ACCESSIBLE MOBILE
APPLICATIONS FOR
COLLEGE STUDENTS
PRESENTED BY:
Kala Rounds
&
Lauren Lipinoga
Supported by:
Kristin Harte & Shaun Hoppel
ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES
CONTACT INFO
• 25 Capen Hall, Buffalo NY
• 14260-1632
• Phone: (716) 645-2608
• Email: stu-accessibility@buffalo.edu
• Website: www.buffalo.edu/accessibility
WHAT IS A MOBILE
APPLICATION?
● Also known as an “App”
● Small stand-alone program
● Can be utilized in the mobile environment or
in a traditional computer system
*DISCLAIMER*
• It is important for us to define what we mean by an
“accessible” mobile application
• Our definition of an accessible mobile application
for the purpose of this workshop is that:
• Many of the apps we suggest today may be more
beneficial and accessible to someone who has a
learning disability (i.e. ADHD).
• Many of the apps we demonstrate MAY NOT be
accessible or beneficial for someone who has a
visual impairment.
LET’S LOOK AT SOME
APPS!
•
•
•
•
Audible Apps
College Apps
Magnifying Apps
Note Apps
•
•
•
•
Specific Disabilities Apps
Test Preparation Apps
Time Management Apps
iReadWrite
AUDIBLE MOBILE
APPLICATIONS
1). ANY.DO
2). iTALK
3). OVERDRIVE
4). DRAGON DICTATION*
ANY.DO
● PLATFORM: Android
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Allows you to remember all of the tasks you
want to do and get them done.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Seamless Cloud Sync
○ Speech Recognition
○ Alerts
○ Snooze Tasks
○ Google Task sync
○ Notes
○ Repeating/Recurring Tasks
○ Missed Call
○ Auto Complete
iTALK
● PLATFORM: iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Appending to existing records, you have the ability
to choose from three levels of recording quality, then manage your
recordings, all with just a fingertip.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ High- quality handheld recording
○ Easy, convenient user interface & controls
○ Email your recordings directly from iTALK
○ Supports iTunes file sharing
○ Auto-noise cancellation
○ Built in search function to locate recordings by title
OVERDRIVE
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: Free to download but requires subscription to use
● DESCRIPTION: Ability to read E-books and listen to
audio books from your library.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Available 24.7
○ No late fees-titles are automatically returned
○ Place holds, create wish lists, and return titles easily
DRAGON DICTATION
● PLATFORM: iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Easy to use voice recognition that allows
you to speak and instantly see your text and email
messages.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Fast and accurate, fully automated speech recognition
○ Horizontal toolbar enables fast access to all search sites
○ Easily modify or correct search queries by using a list of
alternative suggestions
COLLEGE
APPLICATIONS
1). Adobe Reader
2). GMail
3). Blackboard Mobile Learns
4). UBUpdates
5). UB Mobile*
ADOBE READER
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Ability to easily view and interact with PDF documents.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Access PDF files
○ Manage PDF files
○ Share PDF files
GMAIL
● PLATFORMS: Android & iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Ability to access real-time notifications, use multiple
accounts, and search your entire inbox.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Threaded conversations
○ Respond to google calendar invites
○ Organize your mail by archiving, labeling, starring, deleting, and reporting
spam
○ Send and receive attachments
BLACKBOARD MOBILE
LEARN
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Makes it easier for you to access your courses wherever and
whenever you want.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Check grades
○ Post to discussions
○ Attach files from dropbox
○ Read announcements
○ View content
○ Create and comment on blogs and journal posts
○ Take mobile-friendly tests
○ Receive push notifications of course activity
UBUPDATES
● PLATFORM: Android & iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Lets you know about everything around UB in the palm
of your hands.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Get information for the events around UB
○ Browse buildings on each of the three campuses
○ Learn and update waiting time at your favorite coffee/lunch places
○ Learn latest news about UB
○ Learn up to date bus schedules for UB
○ Ask and answer questions about any topic
○ Write about UB, classes, activities, cold weather, etc
○ Access to UB sports information
UB MOBILE
● PLATFORM: Android & iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Get essential information and
services about UB anywhere at anytime.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Search of all UB sites
○ Access to MyUB
○ Access to UBlearns
MAGNIFYING
APPLICATIONS
1). ZoomReader
2). Vision Assist App*
ZOOMREADER
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: $19.99
● DESCRIPTION: Magnify and read printed text.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Allows pictures to be taken of the object being viewed
○ Converts the image into text
○ Reads the text back to you
VISION ASSIST APP
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: $5.99
● DESCRIPTION: Provide magnification and enable you to improve the
contrast to help you read or see what you want to read.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Save your enhanced images to your camera roll
○ Full screen image
○ Uses autofocus
○ Pause/freeze images
○ Zoom an image up to 20 times
○ Fully compatible with voiceover
NOTES APPLICATIONS
1). WritePad
2). Notability
3). iAnnotate
4). IdeaSketch
5). NoteLedge
6). Evernote*
WRITEPAD
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: $3.99
● DESCRIPTION: Converts handwritten notes into text.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Spell check with a customary dictionary
○ Save and transfer notes over wifi or sync notes with other apps
○ Select, cut, copy, paste, insert special characters such as space and
return, etc.
