Assistive Technology
Smarter ways to work & study
Clear, practical guidance on assistive tech for neurodiversity.
🛠️ What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology refers to tools, apps, or software that make everyday tasks easier by reducing barriers to learning, working, and communicating. These can include features like text-to-speech, mind mapping, spelling and grammar aids, or organisational apps. They are designed to support different ways of thinking and processing information.
🚀 Why should I use it?
Using assistive technology can help you save time, reduce stress, and work more independently. It provides practical ways to manage challenges such as reading long text, writing clearly, following instructions, or organising tasks. All the resources suggested here are free to access, making it easy to try them out and find what works best for you.
📚 Use cases
Assistive technology can be useful in many different situations. For example, text-to-speech can read out reports or emails, speech-to-text can help capture ideas quickly, and organisation tools can keep track of deadlines. Whether you are studying, working, or managing day-to-day tasks, these tools can provide extra support to build confidence and independence.
🧠 Mind mapping
Turn scattered thoughts into a clear plan. Mind maps help you group ideas, spot gaps, and then export an outline for writing or project work. Great for essays, presentations, research planning, and revision.
Why it helps
- Visual structure: see relationships at a glance, not buried in paragraphs.
- Low-friction drafting: capture ideas first, worry about sentences later.
- Flexible: drag, regroup, and reorder without retyping.
- From map to document: export to an outline or slides to speed up drafting.
When it shines
- Planning a report from a brief or marking scheme.
- Tracking tasks & references for a project or dissertation.
- Turning lecture notes into a study plan.
Try these
- AYOA — maps + outline views.
- Mindomo — map ↔ outline views.
- XMind — polished visuals.
- WiseMapping — browser-based.
Characteristics that often benefit
- Dyslexia — visual planning before drafting text
- ADHD/attention — breaking projects into chunks
- Autistic thinking — clarifying structure & relationships
- Dyspraxia/DCD — low-friction reordering instead of retyping
🔊 Text-to-speech (TTS)
Have documents, web pages, or emails read aloud. Hearing the text helps with focus and comprehension, and it’s brilliant for catching typos or clunky phrasing during proofreading.
Why it helps
- Proofreading by ear: hear missing words and repeated phrases you’d skim past with your eyes.
- Reduced visual load: step away from the screen or follow along with highlighting.
- Pacing control: adjust speed, pause, and replay tricky sections.
- Language reinforcement: hear vocabulary and sentence patterns in context.
When it shines
- Long readings, dense articles, and policy docs.
- Final checks on assignments and emails before sending.
- Multitasking (e.g., listening while organising notes).
Try these
- Microsoft Immersive Reader in Word/Outlook.
- Natural Reader.
- HelperBird.
Characteristics that often benefit
- Dyslexia — auditory support & word recognition
- ADHD/attention — listen while moving to maintain focus
- Visual stress — reduced need to track dense text
- Dysgraphia — audio proofreading of dictated drafts
🎤 Speech-to-text (Dictation)
Speak ideas out loud and let the computer do the typing. Excellent for fast drafting, capturing ideas before they fade, and reducing keyboard strain.
Why it helps
- Speed: get thoughts down quickly, then edit.
- Less friction: sidestep spelling and homophone slips in the first pass.
- Cognitive offload: focus on the message rather than mechanics.
Tips for clean output
- Say punctuation (e.g., “full stop”, “comma”, “new line”).
- Draft in short bursts; review with Ctrl+F for repeated phrases.
- Use text-to-speech for an audio proof-listen before submission.
Try these
- Windows Voice Access (Windows).
- Word Dictate (Microsoft 365).
- Mac Dictation (iMac & iOS).
Characteristics that often benefit
- Dyslexia/Dysgraphia — bypass spelling and writing demands
- ADHD/attention — rapid capture before ideas fade
- Autistic thinking — speak structured thoughts, edit later
- Dyspraxia/DCD — reduced fatigue from typing
🖥️ Screen readers
Screen readers provide spoken (or braille) feedback and full keyboard navigation. Beyond reading passages aloud, they announce structure (headings, links, landmarks), letting you jump straight to what matters.
