Helper Software and Computer Technology
Free Access Software for Windows
For Learning and Orientation & Mobility
with the Internet and Cyberspace
Free access software is now available to use Windows computers with limited, or no vision. This software will also help many people with reading challenges and other cognitive impairments. You can download the free software and tutorials, from the websites that are listed. If a website no longer works for some reason, search Google. Browse to look for updates and information. Use the latest versions for the best experiences with your computer. Updates are usually needed to work with the newest Windows. All of these programs are free for personal use. Most are also free for business and school use. See the websites.
Cautions: These programs are tested and reasonably safe. However with your computer and its unique combination of software and updates, nothing is certain. Please ask a computer-expert friend for more information and direct assistance. Ask that person to help you make a full backup, before adding more software to your computer. This will also help save you from future virus attacks. See below for a free backup solution. Check the programs’ websites for the latest information, for your computer system.
NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) Screen Reader – Free at www.nvda-project.org
A full screen reader that works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. NVDA is from Australia. It adds speech to Windows and its menus, and to Microsoft programs like WordPad and Word. Other software may or may not work with NVDA. NVDA adds the free eSpeak speech synthesizer to Windows. The NVDA menus allow many choices for how it starts with Windows, such as starting it automatically or like a regular program. NVDA is very responsive. It also has a Flash Drive version.
Thunder Screen Reader – Free at www.ScreenReader.net
A full screen reader that works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Thunder is from Britain. By default, Thunder is set to run automatically when you start Windows. The new version for Windows 7 does not allow choices to how it starts when Windows starts. Thunder adds speech to Windows and its menus, and to Microsoft programs like WordPad and Word. Other software may or may not work with Thunder. Thunder uses the speech sounds that come with Windows. It also has a Flash Drive version.
Narrator - free basic screen reader that comes with Windows. It has fewer features.
To use Windows Narrator, start it with the Run command:
1. Hold down the Windows key (next to the Alt key), and type R.
2. Type NARRATOR and press the Enter key.
3. Narrator will start speaking.
4. You can choose different levels and types of speech.
WebbIE Text Browser (for Internet Explorer) – Free at www.Webbie.org.uk
Webbie is made to work with Internet Explorer, providing text menus instead of the usual visual items. WebbIE works with both NVDA and Thunder. WebbIE provides a text interface to Internet Explorer.
Using a Word Processor with Screen Readers.
The NVDA and Thunder screen readers work well with most functions in Microsoft Office. For a free word processor that works NVDA and Thunder, see Jarte, below.
Screen Readers do not work well with the Microsoft Works Suite, which comes free with many new computers. Screen readers also do not work with the free OpenOffice document suite, unless a variety of access adaptations are installed. These special installations are not screen-reader friendly. OpenOffice is being adapted to work well with screen readers, without a lot of special installations in the future. Go to the www.OpenOffice.org website for more information.
Jarte Word Processor - Free and with full features, from www.Jarte.com
The regular Jarte menus work well with NVDA and Thunder. Jarte includes a spell checker. Jarte works by using Windows WordPad. Since WordPad works with NVDA, Thunder or Narrator speech, Jarte also talks well. Jarte adds extra features to be a full word processor. For Jarte’s spell-check, type the F7 key. A popup window will appear, which does not automatically talk. See the Mouse Search method below.
The Mouse Search method – How to make a popup window talk.
Some programs’ popup windows will talk with a screen reader by using this method. (Note that with usable vision for a mouse pointer, you can just point it into the popup window, and skip to step 4.)
1. To hear some popup windows, use the mouse to search.
Use a scanning technique with the mouse,
like you might look for a dropped object in the dark.
Slowly scan with the mouse left and right.
2. Then move the mouse towards you a little bit,
and scan left and right again.
3. Repeat until the mouse pointer enters the popup window,
and you hear it speak. If that does not work,
try moving the mouse away from you as you scan
(which is towards the virtual “top” of the popup window).
4. Once the popup window talks, you can use the
up and down arrow keys to navigate with speech.
5. For some programs, the tab key helps navigate, and the space bar may select.
Magnify is a free screen magnifier that comes with Windows.
