E-Readers Galore! Accessible Holiday Gifts

E-readers (also known as e-book readers) are portable devices used to display e-books, and lately the market has exploded with several different varieties.  Let’s take a closer look at the accessibility features in these new products!

Talk it Up with Speech Recognition Assistive Technology

Speech recognition programs convert spoken words into text.  They can also use voice commands to control computer applications.  This technology provides accessibility to anyone who may not be able to easily utilize a keyboard or a mouse. As you might imagine, speech recognition is not always completely accurate.  It is important to remember when using […]

Communicating with Assistive Technology

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices can help individuals find the right words for everyday situations.  According to the AAC Institute, approximately 2.5 million Americans have some kind of speech disability that prevents them from being easily understood by others.  AAC equipment breaks down the communication barriers!

Google Introduces Automatic Captions for YouTube

Google Video and YouTube were first equipped with captions and subtitles back in September of 2006.  Although this was a big leap toward accessibility, there were still many flaws to be sorted out.  On November 19, Google’s official blog revealed that they now offer automatic captions, or auto-caps.  Google implements a technology called automatic speech recognition […]

Intel Reader: Giving Independence to Print-Disabled

Exciting news for people who have difficulty reading regular print!  Assistive technology leader HumanWare recently signed on to distribute the Intel Reader.  This lightweight device records print, converts it to digital text, and then reads it aloud.  It has all the power of a computer and scanner, yet can fit easily in a purse or […]

Holiday Gifts for Artists with Different Needs

I was doing some online holiday shopping for my family and friends at the BLICK Art Materials web site today when I noticed the “special needs” section. BLICK Art Materials offers: grips for pencils or other writing utensils self-opening, long loops and easy to grip scissors Crayola large, jumbo and triangular crayons these really cool […]