Why it helps
- Efficient navigation: move by headings, links, or form fields without mousing.
- Consistent feedback: hear context like “button”, “checked”, or “required”.
- Testing aid: helpful for checking a page’s accessibility and reading order.
Common options
- NVDA (Windows, free/open source)
- Narrator (Windows, built-in)
- VoiceOver (macOS & iOS, built-in)
- TalkBack (Android, built-in)
Tip: learn a handful of navigation shortcuts for your reader of choice.
Characteristics that often benefit
- Blind/low vision — primary access method
- Dyslexia — structured read-through via headings & links
- ADHD/attention — keyboard navigation reduces visual wandering
🎛️ Reading comfort & overlays
Tweak on-screen text to reduce glare and make tracking easier: colour tints, line focus, spacing, and reading rulers can all help sustained reading.
Why it helps
- Visual comfort: softer contrast or tint for long sessions.
- Line tracking: keep your place with a focus line or mask.
- Adjustable spacing: increase line/word spacing to reduce crowding.
Try these
- Microsoft Immersive Reader (Word/Outlook).
- Night Light (Windows, built-in).
- colour Filters (iMac & iOS, built-in).
- Vision enhancements (Android, built-in).
- ColorVeil (Windows).
- HelperBird (browser & Google Docs).
Characteristics that often benefit
- Visual stress/Irlen — reduced glare & easier tracking
- Dyslexia — spacing & line focus to reduce crowding
- ADHD/attention — visual focus line to stay on the current line
✅ Spelling & grammar tools
Real-time checks for spelling, grammar, and phrasing help you write with confidence. Great for polishing tone, trimming repetition, and learning alternatives as you edit.
Why it helps
- Fewer slips: fix small errors early so you can focus on the task.
- Clearer sentences: suggestions for concision and readability.
- Vocabulary growth: discover synonyms and paraphrases in context.
Characteristics that often benefit
- Dyslexia — supports spelling & homophones
- ADHD/attention — gentle prompts to refine wording
- Autistic thinking — tone & clarity suggestions
- Dysgraphia — polishing after dictation
📅 Organisation & time management
Break work into steps, schedule it, and track progress. Visualising tasks and time helps you prioritise and reduces last-minute stress.
Why it helps
- Clarity: see today’s actions, not just a long list.
- Momentum: tick off small steps to keep going.
- Routine support: gentle prompts for recurring tasks.
Try these
- Goblin Tools (break down tasks).
- TickTick (tasks & reminders).
- Microsoft To Do (lists across devices).
- OneCalendar & One Task (combine multiple calendars & tasks).
Characteristics that often benefit
- ADHD/attention — reminders & visual timelines
- Autistic thinking — predictable routines & structure
- Dyspraxia/DCD — step-by-step checklists
- Dyslexia — leave time to think, organise ideas and proofread.
➗ Maths & STEM helpers
From typesetting equations to step-by-step solutions, maths tools can reduce friction and make working through problems more approachable.
Why it helps
- Process first: focus on method; many tools show intermediate steps.
- Clean layout: typeset maths clearly for fewer copy errors.
- Exploration: try variants quickly (units, graphs, symbolic algebra).
Try these
- ModMath (grid-aligned maths writing).
- OneNote Math Assistant (ink → steps & graphs).
- Wolfram Alpha (computational engine).
- Photomath (scan & learn steps).
- MathGPT (problem solving assistant).
Characteristics that often benefit
- Dyscalculia — step-based explanations & clean layouts
- ADHD/attention — structured, guided problem solving
- Autistic thinking — systematic approaches & clear notation
- Dyspraxia/DCD — clarity with calculations reducing handwriting errors
How to choose and combine tools
- Pair wisely: Dictate a draft using speech-to-text → proof-listen with text-to-speech → finish with grammar tools.
- Start visual: Map ideas first, then export to an outline to reduce blank-page anxiety.
- Make it routine: Add study blocks and deadlines to your task app the moment you get them.
- Accessibility first: Learn a few screen-reader shortcuts; they’re also great for keyboard-only power use.
Licences and features vary. Check what your institution or employer already provides (e.g., Microsoft 365).