizer allows users who are blind or low vision to recognize currency and will speak the denomination out loud
    • Place money under the camera of your phone and the app will recognize the currency amount
    • Over twenty currencies supported by this app
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: $9.99
    • Compatibility: Mac; iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
  • Be My Eyes

    • App that connect people who are blind with sighted volunteers around the world
    • Using video chat, volunteers help people who are blind with a variety of tasks as they serve as the person who is blind’s eyes
    • A networks of thousands of both blind and sighted people across the world
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
  • NVDA Screen Reader

    • NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) is a free, open source screen reader built for Windows based operating system computers
    • Download to your computer directly or to a USB drive and run on any computer without installation
    • Works with many popular applications such as web browsers, email, and Microsoft Office programs
    • Ability to convert text into a Braille using Refreshable Braille Display
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Windows
  • NaviDys

    • Adapt and adjust webpages to your own reading preference settings
    • Adjust the font to one of 10 available fonts including Dyslexie font
    • Adjust font size, letter spacing and line spacing of the webpage you’re reading
    • More Information:
    • Cost: $2.99
    • Compatibility: iOS: iPad
  • Turn Off the Lights

    • Click the light bulb button to get your screen to fade to a dark opacity overlay
    • Everything but the key area you are working in, such as a YouTube Video, a Google Doc, or an HTML 5 website will fade
    • Ability to adjust opacity and darkness
    • Shortcut keys to command program
    • More Information: 
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Chrome Add-On
  • Fokus

    • Highlight only the text you want to read while Fokus dims and darkens the rest of your Chrome or Firefox window with an overlay
    • Highlights the paragraph you’re reading with the ability to change the opacity of the background overlay
    • Easy to install extension with the ability to turn the feature on or off
    • More Information:  or 
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Chrome and Firefox Add-On