To use Windows magnifier, start it with the Run command:
1. Hold down the Windows key (next to the Alt key), and type R.
2. Type MAGNIFY and press the Enter key.
3. A magnifier bar will appear at the top of the screen, with a menu.
4. You can choose different levels of magnification.
5. You can make the magnifier window larger by dragging on an edge.
6. Your cursor will follow the text you type in many word processors.
7. The Windows magnifier can invert the colors (make opposite) as well.
8. To quit the magnifier, use the menu. Or, click on the magnifier bar with the right mouse button. Select Exit from the options.
Run command notes: School and Business computers may have the Run command deactivated, by the IT department. Ask them to enable the Run command. Alternative method - if you can use a mouse, Windows access programs are located in the Start button – Programs – Access – Accessibility menus.
More free software, for Windows XP and Vista computers –
some work with Windows 7 – check the websites:
Zip archive program, 7-Zip - at www.7-Zip.org
Create and open zip archives from the Internet and mail programs.
VideoLan player for videos and DVD’s - at www.VLCMediaPlayer.org
A full-feature video file and DVD player. It opens and plays most videos and media files. It works better than Windows Media Player. Its many features make it a challenge with screen readers, but it works OK. You can start and pause a video with the space bar.
AVG Anti-Virus – free for personal use, at www.FreeAVG.com
AVG works well with screen readers. Use AVG with Windows' built-in firewall.
TopOCR - at www.TopOCR.com
TopOCR is an Optical Character Recognition program. It converts pictures and scans of text into computer text. TopOCR works with screen readers if you use the Mouse Search method, above. Two popup windows open, one with the photo and one with the text. If you can aim a camera at a document (no sight is needed), and copy a phone's camera pictures to your Windows computer, you can use TopOCR. The computer text can then be saved into a text file, and used in Word, WordPad or Jarte. TopOCR is smart enough to ignore objects in photos without text.
TopOCR also works with images from a regular camera and from scanners, including fax machines with a computer connection. In other words, whatever imaging device you have, if you can make an image file and put it in a Windows computer, you can install the free TopOCR to produce computer text for your word processor, etc.
A YouTube video player that is easy to see to use for VI and CI people:
www.icant.co.uk/easy-youtube/
The following programs do not work well with screen readers. They may be suitable for people with usable vision.
OpenOffice - at www.OpenOffice.org
A full-feature document suite. OpenOffice can open and save Microsoft Word and other documents. It works like other document suites. It does not work well with screen readers at this time, but the program writers are gradually adding access – keep checking OpenOffice.org for more details. OpenOffice has an amazing number of features, all free.
IrfanView photo viewer and image editor - at www.IrfanView.com_
Photo viewer that can open most picture files. It also has some editing abilities, and has many extra features. It works better than Windows photo viewer.
Please backup your computer (free method for personal use):
Before using new software, make a full backup of your computer.
If any problems occur, you can restore the computer, its programs and your files.
Paragon Backup and Restore software – Free for personal use.
The latest version is at www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express
Paragon Partition Manager software – Free for personal use.
The latest version is at www.paragon-software.com/home/pm-express
With these, you can make a new section (partition) of your hard drive.
Then backup Windows, and save the backup file into the new section.
Otherwise you need to backup Windows to an external hard drive, or very large flash drive ($$).
The first time you do this, get the help of a computer-expert friend. Read the online documents carefully before using these programs.
When a virus attacks - Having a full backup can also save you when a
virus attacks. Then, you will need to buy Paragon’s full “System Backup” software ($30 at their website), to restore the computer with a boot-CD and your backup file. As said above, please get the help of a computer-expert friend if you have this kind of trouble.
The free Comodo Internet Security Suite (anti-virus with firewall): www.comodo.com
Many of these free programs are part of the Open Source movement. This is an exciting area of computer access. Please look at the websites for the latest information. Contribute your findings to ListServe groups and other social network services.
