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Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology (AT) is a range of tools that can enhance user independence and support learning. AT takes many forms including magnification tools for individuals with visual impairments, FM systems for those who are Deaf / hard of hearing, and spelling and grammar tools for dyslexia support.

UCD Access & Lifelong Learning has an Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist who can provide technology and training to students who avail of disability support. Usually, recommendations will be made for AT when you attend your Needs Assessment. If you avail of Disability Support and would like to look at AT options, please email us at (opens in a new window)disability@ucd.ie to make an appointment with the AT Specialist.

The role of Assistive Technology

Getting Started with Assistive Technology

  • Ally is built into Brightspace and available to all UCD students. It allows you to access your lecture materials in a format that works for you including audio and with screen filters for easier reading.
  • SensusAccess is a web-form that allows anyone with a UCD email address to turn written materials into accessible formats such as mp3 files.
  • (opens in a new window)AHEAD AT HIVE is a brilliant resource to explore if you are interested in learning more about assistive technology for Note Taking, Reading, Writing, Organising and many other key areas of academic life.
  • Google Speech Recognition.

All UCD students have access to Google Docs through G Suite. Once useful feature included is a free voice typing tool, available when using Google Docs in the Chrome browser. This tool allows you to create documents simply by speaking and Google Docs will automatically transcribe your words as you talk. For free tool, it performs impressively well. However, like all speech-to-text applications, it has some limitations. Users with strong accents may experience reduced accuracy and because the tool relies on Google's speech recognition (which uses internet-bases processing), a stable internet connection is required. Response times may vary depending on your connection quality. (opens in a new window)Get stated with text-to-speech.

If you would like peer support from fellow students, meet our Digital Ambassadors.

Digital Support

What is Digital Accessibility?

It is important to understand that we all access information in different ways. This could be via a laptop, a phone, or a tablet. Equally, it could be with the support of a piece of assistive technology, for instance a screen-reader or read-aloud software. Some of us may rely on visual means to take in information, whereas others require audio. Digital accessibility ensures that we can all access the same content in a clear and consistent format that best suits our individual needs.

In this section you will find support for teaching staff on how to produce accessible teaching materials, including Ally for Brightspace, and tools for students to engage with learning materials in an accessible way.

UCD is a University for All, and strives for inclusion in all areas of University life. For more information on our institutional commitment to digital accessibility, please visit our accessibility statement.

Some helpful resources on Accessibility:

SensusAccess is a file conversion tool which uses a simple webform. SensusAccess allows you to convert files into the format which is most accessible and useful to you. This might be lecture notes into an mp3 to listen to on the go, scanned book pages into searchable PDFs to be used with text to speech software, or lecture slides into text to be read and adjusted on an E-Reader. SensusAccess supports text in multiple languages and can be a great resource for language learning - why not try listening along with your readings!

Examples of helpful Assistive Technologies

(opens in a new window)Immersive Reader is a reading support tool that is a part of Office 365. It can read text aloud and increase the readability of written text. You can increase the spacing between words which can make the information easier to read. There is also the option to add a line focus tool allowing the reader to focus on a sentence without the distraction of other sentences. A guide to Immersive Reader can be found (opens in a new window)here.

(opens in a new window)Mind42 is a web-based mind mapping tool that supports brainstorming, collaboration and organizing ideas. Its features include collapsible branches that allow for focus, and the ability to export your mind map into a structured document.

(opens in a new window)Cogi is a free voice recording app that is available for both Android and Apple iOS. Its intuitive interface allows you to bookmark important information in meetings or lectures that you can listen back to later.

Texthelp Read and Write is developed for users with literacy issues, and has been designed with dyslexia in mind. It is available in the Software Downloads section of UCD Connect. It consists of a suite of tools that can assist customers in reading text and creating documents. It operates as a floating toolbar and works seamlessly within Windows applications, such as Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer.

The most commonly used feature in Texthelp is the Read Out Loud Tool, which is used to read text and can be used to proofread content. Other tools included are a spellchecker, dictionary, a tool to convert notes into MP3, colour screening and predictive text.

UCD Access and Lifelong Learning

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7123