Assistive Technology

The goal of Disability Support Services (DSS) is to provide assistive technology to students with disabilities to help them access textbooks, websites, and other materials needed for their college studies and give them an equal opportunity at the College. Assistive technology is hardware or computer software designed to help students access the materials they need to use in their studies and beyond.   

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Types of Technology

The DSS Office maintains an Assistive Technology Computer Lab on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus in SC-130, which offers adaptive equipment and computer software for students registered with DSS. The Lab contains PC workstations equipped with the standard collegewide applications, as well as the following assistive technology computer programs:

  • JAWS (text-to-speech program designed for people who are blind)
  • ZoomText (print enlargement program)
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking (speech recognition program)
  • ClaroRead Pro (text-to-speech program)

Other equipment available in the Lab includes CCTVs and video print enlargers for students with visual impairments.

In the open computer labs and classroom computer labs throughout the College, JAWS and/or ZoomText can be installed at the request of a student, staff, or faculty member. Please contact DSS if you need this accommodation.

Graphing Calculator

  • Graphing Calculator by Mathlab is a scientific graphing calculator integrated with algebra and is an indispensable mathematical tool for students.
  • Available for:  Android

Scientific Calculator

  • The Calculator + Scientific app is versatile, easy-to-use and beautifully designed.
  • Available for: iOS

Omni Calculator

  • Calculators for all occasions. Over 1500 free online calculators.
  • Available for: Online

Good Calculators

  • A collection of really good online calculators. 
  • Available for: Online

Kindle

  • Kindle E-readers are designed as dedicated eBook readers. They can hold thousands of books to keep you entertained for hours.
  • Available for: Android, iOS, PC, Mac

eReader Prestigio

  • A multi-lingual, multi-format text and audio books reading app. Intuitive interface in over 25 languages and an in app store library with over 50,000 text (for children and adults) books and Text-To-Speech (read along) functionality.
  • Available for: Android

Good e-Reader

  • Introducing the Good e-Reader Audiobook Reader that turns any eBook into an audiobook!
  • Available for: Android

EasyReader

  • You can say goodbye to frustrating small print and inaccessible reading apps; our app has been designed for readers with dyslexia, low vision and blindness so the accessibility is built in and it's unrestricted.
  • Available for: Android, iOS

Thorium

  • The EPUB reader of choice for Windows 10, MacOS and Linux. This reader is highly accessible for visually impaired and dyslexic people.
  • Available for: PC, Mac, Linux

Grammarly

  • Compose brilliant essays, effortlessly, with Grammarly's free online writing assistant, and move beyond a basic spell-check to find the perfect tone for any project.
  • Available for: Android, iOS, Online

Photomath

  • One of the handiest apps for students that can help solve even the most difficult math problems. Its intuitive style and useful features will appeal to mathematicians and others with math difficulties (including animated and step-by-step instructions, smart calculators, and graphics tools).
  • Available for:Android, iOS

Microsoft Office Lens

  • Office Lens is a great way to capture notes and information from whiteboards, menus, signs, handwritten memos, or anything with a lot of text. It’s great for capturing sketches, drawings and equations too, and even images without text. Also has a text to speech feature.
  • Available for:  Android, iOS

TED

  • It’s an official app of the world educational conference TED, which means "Technology, Entertainment, Design". TED has collected thousands of video lectures in more than 100 languages of the world about different sciences and areas, from design to business, from politics to entertainment, and from art to ecology.
  • Available for:  Android, iOS

Google Drive

  • Store, share, and access your files and folders from any mobile device, tablet, or computer—and your first 15GB of storage are free.
  • Available for:  Android, iOS

Scanner Mini

  • Transforms your iPhone and iPad into portable scanners. It automatically crops your documents and intelligently processes them, removing shadows, correcting perspective and distortions.
  • Available for: iOS

Todoist

  • This is one of the most versatile to-do apps available. It also is a great research tool. Basic version is free.
  • Available for: Android, iOS

Khan Academy

  • Learn anything, for free: Thousands of interactive exercises, videos, and articles at your fingertips. Study math, science, economics, finance, grammar, history, government, politics, and much, much more.
  • Available for: Android, iOS, Online

Duolingo

  • Duolingo stands out among language learning apps, and among education apps overall. Each language offers a mostly linear path divided into topics of conversation. Each topic presents you with short exercises to familiarize you with the material through spoken and written formats.
  • Available for: Android, iOS

Google Keep

  • Quickly capture what’s on your mind and get a reminder later at the right place or time. Speak a voice memo on the go and have it automatically transcribed. Grab a photo of a poster, receipt or document and easily organize or find it later in search. Available through a web browser or app.
  • Available for: Android, iOS

Microsoft OneNote

  • Gather users' notes, drawings, screen clippings, and audio commentaries. Notes can be shared with other OneNote users over the Internet or a network. OneNote is available as part of the Microsoft Office suite, and it is also available as a free, standalone app. 
  • Available for: Android, iOS

Evernote

  • Capture ideas when inspiration strikes. Find information fast. Share notes with anyone. From meetings and projects to web pages and to-do lists—with Evernote, everything’s in one place.
  • Available for: Android, iOS, Online


Tutorials

As a student in today's college life, there are technologies available to help students with reading, writing, and listening comprehension. So, how do we distinguish between the different types of technology?  They fall into three different categories: text-to-speech, dictation, and speech-to-text.

Text-to-speech computer software turns text documents, PDF documents, and Web pages into speech so readers can follow the print while listening to the audio being read. 

Dictation software allows you to create Word documents or other presentations by using your voice to speak into a microphone.

Transcription or Speech to Text will listen to spoken words and transcribe them into text using an app or software. Depending on the application, the text may or may not be exported to a document.

Contact

General Information
dss@seminolestate.edu
Sanford/Lake Mary - 407.708.2110
Altamonte Springs - 407.404.6005
Oviedo - 407.971.5114