Link to Access Software Information:
www.accessible-devices.com/accessiblesoftware.html
Link to Access Software Information and Reviews:
www.accesswatch.info/review.php
For Learning and Orientation & Mobility
with the Internet and Cyberspace
Free access software is now available to use Windows computers with limited, or no vision. This software will also help many people with reading challenges and other cognitive impairments. You can download the free software and tutorials, from the websites that are listed. If a website no longer works for some reason, search Google. Browse to look for updates and information. Use the latest versions for the best experiences with your computer. Updates are usually needed to work with the newest Windows. All of these programs are free for personal use. Most are also free for business and school use. See the websites.
Cautions: These programs are tested and reasonably safe. However with your computer and its unique combination of software and updates, nothing is certain. Please ask a computer-expert friend for more information and direct assistance. Ask that person to help you make a full backup, before adding more software to your computer. This will also help save you from future virus attacks. See below for a free backup solution. Check the programs’ websites for the latest information, for your computer system.
NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) Screen Reader – Free at www.nvda-project.org
A full screen reader that works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. NVDA is from Australia. It adds speech to Windows and its menus, and to Microsoft programs like WordPad and Word. Other software may or may not work with NVDA. NVDA adds the free eSpeak speech synthesizer to Windows. The NVDA menus allow many choices for how it starts with Windows, such as starting it automatically or like a regular program. NVDA is very responsive. It also has a Flash Drive version.
Thunder Screen Reader – Free at www.ScreenReader.net
A full screen reader that works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Thunder is from Britain. By default, Thunder is set to run automatically when you start Windows. The new version for Windows 7 does not allow choices to how it starts when Windows starts. Thunder adds speech to Windows and its menus, and to Microsoft programs like WordPad and Word. Other software may or may not work with Thunder. Thunder uses the speech sounds that come with Windows. It also has a Flash Drive version.
Narrator - free basic screen reader that comes with Windows. It has fewer features.
To use Windows Narrator, start it with the Run command:
1. Hold down the Windows key (next to the Alt key), and type R.
2. Type NARRATOR and press the Enter key.
3. Narrator will start speaking.
4. You can choose different levels and types of speech.
WebbIE Text Browser (for Internet Explorer) – Free at www.Webbie.org.uk
Webbie is made to work with Internet Explorer, providing text menus instead of the usual visual items. WebbIE works with both NVDA and Thunder. WebbIE provides a text interface to Internet Explorer.
Using a Word Processor with Screen Readers.
The NVDA and Thunder screen readers work well with most functions in Microsoft Office. For a free word processor that works NVDA and Thunder, see Jarte, below.
Screen Readers do not work well with the Microsoft Works Suite, which comes free with many new computers. Screen readers also do not work with the free OpenOffice document suite, unless a variety of access adaptations are installed. These special installations are not screen-reader friendly. OpenOffice is being adapted to work well with screen readers, without a lot of special installations in the future. Go to the www.OpenOffice.org website for more information.
Jarte Word Processor - Free and with full features, from www.Jarte.com
The regular Jarte menus work well with NVDA and Thunder. Jarte includes a spell checker. Jarte works by using Windows WordPad. Since WordPad works with NVDA, Thunder or Narrator speech, Jarte also talks well. Jarte adds extra features to be a full word processor. For Jarte’s spell-check, type the F7 key. A popup window will appear, which does not automatically talk. See the Mouse Search method below.
The Mouse Search method – How to make a popup window talk.
Some programs’ popup windows will talk with a screen reader by using this method. (Note that with usable vision for a mouse pointer, you can just point it into the popup window, and skip to step 4.)
1. To hear some popup windows, use the mouse to search.
Use a scanning technique with the mouse,
like you might look for a dropped object in the dark.
Slowly scan with the mouse left and right.
2. Then move the mouse towards you a little bit,
and scan left and right again.
3. Repeat until the mouse pointer enters the popup window,
and you hear it speak. If that does not work,
try moving the mouse away from you as you scan
(which is towards the virtual “top” of the popup window).
4. Once the popup window talks, you can use the
up and down arrow keys to navigate with speech.
5. For some programs, the tab key helps navigate, and the space bar may select.
Magnify is a free screen magnifier that comes with Windows.