NOTEABILITY
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: $2.99
● DESCRIPTION: Notability is so powerful that it will transform how you work:
sketch ideas, annotate documents, sign contracts, complete worksheets, keep
a journal, jot travel notes, teach a class, make a presentation and much more.
With iCloud support, your notes stay up to date on all your devices.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Handwriting,
○ note taking,
○ audio recording,
○ annotate PDFs,
○ cloud sync your notes to Dropbox
iANNOTATE
●
PLATFORMS: iOS and Android
●
COST: $9.99
● DESCRIPTION: Allows you to read, annotate, and share PDFs. Improve your
productivity and organization.
●
KEY BENEFITS:
○ Choose from several options: pen, highlighter, underline, etc.
○ Drag and drop the exact tools you need to create custom toolbars for your
specific workflow
○ Scroll one page at a time or throughout the entire document
○ Use keywords to search the full text or filenames of every document to
your library
○ Lets you have up to eight documents open at once
○ Arrange documents by folders
○ Connect with box, dropbox, google drive, and share or e-mail text
summaries
IDEASKETCH
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Draw a diagram--mind map, concept map, or flowchart and
convert it to a text outline.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Copy text from another app
○ Share diagrams and outlines via email or the cloud
○ Save to your photos
NOTELEDGE
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: $2.99
● DESCRIPTION: Allows you to take notes with powerful editing functions such
as handwriting, typing, photo-editing, audio and video recording.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Realistic handwriting and drawing
○ Take notes and record at the same time
○ Organize your notes with table tools
○ Crop and copy selected contents and paste them wherever you like within
the active area
○ Crop and drag screenshots from websites directly to your notes
○ Manage your notes under calendar view
○ Share your notes
EVERNOTE
● PLATFORMS: iOS & Android
● COST: Free to download and use; $5 for premium monthly
and $45 for premium annually
● DESCRIPTION: Helps you remember everything across all of the devices you
use, stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Sync all of your notes across the computers and devices you use
○ Create and edit text notes, to-dos and task lists
○ Save, sync and share files
○ Record voice and audio notes
○ Search for text inside images
○ Organize notes by notebooks and tags
○ Email notes and save tweets to your Evernote account
○ Connect Evernote to other apps and products you use
○ Share notes with friends and colleagues via Facebook and Twitter
SPECIFIC DISABILITIES
APPLICATIONS
1). Type-o HD
2). Hidden Curriculum for
Adolescents and Adults
3). Learning Ally
4). Mobile Accessibility
5). AppWriter US*
TYP-O HD
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: $14.99
● DESCRIPTION: Powerful word prediction engine for dyslexic and/or trouble
with spelling.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Finds your word in its vast model of common English words and phrases
○ Listen to your word before you select it
○ Hear your words and your sentences before you email or SMS them
○ Knows the most common spelling mistakes, and will often suggest words
even if you have misspelled them
HIDDEN CURRICULUM
FOR ADOLESCENTS
AND ADULTS
●
PLATFORMS: iOS
●
COST: $1.99
● DESCRIPTION: On a daily basis, we are surrounded by unstated rules and
customs that can make the world a confusing place for people with autism
spectrum disorders. Learn how to deal with this ever-elusive “hidden
curriculum” through real-life examples and suggestions by Judy Endow, an
adult on the spectrum. Items cover topics such as social relationships,
community, money matters, workplace, and many others.
