Our Quickstart Guides are intended to get you started with various assistive technologies.
Free Assistive Technology
Free Reading Tools
- NaturalReader
- A free text to speech software with natural sounding voices. This software can convert written text into spoken words.
Free Screen Adjustment Software
Windows
- WindowShades – free screen tinting software
- SS Overlay Installer Download (with CSU Login) – free screen tinting software
- Morphic – free magnification, screen tinting, and more
- How to use Night Light for Windows (external) – free built-in blue light blocking software
Mac
- Color Filters for Mac (external) – built-in screen tinting software for Mac (Catalina OS only)
- Morphic – free magnification, screen tinting, and more
- How to use Night Shift for Mac (external) – free built-in blue light blocking software for Mac
Free Note-Taking Tools
- Voice Record Pro – Apple Store
- OneNote
- Free to students (as part of Microsoft 365)
- A note-taking software through Microsoft Office that allows the user to create multiple digital “notebooks” to develop and organize notes, video, and audio recordings.
- OneNote for Windows 10 Quick Start (2019) Word
- Otter.ai
- Browser-based software that generates real-time transcription for audio. This is especially useful for classes held in programs like Zoom, when live captions are not available.
- The free version has a time limit. If you find it helpful and need the time limit lifted, contact the ATRC.
- Accuracy may not be sufficient for a hearing accommodation
- Otter.ai (2021) Word
- Otter.ai (2021) PDF
Free Writing Tools
- Writing Tools for All – 2020 (PDF)
- Writing Tools for All – 2020 (Word)
- Simple Mind
- Price: Free, upgrade -$5.99
- A mind-mapping app that allows you to brainstorm, structure your thoughts, and collect ideas. You can create new topics, reconnect topics, and change colors and borders for more visual style.
- Grammarly
- Software that provides writing enhancement for spelling, grammar, and proofreading. The program makes in-line suggestions and provides explanations and examples for proofreading and style.
Free Time Management & Organization Tools
- Asana
- A project management software for organizing tasks, projects, and calendars. The basic plan is free and includes up to 15 users in a team.
- Dropbox
- A cloud storage system for organizing files and important sites.
- Evernote
- A note-taking and organization app for managing documents, files, and tasks.
- Google Keep
- An app that allows users to create notes and lists, check off completed items, set time and place reminders, dictate thoughts, add pictures, and color notes.
- Microsoft To Do
- A cloud-based task-management software that allows users to manage their tasks from a smartphone, tablet, computer, or smartwatch.
- Trello
- A cloud-based organization system available on browser and mobile app. Trello utilizes visual elements for creating custom lists, tasks, and projects.
Free Virtual Meeting Tools
Technology by Academic & Work Tasks
Reading
Windows and Mac
- ReadSpeaker for Canvas (2022 Pilot)
- Reading e-Textbooks with AT (2019) Word
- Reading Tools for All – 2023 (Word)
- Kurzweil 3000 v.16 for Windows (2020) Word
- Kurzweil 3000 v.16 for Windows (2020) PDF
- Kurzweil Online (2020) Word
- Kurzweil Online (2020) PDF
- Read&Write 12 Essentials for PC & Mac (2020) Word
- Read&Write 12 Essentials for PC & Mac (2020) PDF
Windows
- Balabolka (2015) Word
- Balabolka (2015) PDF
- Central Access Reader (2015) Word
- Central Access Reader (2015) PDF
- EasyReader 6.02 (2012) Word
- EasyReader 6.02 (2012) PDF
- NaturalReader 13 (2015) Word
- NaturalReader 13 (2015) PDF
- OCR with Various AT (2017) Word
- OCR with Various AT (2017) PDF
- SSOverlay (2012) Word
- SSOverlay (2012) PDF
- Vu-Bar 4.5 (2013) Word
- Vu-Bar 4.5 (2013) PDF
- WindowShades (2023)
Mac
Hardware
Writing
- Writing Tools for All – 2020 (PDF)
- Writing Tools for All – 2020 (Word)
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 (2014) Word
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 13 (2014) PDF
- Grammarly (2018) Word
- Grammarly (2018) PDF
- Inspiration 9.0 (2010) PDF
- Kurzweil 3000 v.16 for Windows (2020) Word
- Kurzweil 3000 v.16 for Windows (2020) PDF
- Kurzweil Online (2020) Word
- Kurzweil Online (2020) PDF
- Read&Write 12 Essentials for PC & Mac (2020) Word
- Read&Write 12 Essentials for PC & Mac (2020) PDF
- WordQ 4 (2021) Word
Note-Taking
Studying
Time Management and Organization