To use Windows magnifier, start it with the Run command:
1. Hold down the Windows key (next to the Alt key), and type R.
2. Type MAGNIFY and press the Enter key.
3. A magnifier bar will appear at the top of the screen, with a menu.
4. You can choose different levels of magnification.
5. You can make the magnifier window larger by dragging on an edge.
6. Your cursor will follow the text you type in many word processors.
7. The Windows magnifier can invert the colors (make opposite) as well.
8. To quit the magnifier, use the menu. Or, click on the magnifier bar with the right mouse button. Select Exit from the options.
Run command notes: School and Business computers may have the Run command deactivated, by the IT department. Ask them to enable the Run command. Alternative method - if you can use a mouse, Windows access programs are located in the Start button – Programs – Access – Accessibility menus.
More free software, for Windows XP and Vista computers –
some work with Windows 7 – check the websites:
Zip archive program, 7-Zip - at www.7-Zip.org
Create and open zip archives from the Internet and mail programs.
VideoLan player for videos and DVD’s - at www.VLCMediaPlayer.org
A full-feature video file and DVD player. It opens and plays most videos and media files. It works better than Windows Media Player. Its many features make it a challenge with screen readers, but it works OK. You can start and pause a video with the space bar.
AVG Anti-Virus – free for personal use, at www.FreeAVG.com
AVG works well with screen readers. Use AVG with Windows' built-in firewall.
TopOCR - at www.TopOCR.com
TopOCR is an Optical Character Recognition program. It converts pictures and scans of text into computer text. TopOCR works with screen readers if you use the Mouse Search method, above. Two popup windows open, one with the photo and one with the text. If you can aim a camera at a document (no sight is needed), and copy a phone's camera pictures to your Windows computer, you can use TopOCR. The computer text can then be saved into a text file, and used in Word, WordPad or Jarte. TopOCR is smart enough to ignore objects in photos without text.
TopOCR also works with images from a regular camera and from scanners, including fax machines with a computer connection. In other words, whatever imaging device you have, if you can make an image file and put it in a Windows computer, you can install the free TopOCR to produce computer text for your word processor, etc.
A YouTube video player that is easy to see to use for VI and CI people:
www.icant.co.uk/easy-youtube/
The following programs do not work well with screen readers. They may be suitable for people with usable vision.
OpenOffice - at www.OpenOffice.org
A full-feature document suite. OpenOffice can open and save Microsoft Word and other documents. It works like other document suites. It does not work well with screen readers at this time, but the program writers are gradually adding access – keep checking OpenOffice.org for more details. OpenOffice has an amazing number of features, all free.
IrfanView photo viewer and image editor - at www.IrfanView.com_
Photo viewer that can open most picture files. It also has some editing abilities, and has many extra features. It works better than Windows photo viewer.
Please backup your computer (free method for personal use):
Before using new software, make a full backup of your computer.
If any problems occur, you can restore the computer, its programs and your files.
Paragon Backup and Restore software – Free for personal use.
The latest version is at www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express
Paragon Partition Manager software – Free for personal use.
The latest version is at www.paragon-software.com/home/pm-express
With these, you can make a new section (partition) of your hard drive.
Then backup Windows, and save the backup file into the new section.
Otherwise you need to backup Windows to an external hard drive, or very large flash drive ($$).
The first time you do this, get the help of a computer-expert friend. Read the online documents carefully before using these programs.
When a virus attacks - Having a full backup can also save you when a
virus attacks. Then, you will need to buy Paragon’s full “System Backup” software ($30 at their website), to restore the computer with a boot-CD and your backup file. As said above, please get the help of a computer-expert friend if you have this kind of trouble.
The free Comodo Internet Security Suite (anti-virus with firewall): www.comodo.com
Many of these free programs are part of the Open Source movement. This is an exciting area of computer access. Please look at the websites for the latest information. Contribute your findings to ListServe groups and other social network services.
Link to Access Software Information:
www.accessible-devices.com/accessiblesoftware.html
Link to Access Software Information and Reviews:
www.accesswatch.info/review.php