LEARNING ALLY
AUDIO
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: Free to download app but requires a subscription to use
● DESCRIPTION: This app is committed to making reading accessible for all
who learn differently. It also provides over 75,000 audiobooks, audio
textbooks, and other recorded books to help anyone who experiences
difficulty in reading print material succeed.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Direct downloading
○ Page and chapter navigation
○ Variable speed control
○ Last position playback
○ Bookmarking capabilities
○ VoiceOver compatible
MOBILE
ACCESSIBILITY
●
PLATFORMS: Android
●
COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Screen-access application which allows people who are blind
or have low vision to use their mobile device in an intuitive, easy and simple
way.
●
KEY BENEFITS:
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Make and answer phone calls easily
Manage your contacts
Set alarms
Full web browser experience
Manage your calendar
Full access to e-mail
GPS application
APPWRITER US
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: $29.99
● DESCRIPTION: Offers users of all ages with reading and writing disabilities
the necessary tools for unlocking a world of information.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Seamlessly integrated and comprise context based word suggestions,
text-to-speech, integrated PDF-reader, and the special Dyslexie-font
○ Choose between different reading strategies
○ Ability to highlight the text
○ Word prediction feature
○ Manage the created documents by e-mailing, sharing with dropbox, or
google docs
TEST PREPARATION
APPLICATIONS
1). Flashcards
2). Popplet lite*
FLASHCARDS
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Easy-to-use studying application with material for any class
or standardized test.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Create new decks of flashcards quickly and easily
○ Store and share your flashcards using dropbox or email
○ High resolution images
○ Discard cards that you have mastered
○ Study your flashcards in the order that you learn best-alphabetical,
random, etc.
POPPLET LITE
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Great for work. Great for school. Popplet is a platform for
your ideas. Popplet's super simple interface allows you to move at the speed
of your thoughts. With Popplet you can capture your ideas and sort them
visually in realtime. Quickly and easily!
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Explore ideas: brainstorming/mind mapping
○ Plan projects: diagrams/process charts
○ Record thoughts: journals/notes/lists
○ Collect inspiration: scrapbook/travel plans
○ Create galleries: photo albums/portfolios/presentations
○ Study: school projects/class notes
TIME MANAGEMENT
APPLICATIONS
1). Student Time Tracker
2). myHomework
3). inClass*
STUDENT TIME
TRACKER
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: $0.99
● DESCRIPTION: The more time you spend learning, the better the results.
Track the time spent on your courses, get a complete overview of your study
patterns.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Track the time spent on each course
○ See your study patterns through charts
○ Record important events
○ Keep track of deadlines/task progresses
○ Timer to track your time
○ Notifications to fill in your timesheet or when you have overdue tasks
MYHOMEWORK
● PLATFORMS: iOS and Android
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: On the go planner to keep track of homework and
commitments.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Track your classes, homework, tests, and assignments
○ Calendar display
○ Supports time, block and period-based schedules
○ Receive homework reminders
inCLASS
● PLATFORMS: iOS
● COST: Free
● DESCRIPTION: Organize your schedule, courses, and semesters in order to
help you ace your classes.
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Video/audio/photo notes
○ Background recording
○ iTunes file sharing
○ Repetitive tasks
○ Retina display ready
○ Local alarms
○ Automatic course selection
○ Recognizes what classes you are in
iREADWRITE
● PLATFORMS: iOS and Android
● COST: Free for anyone that goes through Accessibility Resources at the
University at Buffalo for accommodations. Must sign up through the office to
obtain the license number (username/password) and receive training.
● DESCRIPTION: http://www.texthelp.com/North-America
● KEY BENEFITS:
○ Multiple accessible tools
Any Questions?
Contact:
Accessibility Resources
25 Capen Hall, Buffalo NY
14260-1632
Phone: (716) 645-2608
Email: stu-accessibility@buffalo.edu
Website: www.buffalo.edu/accessibility