Technology for Participation
Low Vision & Blindness
Screen Modifications
- IE Access Max (2016) Word
- IE Access Max (2016) PDF
- Kurzweil 3000 v.16 for Windows (2020) Word
- Kurzweil 3000 v.16 for Windows (2020) PDF
- Morphic
- RapidSet (2016) Word
- RapidSet (2016) PDF
- Read&Write 12 Essentials for PC & Mac (2020) Word
- Read&Write 12 Essentials for PC & Mac (2020) PDF
- SSOverlay (2012) Word
- SSOverlay (2012) PDF
- Technology for Scotopic Sensitivity (2013) Word
- Technology for Scotopic Sensitivity (2013) PDF
- Vu-Bar 4.5 (2013) Word
- Vu-Bar 4.5 (2013) PDF
- Windows 10 Screen Modifications (2018) Word
- WindowShades (2023)
- ZoomText 10 (2013) Word
- ZoomText 10 (2013) PDF
Mobile & Cloud Apps
iOS
Android
- Android Built-in Accessibility Features (2018) Word
- Android Built-in Accessibility Features (2018) PDF
- Top Android Apps for Academic Success (2019) Word
- Top Android Apps for Academic Success (2019) PDF
- Top Android Apps for Workplace Success (2019) Word
- Top Android Apps for Workplace Success (2019) PDF
Google Chrome
Built-in Electronic Accessibility
Inclusive & Accessible Electronic Content
- Creating Accessible STEM Content using InftyReader and MathType (2015) Word
- Creating Accessible STEM Content using InftyReader and MathType (2015) PDF
- Adobe InDesign (External Link)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (External Link)
- Microsoft Word (External Link)
- Multimedia (External Link)
- PDF (External Link)
- Purchasing Technology (External Link)
- Web Content (External Link)
- Web Design & Development (External Link)
Operating System Accessibility
- Android Built-in Accessibility Features (2018) Word
- Android Built-in Accessibility Features (2018) PDF
- iOS Accessibility Features (External)
- Mac OS Accessibility Built-Ins (External)
- Microsoft 365 Built-Ins – 2021 (Word)
- Microsoft 365 Built-Ins – 2021 (PDF)
- Windows 10 Accessibility Built-Ins (2019) PDF
- Windows 10 Screen Modifications (2018) Word
- Windows 8 Accessibility Built-Ins (2014) Word
- Windows 8 Accessibility Built-Ins (2014) PDF
- Windows 7 Accessibility Built-Ins (2012) PDF
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
- Windows Logo – Display or hide the Start menu
- Windows Logo + BREAK – Display the system properties dialog box
- Windows Logo + D – Display the desktop
- Windows Logo + M – Minimize all of the windows
- Windows Logo + Shift + M – Restore minimized windows
- Windows Logo + E – Open My Computer
- Windows Logo + F – Search for a file or folder
- Ctrl + Windows Logo + F – Search for computers
- Windows Logo + F1 – Lock the keyboard
- Windows Logo + R – Open the Run dialog box
- Windows Logo + U – Open Utility Manager
- F1 – Gives help on the active window or selected item
- F2 – Rename the selected itemF3Search for a file or folder
- F4 – Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer
- F5 – Update the active window
- F6 – Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop
- Alt + F4 – View the properties for the selected item
- Ctrl + Esc – Display the Start menu
- Ctrl + F6 – Opens the next document window in the active application
- Tab – Forward 1 item
- Shift + Tab – Backward 1 item
- Alt + Tab – Cycle through Windows
- Ctrl + Tab – Cycle through tabs/child windows
Word Processing Keyboard Shortcuts
- Ctrl + Left – Move cursor to beginning of previous word
- Ctrl + Right – Move cursor to beginning of next word
- Ctrl + Up – Move cursor to beginning of previous paragraph
- Ctrl + Down – Move cursor to beginning of next paragraph
- Shift + Left – Highlight one character to the left
- Shift + Right – Highlight one character to the right
- Shift + Up – Highlight from current cursor position, to one line up
- Shift + Down – Highlight from current cursor position to one line down
- Home – Move cursor to top of scrollable bar
- End – Move cursor to bottom of scrollable control
- CTRL + C – Copy selection to clipboard
- CTRL + X – Cut selection
- CTRL + V – Paste from clipboard
- CTRL + Z – Undo previous action
- CTRL + B – Bold
- CTRL + U – Underline
- CTRL + I – Italics
- CTRL + S – Save
- CTRL + O – Open…
- CTRL + N – New…
- CTRL + A – Select all
- CTRL + F – Find
- CTRL + F4 – Close tab or child window
- F1 – Help
- F11 – Full Screen
- Alt or F10 – Activates menu bar
- Alt + Space – System Menu
Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
- Arrow Keys – Navigate
- Shift + Arrow Keys – Select multiple items
- Ctrl + Arrow Keys – Change focus without changing selection.
