App Information
Apps are programs installed directly on a mobile device. While many are free, paid options are typically low-cost. They cover a wide range of functions, from games and word processing to a massive selection of educational tools. Because apps are specific to individual operating systems, they must be downloaded through an online marketplace, such as the Apple App Store for iOS of Google Play for Android.
We strive to keep our app information as current as possible. If you notice an error in this listing or would like to share feedback regarding an app, please contact plabella@necc.mass.edu.
Built-In Accessibility Features in Mobile Device Operating Systems
Mobile applications are powerful tools for building inclusive digital learning environments under the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. By offering flexible options for representation, expression, and engagement, apps can be tailored to meet diverse student needs, even when performing identical core functions.
The following app categories are especially valuable for supporting learners with disabilities:
- Calendars and Task Lists
Assist students with dyslexia or executive functioning challenges by tracking assignments and organizing schedules. Many options sync directly with email platforms like Microsoft Outlook.
- Communication Tools
Enable affordable visual and vocal connection over Wi-Fi. For non-verbal learners or those with limited speech, specialized Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps provide a highly cost-effective alternative to dedicated, expensive hardware.
- GPS and Mapping
Power location-based search and directional guidance to help users navigate their surroundings. GPS also enables augmented reality tools, such as real-time overlays that identify constellations in the night sky.
- Note-Taking
Allow learners to capture, review, and organize information at their own pace. Cloud-based synchronization across multiple devices ensures students can access the most up-to-date versions of their coursework from anywhere.
- Speech Recognition
Eliminates the physical barriers of small screens and keyboards for users with motor or visual impairments. Built-in voice recognition on Android and iOS lets students dictate emails, write messages, and navigate device functions completely hands-free.
- Text-to-Speech (TTS)
Converts digital text into spoken audio. This tool is crucial for students with dyslexia or visual impairments, as well as auditory learners who comprehend material better by listening.
- Specialized Utilities
Target specific accessibility needs by utilizing mainstream hardware features. For example, specialized iOS and Android tools use the device camera to identify and audibly read aloud paper currency values for visually impaired individuals.
Free or Low Cost Apps for College Students
Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed for the blind and low vision community. Harnesses the power of AI to open up the visual world and describe nearby people, text, and objects. Not currently available on Android.
Envision AI the free app uses your smartphone’s camera, to speak out written information, describe surroundings and objects, and even tell you who’s nearby. Available on iOS and Android devices.
Be My Eyes works by pairing the blind or low-vision user with a sighted volunteer and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call. Based on language and timezone.
NowNav is a navigation and orientation aid. It provides turn-by-turn directions and information about your surroundings. NowNav was developed by the blind, for the blind.
Voice Dream Reader is an accessible reading tool. Has advanced text-to-speech and a highly configurable screen layout. It can be tailored to suit every reading style from completely auditory to completely visual, plus synchronized combination of both.
Nearby Explorer Online is a free outdoor and indoor location app designed for use b people who are blind. It supports onboard maps from OpenStreetMap, and can optionally augment these maps with online data from Google Places or Foursquare.
Hamilton CapTel app is designed exclusively for individuals who have difficulty hearing over the telephone. With this app, you may listen to our phone conversations while reading word-for-word captions of what’s said to you – similar to captions on TV.
ASL Dictionary 5,200 Signs is the most complete ASL American Sign Language Video Dictionary. Translate English into ASL, from A-Z, plus the entire numerical system, common English phrases, symbols, and much more.
Pedius is a communication system that allows Deaf and Hard of Hearing people to make phone calls using speech recognition and synthesis technologies. Type your message and Pedius will send it to the contact that you choose, using an artificial voice.
Actiview is the all-in-one app for assistive and accessible content for movies at the theater or in your home! It works everywhere the movie is playing, without any setup required.
Ava acts as a portable translator. An individual who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing engaging another person in a conversation just needs to hold the phone up to the person with whom they’re speaking, and the application translates the speech into text.
Microsoft OneNote is a digital note taking app that provides a single place for keeping all of your notes, research, plans, and information. It is available free to all students as part of Office 365.
AudioNote takes notes with recorded audio. Combines the functionality of note taking and voice recording. It syncs notes and audio, highlights your text, drawings, and photos during playback. You can add notes later to recording.
Notability is for note taking, planning/organization, and voice recording. Audio recordings sync to a written note or document. Also supports annotation of PDF documents, PowerPoints, Word documents, and has a variety of advanced word processing features.
Evernote is a note taking app designed to collect and organize text, pictures, videos and audio recordings. Write, collect and capture ideas as searchable notes, notebooks, checklists and to-do lists. Can be sync with your phone, tablet and computer.
Otter.ai is a smart note taking app that empowers you to remember, search, and share your voice conversations. Otter creates smart voice notes that combine audio transcriptions, speaker identification, inline photos, and key phrases.
Simplenote is a note taking app that focuses on pure, streamlined simplicity. Can also export notes as text documents.
Finish is the app for procrastinators. Tool for helping students imagine the steps they need to take to complete a project and then remember to stick to a timeline.
Flashcard Deluxe is an easy to use powerful flashcard app which you can use to study just abut anything. Integration with Quizlet.com where you can browse and download already created study flashcards.
Quizlet is a customizable study tool. Create customizable sets using terms and definitions relating to virtually any subject.
MyStudyLife is an online student planner that enables you to keep tack of all your classes, tasks, assignments and exams – anywhere, on any device.
Bubbl.us helps you organize your ideas visually in a way that makes sense to you and others. Free for unlimited use but there is a cost for the premium version.
