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Accessibility

Information on how the Library supports accessibility and inclusivity.

What assistive software is available?

Not sure which software to use? We have added the following categories to the software descriptions. 

Listen to your computer: text-to-speech and screen readers
Speak to your computer: speech-to-text, dictation and controlling the computer using your voice
Vision: magnify your screen, enhance mouse pointers and cursors, highlighting, screenreading
 Productivity, planning and organisation: literacy tools, mindmapping, digital voice recorders and audio editing.

ABBYY FineReader

Description: OCR (Optical character recognition) software for scanning and reformatting documents so they can be used with assistive software.

Location: Northampton Square ATC PC 04, AT Room 1, AT Room 2. Law Library ATR.

Caption.ed

With Caption.ed, you can have instant captions, downloadable transcripts and effortless note-taking. The Caption.ed website has an overview and a video of the features. 

Caption.ed provides machine-generated captions and transcripts on the go. The tool can follow user activity from a YouTube tutorial to a lecture capture recording, and then on to a Microsoft Teams meeting.  

Students and staff at other Universities recommend the tool's use to assist and support with study. City’s Disability and Neurodiversity Team is piloting a limited number of licences from September 2022. 

Dragon

Description: Speech-to-text / dictation / voice recognition application to transcribe your spoken words into written text or control the computer using your voice. The software may be useful for student with RSI, permanent or temporarily reduced mobility, visual impairment, dyslexia and specific learning differences.

Guides: Videos, cheat sheets and user guides can be found on the  Dragon Support webpage.

Location: Northampton Square ATC. Business School Library AT computers (for transcribing only in open areas). Law Library ATR.

Category: Speak to your computer

Glean

Description: Glean (previously Audio Notetaker) is a web-based app designed to help with note taking. It is visual and interactive. Audio recordings, text and slides can be combined to create effective notes.

Guides: The Glean skills portal can help you get the most out of the software.

Location: Limited licences are available for the web-based app. On referral from Student Health and Wellbeing.

Category: Productivity, planning and organisation.

JAWS

Description: Screen reader. A screen reader is a software application which converts text to synthesised speech output, allowing users to listen to all applications and content on their computer. JAWS is a powerful screen reader for blind and visually impaired computer users.

Location: Northampton Square ATC, Northampton Square All Library Level 2 pcs. Business School Library 1002 all pcs. Law Library ATR, T131 Computer Lab All pcs.

Guides: 

Category: Vision  Listen to your computer

MindGenius

Description: Mind mapping is a visual form of note making. Mind mapping can help you:

  • Create an overview of a topic.
  • Explore or break down an idea, concept, or problem and identify relationships and connections.
  • Create revision plans with the use of colour and images to help recall information.
  • Plan, structure and organise assignments and other written work.
  • Manage projects and tasks and create Gantt charts.

Mind Genius contains some useful study skills and project management templates to help build your map.

Guides: Mind Genius resources include 'how to' guides, templates and training.

Location:  All City student computers. Available remotely through Apps Anywhere, login to VPN required. Find out how to open and launch AppsAnywhere.

  • You must be connected to the VPN before you login to AppsAnywhere to be able to use MindGenius.
  • If your apps are inactive for 30 days or more, they will be removed. Please start a new session from the AppsAnywhere portal.

Category: Productivity, planning and organisation.

Open Book

Description: For use with PEARL scanner which can be borrowed from the Library Help Desk at Northampton Square. Portable scanner and text-to-speech package.The PEARL and Open Book software brings blind and low vision users instant portable access to printed material with an array of human-sounding voices. The folding camera deploys in seconds to connect to your PC and snap a picture of your reading material.

Guides: PEARL and Open Book documentation.

Location: Northampton Square ATC PC 1, ATC Room 1.

Category: Vision  Listen to your computer

Read&Write

Description: A collection of tools to support your reading and writing. Hear documents read out loud, text prediction, screen masking and summary highlighters.

Guides: Videos, training and guides can be found on TextHelp's training pages. If you are using the desktop version on your own pc, you may need to install a browser extension for the software to work with web content.

Location: All City student computers.

Category:  Productivity, planning and organisation.  Listen to your computer.

ZoomText

Description: ZoomText Magnifier/Reader is a fully integrated magnification and reading program tailored for low-vision users. Magnifier/Reader enlarges and enhances everything on your computer screen, echoes your typing and essential program activity, and automatically reads documents, web pages, email.

Guides: ZoomText Training

Location: Northampton Square ATC, Northampton Square All Library Level 2 pcs. Business School Library 1002 all pcs. Law Library ATR, T131 Computer Lab All pcs.

Category: Vision  Listen to your computer

Where can I find assistive software?

All City PCs

Read&Write and MindGenius are available on all students Windows PCs at City, you can access the software from the programmes menu or from the Windows search box.

Selected Library Computer Rooms

ZoomText and JAWS are available on all PCs in the following Library areas: 

  • Northampton Square Level 2
  • Law Library Computer Lab T131
  • Business Library 1002

You can access the software from the desktop shortcut or via the programmes menu or Windows search box.

Assistive Technology PCs

Dedicated Assistive Technology PCs are available at each Library location and contain a wider range of software. See the list below for more details.

The ATC at Northampton Square is on Level 2 of the Library, University Building. There are two Assistive Technology computers at the Business School Library in Lab 1002, The ATR Law Library is on Level 1.

You can access the software from the desktop shortcut or via the programmes menu or Windows search box.