Many software tools exist to help people overcome challenges in education and daily life. On this page, we provide examples of just some of the software we use to support our students and staff. Many of these tools are free, but others require a paid licence. Get in touch with the EATC if you would like further information on any of the below programs.
Note: This list is not exhaustive.
Note-Taking Tools
Genio Notes (Paid)
Genio Notes (formerly known as Glean) is a note-taking platform. Users record the audio of meetings, classes, or lectures, and take notes on the Genio website. Genio links each note to the audio, meaning the user can review notes with the audio to aid memory. The software has lots of features to assist with studying, including AI-generated outlines and multiple-choice questions based on the content of the notes.
The EATC may provide a Genio Notes licence to a student following a Needs Assessment if appropriate.
Notability (Paid)
Notability is a note-taking app on iPad and iOS devices. Like Genio, the user can record audio while taking notes. The audio synchronises with the notes, making it easy to review while studying. Notability generates transcripts of recorded audio and summarises notes. With a variety of templates and tools to choose from, Notability is a very versatile app.
Notability works best when used with a stylus like an Apple Pencil.
The EATC does not currently provide licences to Notability. The annual subscription is a relatively low cost. You can on their website, or contact the EATC for more details and a demonstration.
OneNote (Included in MS365 for UL Students)
OneNote allows convenient organisation of notes. Users can take notes, including audio, video, images, web content, and more. OneNote works on most devices, making it ideal for using on a tablet in class then switching to a laptop while studying for example.
UL's Microsoft 365 subscription includes OneNote, so all UL students can access OneNote with their UL credentials at no additional cost.
Text-To-Speech Tools
ClaroRead (Paid)
ClaroRead offers text-to-speech for documents and webpages. The user can customise the voice and set a colour for text to be highlighted while ClaroRead is reading. Other features include converting documents to MP3 to listen on-the-go, colour tinting to make concentrating easier, and text prediction which can make writing less stressful.
The 黑料社 has a site-wide licence for ClaroRead. The EATC manages this licence and provides all students registered with Disability Services access to the software.
Immersive Reader (Included in MS365 for UL Students / Limited Free Features)
Immersive Reader is part of both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Edge. The tool helps by removing distractions from webpages and documents, then reading the text aloud. The user can use Immersive Reader to change the font and colour of text to aid comprehension. Immersive Reader also includes translation tools, which can be useful when learning a new language or when researching.
The University's Microsoft 365 subscription includes all Immersive Reader features for UL students. For those without a Microsoft subscription, you can still access some of the features in Microsoft Edge.
SpeakScreen (iOS) and Reading Mode (Android) (Free)
Apple and Android phones include text-to-speech tools to help users read documents and webpages.
On iPhone and iPad, .
On Android devices, .
Speech-To-Text (Dictation) Tools
Built in Dictation Tools (Free)
Speech-to-text (STT) is a great way to get ideas down on a page quickly, without needing to worry about spelling and without your typing speed limiting your output.
For those interested in STT, the best place to start is with the free built-in tools on the device you are likely to already have. Both Android and iOS phones support voice typing. Google Docs and Microsoft Office also have native dictation features.
The downside of these built-in tools is that they do not learn your voice. If the speech-recognition is inaccurate when you first try to use it, it is unlikely to improve. However, these free tools will give you an indication as to whether STT is helpful for you.
Dragon (Paid)
Dragon is a class-leading dictation and voice control software. Dragon has many powerful features that make it a popular choice in industries such as law and medicine. The software allows the user to create shortcuts to boost efficiency when writing, and learns from the user to get more accurate over time.
The EATC provide licences and in-depth training to students following a Needs Assessment where appropriate.
TalkType (Paid)
TalkType is a lightweight dictation software that works on most platforms. TalkType offers impressive accuracy out-of-the-box, and allows users to add words and text snippets to make writing easier.
The EATC may provide a TalkType licence where Dragon is deemed inappropriate.
Captioning Tools
Caption.Ed (Paid)
Caption.Ed is a tool that provides computer-generated captions for both live and pre-recorded audio. Users can run Caption.Ed on laptops or mobile devices to get real-time captions for lectures. Caption.Ed can generate transcripts for videos and podcasts. Caption.Ed offers some of the highest accuracy auto-captions on the market right now.
The EATC can provide a licence for Caption.Ed following a Needs Assessment if appropriate.
Blind/Low-Vision Tools
Windows Magnifier and Windows Narrator (Free)
For the blind and visually impaired, the built in Magnifer and Narrator features on WIndows offer a convenient solution to magnification and screen reader needs. While these tools lack some aspects of paid software, for many users these tools will allow independent and efficient use of their computers.
ZoomText (Paid)
ZoomText offers both magnification and screen-reader features. Primarily, ZoomText would be used by the visually impaired who need the advanced magnification features not available in the built-in tools of theri operating system, with limited screen-reader usage.
The EATC can provide a licence for ZoomText following a Needs Assessment when appropriate.
JAWS Screen-Reader (Paid)
JAWS is a leading screen-reader software. The program has features to support blind users through both screen-reading and Braille output. Like ZoomText, JAWS would be used by those for whom the standard tools are no longer sufficient.
The EATC can provide a JAWS licence following a Needs Assessment where appropriate.
NVDA Screen-Reader (Free)
NVDA is a free screen-reader tool. Many people use NVDA as an alternative to the paid JAWS software. While the learning curve can be high, NVDA is a powerful tool that is widely used and well supported.
Productivity Tools
Grammarly (Paid)
Grammarly is an advanced spelling and grammar checker. The premium version of Grammarly offers tools that help users correct mistakes and learn to improve their writing skills.
The EATC provides Grammarly Premium licences to students registered with Disability Support Services. The licence students have access to does not have the generative-AI features.
LightKey (Paid)
LightKey is a predictive text engine. LightKey learns from you as you type, and gradually learns to predict words and phrases based on your writing style. LightKey can benefit those who do not have strong typing skills or who have a physical impairment which makes typing difficult. LightKey works in many different languages, including Irish.
The EATC can provide a licence for LightKey following a Needs Assessment where appropriate.
Mindmapping Tools (Paid)
Mindmapping tools allow users to create visual representations of their ideas. Creating a mindmap can be a great way to plan an assignment or condense ideas when preparing for an exam.
The EATC offers several different mindmapping tools to students, including:
- Inspiration
- MindGenius
- MindManager
Contact use to discuss these tools and more.