Free Accessibility Apps

Many devices have built-in accessibility apps that you can use for free. Listed below are some of the most common ones. Clicking on their titles will take you to online support documentation.

Jump to an Operating System or Device:
 Windows                Apple                  Android

Windows

Microsoft Office Speech

  • Reads text out loud (text to speech)
  • Follow along as highlighted words are read out loud
  • Add-on to the QuickAccess toolbar

Edge Browser Speech

  • Reads websites out loud (text to speech)
  • Right-click anywhere on page and select Read aloud
  • Follow along as highlighted words are read out loud
  • Reads PDF documents and digital ebooks in EPUB format out loud
  • Immersive Reader view which provides additional reading supports

Speech Recognition

  • Allows you to dictate text (speech-to-text)
  • Control your computer with your voice
  • Provides text correction features
  • Using offline recognition keeps information private

Narrator

  • Full featured screen reader
  • Reads aloud everything on the screen
  • Enables navigation of your computer or device by keyboard or touch alone.

Magnifier

  • Screen magnifier
  • Can magnify the entire screen, or only certain areas when needed
  • Apply colour and contrast filters

Apple OS (Mac, iPad, iPhone)

Enable accessibility feature on a Mac:

  1. In the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
  2. Select Accessibility.
  3. Select and turn on the features you want to use.

To enable accessibility features on an iPhone or iPad

  1. From the Home screen, go to Settings.
  2. Select Accessibility.
  3. Select and turn on the features you want to use.

https://www.apple.com/accessibility/mac/

Spoken Content (Mac, iPhone, iPad)

  • Reads selected text out loud (text to speech)
  • Follow along as highlighted words are read out loud
  • Speak Selection – hear selected text when you tap Speak
  • Speak Screen – automatically read the entire screen when you swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers
  • Works in Mail, iBooks, Safari, Notes, and many other apps

Voice Over (Mac, iPhone, iPad)

  • Full featured screen reader
  • Reads aloud everything on the screen
  • Enables navigation of your computer or device by keyboard or touch alone.

Voice Control (Mac, iPhone, iPad)

  • Allows you to dictate text (speech-to-text)
  • Control your computer with your voice
  • Provides text correction features
  • Personal Information is kept private
  • Does not require internet

Dictation (Mac, iPhone, iPad)

  • Allows you to dictate text (speech-to-text)
  • Personal Information can be kept private
  • Does not require internet for basic usage

Zoom (Mac, iPhone, iPad)

  • Screen magnifier
  • Can magnify the entire screen, or only certain areas when needed
  • Use Hover Text to enlarge content you hover over with your mouse
  • Apply colour and contrast filters

Magnifier (iPhone, iPad)

  • Digital magnification glass
  • Uses the camera on your device to increase the size of anything you point at.
  • Can change the contrast and brightness

Android phones and tablets

Android Accessibility Apps
Accessibility features can be found under the Settings menu.
If you do not see the Accessibility menu, you can download the Android Accessibility Suite from the Google Play Store.
Text to Speech settings are normally found under the Language and Keyboard menu, rather than Accessibility.

Select to Speak

  • Reads text out loud (text to speech)
  • Follow along as highlighted words are read out loud
  • Select items on your screen to hear them read aloud
  • Can point camera at something in the read world to have read aloud

Voice Access App

  • Allows you to dictate text (speech-to-text)
  • Control your computer with your voice
  • Provides text correction features
  • Need to download apps from Play Store before using

Speech Input

  • Adds Dictation option to the keyboard (Microphone icon)
  • Quick and easy to use
  • Has option to download offline recognition
  • No text editing capabilities

TalkBack

  • Full featured screen reader
  • Reads aloud everything on the screen
  • Enables navigation of your computer or device by keyboard or touch alone.

Magnification

  • Screen magnifier
  • Can magnify the entire screen, or only certain areas when needed
  • Touch and hold anywhere on screen to zoom in.