- (Letter) – Select first found item that begins with that letter
- Backspace – Navigates up one level to the parent directory
- Alt + Left – Go back one folder
- Alt + Right – Go forward one folder
- Alt + Enter – View properties of selected item(s)
- F2 – Rename selected item(s)
- F7 – New folder
- Ctrl + NumpadPlus – Resizes all columns to fit the longest item in each one
- Shift + Delete – Delete selected item(s); bypass Recycle Bin
- Ctrl (while dragging item(s)) – Copy
- Ctrl + Shift (while dragging items) – Create shortcut(s)
Mozilla Firefox Keyboard Shortcuts
- Ctrl + Tab or Ctrl + PageDown – Cycle through tabs
- Ctrl + Shift + Tab or Ctrl + Page – UpCycle through tabs in reverse
- Ctrl + (1-9) – Switch tab corresponding to number
- Ctrl + N – New window
- Ctrl + T – New tab
- Ctrl + L or Alt + D or F6 – Switch focus to location bar
- Ctrl + Enter – Open location in new tab
- Shift + Enter – Open location in new window
- Ctrl + K or Ctrl + E – Switch focus to search bar
- Ctrl + O – Open a local file
- Ctrl + W – Close tab or window (if there’s only one window open)
- Ctrl + Shift + W – Close Window
- Ctrl + S – Save page as a local file
- Ctrl + P – Print
- Ctrl + F or F3 – Find
- Ctrl + G or F3 – Find next…
- Ctrl + Shift + G or Shift + F3 – Find previous…
- Ctrl + B or Ctrl + I – Open bookmarks sidebar
- Ctrl + H – Opens history sidebar
- Esc – Stop loading page
- Ctrl + R or F5 – Reload
- Ctrl + Shift + R or Ctrl F5 – Reload current page; bypass cache
- Ctrl + U – View page source
- Ctrl + D – Bookmark current page
- Ctrl + NumpadPlus or Ctrl + Equals (+/=) – Increase text size
- Ctrl + NumpadMinus or Ctrl + Minus – Decrease text size
- Ctrl + Numpad0 or Ctrl + 0 – Default text size
- Alt + Left or Backspace – Back
- Alt + Right or Shift + Backspace – Forward
- Alt + Home – Opens homepage
- Ctrl + M – Opens new message in integrated mail client
- Ctrl + J – Opens downloads dialog
- F6 – Switch to next frame. You must have selected something on the page already, e.g. by use of Tab.
- Shift + F6 – Previous frame
- Apostrophe (‘) – Find link as you type
- Slash (/) – Find text as you type
Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts
- C – Compose new message
- Shift + C – Open new window to compose new message
- Slash (/) – Switch focus to search box
- K – Switch focus to the next oldest email
- J – Switch focus to next oldest mail
- N – Switch focus to the next message in the “conversation” Enter or “O” expands/collapses messages
- P – Switch focus to previous message
- U – Takes you back to the inbox and checks for new mail
- Y – Various actions depending on current view. Has no effect in “Sent” and “All Mail” views. Inbox: Archive email or message Starred; Unstar email or message Spam; Unmark as spam and move back to “Inbox” Trash; Move back to “Inbox” Any label; Remove the label
- X – “Check” an email. Various actions can be performed against all checked emails
- S – “Star” an email. Identical to the more familiar term “flagging”
- R – Reply to the email
- A – Reply to all recipients of the email
- F – Forward an email
- Shift + R – Reply to the email in a new window
- Shift + A – Reply to all recipients of the email in a new window
- Shift + F – Forward an email in a new window
- Shift + 1 (!) – Mark an email as spam and remove it from the inbox
- G then I – Switch to “Inbox” view
- G then S – Switch to “Starred” view
- G then A – Switch to “All Mail” view
- G then C – Switch to “Contacts” view