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Accessibility: Useful free conversion sites

This guide aims to assist Library staff in providing material for students with additional needs

D&A: Diversity and Ability resources

D&A , an award-winning disabled-led social enterprise supporting neurodiverse and disabled learners in education and the workplace, has compiled a huge list of reviews and guides, all for free, for you!

You can search by resource or filter by area. 

Converting material

Use SensusAccess to:

  • Convert PDFs, JPEGs and other files into an e-book (EPUB3 and Mobi), text file, audio (MP3 or DAISY) or braille.
  •  The service can also be used to convert inaccessible documents such as image-only PDF files, JPEG pictures and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations into more accessible formats.

Reading and display screens

These tools can: 

  • make your screen easier on the eyes
  • remove distractions from websites
  • summarise content
  • improve your speed reading
  • improve your comprehension

Display screen appearance

My Computer My Way

This guide explains the simplest ways to make your computer easier to use, including reading, seeing the screen, and using the keyboard and mouse. Online guide

Claro MagX

Make small items bigger and change the contrast and colour to make images easier on your eyes.Claro MagX can be used to magnify anything using the lens on your mobile device and is therefore great for providing real time enhancement of all types of learning and teaching material. iOS;  AndroidOnline guide

f.lux

Adapts the colour and brightness of your screen to the time of day.  Windows downloadMac download; Linux download

Ebook readers

Dolphin EasyReader

A free ebook reader for EPUB and DAISY formats, designed to assist readers with visual impairments and dyslexia. Large number of options to customise reading experience through choice of font, text and background colours and highlighting. Magnify text up to 600% with reflow.Text to speech to listen and read with and synchronised text highlighting and text to speech. Allows direct access to browse & download from libraries including RNIB Bookshare.  iOS;  Android;  Instructions and demo screens

Magnifying, scrolling and reflowing

Autoscroll in Adobe Reader

The automatically scroll (or autoscroll) feature is unique to Adobe Reader and this feature makes it easier for people to read through long PDF document, especially when documents have been magnified and reflowed to make them easier to read. Autoscroll allows readers to scroll through pages without using keystrokes or mouse actions.  Online guide

Magnify and reflow in Adobe Reader and Microsoft Word

When reading information on a screen sometimes text can appear small and difficult to read. Magnifying or zooming text can make it easier and more comfortable to read written content. Online guide

Speed reading

Spreed

Speed read the web. Train yourself to double or triple your reading speed, without sacrificing comprehension. Absorb knowledge, faster. Online toolBookmarklet;  Chrome extensionBookmarklet for other browsers

Spritz

Spritz is a speed-reading plugin for your browser. Bookmarklet

Simplifying and summarising text

Rewordify

Online software that helps improve reading by intelligently simplifying difficult English for easier comprehension. Web-based tool

Summarising text

Auto summarise tools are tools that give you an overview of the main points in a document. Different tools work in different ways but they are good ways to get the essence of an online document. Online guide

Web browsers

ATbar

ATbar has been created as an open-source, cross-browser toolbar to help users customise the way they view and interact with web pages. Windows downloadChrome extensionSupport for other browsers

Google Colour Enhancer

A customisable colour filter applied to web pages to improve colour perception. Chrome extension

Google Headings Map

The headings map extension generates an index or map of any web document structured using headers and also shows the structure of sections of the document. Chrome extension

Google High Contrast

High Contrast lets you browse the web with your choice of several high-contrast color filters designed to make it easier to read text. Chrome extension

Mercury Reader

Clear away the clutter from all of your articles leaving only text and images for a clean and consistent reading view on every site. Chrome extension

Accessibility software and advice available on your device

My computer my way This guide explains the simplest ways to make your computer easier to use, including reading, seeing the screen, and using the keyboard and mouse.

Access Firefox  Guide to Firefox accessibility features and add-ons including changing text colour, size and font, simplifying pages and big buttons

Adobe Accessibility  Guide to using and creating accessible files with Adobe software.

Apple (Mac OSX and iOS) Accessibility  Guide to accessible features in Apple (Mac) OSX. There is also excellent accessibility guidance for iPhone and iPad (iOS)

Built-in accessibility (by Jisc)  General guide to accessibility features on computers including screen, audio, mouse and keyboard settings

Google Accessibility Guide to accessible features in Google products including Android, Chrome and Gmail.

Microsoft Accessibility Guide to accessible features in Windows, Office, Internet Explorer, Windows Phone and more.

YouTube viewing options A guide to your options when watching YouTube, including captions and using a screen reader.

Scanning a document so you can hear it being read aloud

OR

  • Scan the material you require using one of the University printer/copiers and emailing it to yourself. This will send an image-only (e.g. not fully accessible) PDF to your email.
  • Now use your browser to go to Sensus Access and follow the process for uploading the file to be converted (e.g. image/pdf file). Follow the prompts to get an "accessible format" (e.g. Word document, MP3) emailed to you. For example you could convert a Word or PDF document into MP3 so that you can listen to it 'being read aloud' by the computer or device.
  • An email will be sent to you with a link to the accessible document 
  • Proof read the document to correct any conversion errors.

DAISY Conversion tools and services

DAISY's  mission is ..."To develop global solutions for accessible publishing and reading, in partnership with civil society, publishing and technology industries, standards bodies and governments".

DAISY provides a list of conversion tools and services.

Braille conversion

Robobraille is a tool used to convert files into Braille

Magnification

Claro MagX

Make small items bigger and change the contrast and colour to make images easier on your eyes.Claro MagX can be used to magnify anything using the lens on your mobile device and is therefore great for providing real time enhancement of all types of learning and teaching material. iOS;  AndroidOnline guide

Help using software

Assistive Technology videos are available from Wyvern Learning Tutorials