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.

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.
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 toolbar Moving the Toolbar
Docking the Toolbar
Voice Selection
Reading Web Pages Reading Other Applications
The Word Trail Feature
Focus Sentence Feature Font Features
Spacing Features
Homophones Tutorial Text Checking Tutorial
Word Prediction
Check Anywhere Feature Word Definitions Tooltips
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.