Google drive free resources that can support those who need help with their reading and writing difficulties are not so hard to find as they used to be.Cognitive learning systems there are small programs that can be downloaded, used directly on a computer or from a USB pen drive and there are supporting toolbars that can be used alongside other applications such as word processors and browsers.Cognitive learning systems what won’t be listed here are the many interactive online applications that are now available. These can range from full blown word processing services such as google drive to mind mapping tools and image sharing sites.Cognitive learning systems jane hart author of the website called the centre for learning and performance technologies lists voting teachers’ favourites under her annual top 100 tools.Cognitive learning systems many of these sites and others have been evaluated for their accessibility and are stored by activity type on the web2access website.

Some free assistive technology programs lack the sophistication of the majority of the more commercially developed programs, but they can make up a very useful toolkit.Cognitive learning systems they may not always be updated as regularly as products backed by larger companies so it is important to check the system requirements. Some developers offer a basic version of their program free and ask for support for versions with more features.Cognitive learning systems

The following groups of software tend to be windows-based but there are also many free android and apple programs. Some of them are in B.D.A.Cognitive learning systems tech apps page. It’s important to be aware that some download webpages may not be altogether as secure as one would wish. Always make sure your virus checker is up to date and you have a firewall in place as you need to take care when downloading what are known as executable files (.Exe).Cognitive learning systems final health warning! Make sure you have backed up your system, set up a restore point and read the instructions.

Calendars online or ones that synchronise with google calendar can be very helpful as they can be shared with others.Cognitive learning systems microsoft outlook that comes with microsoft office offers this support, but if you just want a fun desktop saver with reminders, try mycorkboard.Cognitive learning systems there are all sorts of themes and it can be customised to suit your needs with notes and a clock etc.

EverNote, which is offered as a free download, or a service online, and even as an app on most phones, is not just an instant note maker.Cognitive learning systems you can drag and drop note items from the web and electronic documents, and attach pictures to provide a scrolling record of notes, search and work with an entire collection of other programs that allow you to annotate videos, or turn notes into audio files, and make quizzes for revision with evernote peek.Cognitive learning systems the company also have a schools section with guides and resources.

However, if mind mapping suits your needs and you can cope with simple style maps then xmind offers you the chance to develop ideas within symbols with icons or on a branch, different layouts and the ability to import and export to other programs, including commercial mind mapping applications.Cognitive learning systems there is also freemind that works with words once again placed on branches rather than in symbols, although it is possible to group items with images and link different concepts.Cognitive learning systems

Whilst writing documents in microsoft word, it is possible to check the thesaurus and other reference books via the short cut keys ‘shift plus F7’.Cognitive learning systems spell checking, autocorrect and autotext can all help. However, if you are not using microsoft office it may be worth downloading openoffice, a free office suite that supports microsoft office files and offers word-processing, spreadsheet, database and drawing applications.Cognitive learning systems A thesaurus and dictionary that works as a standalone program is wordweb 6 for windows and as an iphone app. It offers audio pronunciations, synonyms, confusables and the option of the oxford and chambers dictionaries.Cognitive learning systems

When it comes to spell checking, this also tends to occur within the word processor, which is not always helpful if you are using a simple text editor.Cognitive learning systems this is when freespell and prospell can be helpful or tinyspell 1.9 which checks spelling in windows applications and web forms where there is no built in spell checker.Cognitive learning systems it is worth downloading the british english dictionary when you download this spell checker which can also be used on a pendrive.

BrowseAloud if it just text to speech that is required when surfing the net, it is worth trying programs that work across all browsers such as browsealoud and browsealoud plus.Cognitive learning systems they work with websites that have subscribed to these texthelp applications, websites, such as B.D.A. Tech, and offer hover dual highlighting, text selection, translator and dictionary, screen masking and an MP3 maker.Cognitive learning systems the readers mentioned above, such as naturalreader, will also read accessible web pages.

ATbar is a toolbar that can be added as a ‘bookmark’ or ‘favorite’ to all the main browsers and it will provide text to speech, spell checking, a dictionary, the chance to change the look and feel of the web pages if possible, as well as word prediction to help with text creation.Cognitive learning systems many other plugins can be added via the market place such as readable that clears the clutter from pages or various calculators and thesauri and translators.Cognitive learning systems

Google’s chrome browser uses its own toolbar to provide spell checking, translation along with extensions such as voice search chrome for dictating in queries and after the deadline spell checker.Cognitive learning systems its version of password support is called lastpass password manager and there is the hand webscreen shot for taking snapshots of more than the screen size, easy reader clear clutter from the webpages and mynotesapp is there for instant notes whilst surfing.Cognitive learning systems

You do not always have to be online to run chrome apps in your browser. Google have a list of apps that may be useful when you are offline such as gmail, google calendar, quick note, jolicloud, scientific calculator, task timer, and world clock (you do not need to google the time of various countries or depend on your desktop clock settings).Cognitive learning systems

All of these add-ons or extensions and toolbars are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to finding free programs for your computer and portable technologies.Cognitive learning systems the internet is full of blogs and wikis written by experts and ‘not so experts’ telling you about the latest app or piece of software that might help.Cognitive learning systems it really is a case of buyer beware and asking those who have already tried some free options as opposed to the commercial assistive technologies.Cognitive learning systems freeware can provide an easy way to try ideas that might help with studying or work but many are not specifically designed to support dyslexia.Cognitive learning systems there is always the B.D.A. Helpline and B.D.A. New technologies committee e-mail enquiry service. Do make contact if you are worried about any choices concerning the use of assistive technologies.Cognitive learning systems