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IT Services

Software for people with Dyslexia

Inspiration mind mapping software

Inspiration, a mind mapping tool, is installed on all of the ITS workstation room PCs. Mind maps are designed to help organise thoughts and ideas. Using a visual technique (containing ideas within thought bubbles) ideas can be added rapidly and then moved and sorted. Images and web-links can be used and the ideas linked to each other using arrows. A structure begins to develop. Once the structure has been refined Inspiration can automatically create a hierarchy of headings which can be imported into Word to form the backbone for an essay or dissertation.

 To start the program go to the Start Menu, select  Assistive Technology, select Inspiration.

mind map created with inspiration

 

Inspiration Starter Manualword format

ClaroRead

ClaroRead is a reading and writing tool that reads documents, emails and web pages aloud.  ClaroRead can be used with a scanner to scan printed material into a Word document - the text can then be read out loud and saved as a sound file for listening to later. ClaroRead also provides homophone and spell checking and dictionary facilities. ClaroView (part of the ClaroRead Extras) washes the screen in your preferred colour and ClaroCapture assists in collecting highlighted and selected text from the Internet or documents and automatically references the content. ClaroRead is currently installed on all of the ITS workstation room PCs. There are scanners attached to the PCs in room 411 and in the Library Assistive Technology Centre.

To start the program go to the Start Menu, select Assistive Technology, select ClaroRead Plus.

Claro Read toolbar

There are a series of training videos created by ClaroRead which explain how the different functions work. Select the links below to view the videos:

The toolbarvideo format     Moving the Toolbarvideo format     Docking the Toolbarvideo format      Voice Selectionvideo format 

Reading Web Pagesvideo format      Reading Other Applicationsvideo format     The Word Trail Featurevideo format 

Focus Sentence Featurevideo format     Font Featuresvideo format     Spacing Featuresvideo format 

Homophones Tutorialvideo format     Text Checking Tutorialvideo format     Word Predictionvideo format

Check Anywhere Featurevideo format    Word Definitions Tooltipsvideo format

If you need a demonstration on the above software or advice on how it may help you, contact:

Assistive Technology Support, disit@bbk.ac.uk Tel: 020 7079 0717.

 

 

 
IT Services, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, Telephone: 020 7631 6543, Fax: 020 7631 6556.
Please report any problems with the ITS web site to its-web@bbk.ac.uk.