Forest is a productivity app that helps you stay focused on the important things in life. Whenever you want to stay focused, plant a tree. Your tree will grow while you focus on your work. Leaving the app halfway will cause your tree to die.
iStudiez Pro lets you enter standard course details, add instructors, office hours, phone number and email address. Send reminders and alarms for class time and assignments. Keep track of grades and GPA.
Brainscape provides services including electronic flashcards, various student codes, collaborative editing tools, and teacher dashboards.
Todoist helps you to easily organize and prioritize your tasks and projects so you’ll always know exactly what to work on next. Free to use.
NaturalReader converts PDF files, MS Word documents, and e-books into spoken words. Free version allow only 100 minutes of listening before interruption.
Read&Write is a literacy support tool that offers help with everyday tasks like reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words, researching assignments and proofing written work.
Voice Dream Reader is an accessible reading tool. Has advanced text-to-speech and a highly configurable screen layout. It can be tailored to suit every reading style from completely auditory to completely visual, plus synchronized combination of both.
Speechify lets you listen to docs, articles, PDFs, email, and various other formats – anything you read.
Rewordify.com is powerful, free, online software that simplifies difficult English. No software to install.
Grammarly is a writing assistant. It checks for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors and it enhances vocabulary usage.
Inspiration Maps is a visual thinking and learning app. Build beautiful diagrams, graphic organizers and outlines with ease.
Read&Write is a literacy support tool that offers help with everyday tasks like reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words, researching assignments and proofing written work.
Voice Dream Writer has text-to-speech proofreading which helps reduce mistakes, phonetic and meaning search helps you use the right words, and an active outline helps you organize and improve the structure of your writing.
Dictionary.com is a digital dictionary.
Dictionary-Merriam Webster is a digital dictionary and contains synonyms and antonyms, example sentences or words, a word of the day and a scrolling index that lets you browse the entire dictionary.
EasyBib allows you to automatically create citations for our bibliography in seconds.
Spellex Increase your medical spelling accuracy and productivity with the Spellex Medical Keyboard and Spell Checker. The application adds more than 150,000 medical terms and integrates seamlessly with most applications including Notes, Email, Messages, Browsers, Third Party Apps , and much more.
SpeechTexter is a free multilingual speech-to-text application aimed at assisting you with transcription of notes, documents, books, reports or blog posts by using your voice. This app also features a customizable voice commands list, allowing users to add punctuation marks, frequently used phrases, and some app actions (undo, redo, make a new paragraph).
Life Reminders reminds you of stuff when you tell it to. For instance, if you have to call someone at 11:00AM, the app will remind you and you can tap on the notification to place the call right then.
MyHomeWork (Student Planner) is for students who have trouble remembering due dates. Simply enter in your assignments for each class, and the app will help you track them.
Qcard is a life changing app for those living with memory and cognitive impairments. Create Qcards by shaking phone. Receive constant alerts when a Qcard is due so you never miss another reminder. A free 30-day trial is available.
1Password remembers all your passwords and other sensitive information.
iStudiez Pro lets you enter standard course details, add instructors, office hours, phone number and email address. Send reminders and alarms for class time and assignments. Keep track of grades and GPA.
Aura helps you to reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and sleep better using daily mindfulness meditation, life coaching, stories, and more. Aura learns about you by asking questions.
BoosterBuddy helps you manage your personal wellness journey and earn achievements as your sidekick guides you through a series of daily quests designed to establish and sustain positive habits.
Mindshift CBT provides help for anxiety relief for teens and young adults.
Smiling Mind helps you develop skills to manage your mind more effectively using the tool of mindfulness and in doing so support stress management, develop focus, and increase connections within life at work and at home.
Headspace is the simple way to reframe stress. Meditation creates the ideal conditions for a good night’s rest. Relax with guided meditations and mindfulness techniques that bring calm, wellness and balance to your life in just a few minutes a day.
Relax Melodies: Sleep Sounds lets you select sounds and melodies you like, combine them and adjust the volume of each sound to create a mix. Add meditation specially designed for sleep, lay back, listen, and enjoy falling asleep.
MyLife helps you find peace anywhere. It allows you to check in with your emotions, and recommends short guided medications, yoga and acupressure videos, tuned to how you feel.
Calm is the #1 app for mindfulness and meditation to bring more clarity, joy and peace to your daily life. Calm is the perfect meditation app for beginners, but also includes hundreds of programs for intermediate and advanced users.
iBreathe is a simple but powerful app to guide you through deep breathing exercises and breath work. For reducing stress, anxiety, insomnia or just trying to meditate and relax.
Happify is a self-improvement program offered in both website and app form. Activities and games that can help reduce stress, overcome negative thoughts, and build greater resilience by providing effective tools and programs to improve emotional well-being.
NOTE: Information online stated there isn’t really a dedicated app for people who are deaf when it comes to guided meditations. Hoping that will change in the future. In the meantime, YouTube has a lot of content for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing to utilize and read, rather than listen, in order to achieve a more mindful experience in life.
Here are a few suggestions:
TextGrabber+Translator let you easily and quickly scan, translate and save your chosen text from virtually any printed material. Simply take a picture of the text and immediately edit, hear it spoken aloud.
Google Play Books & Audiobooks where you can upload ePUB and PDF files to your library.
Fast Scanner lets you scan notes, documents, and receipts into PDF documents by taking a photo.
Kindle is for reading books, textbooks, magazines, and other kinds of print media right on your Android phone or tablet.
iBooks is an e-book application. The supported formats are ePUB and PDF. PDFs can be transferred to iBooks using Dropbox. Can also use text-to-speech feature.
Dropbox is a place for your photos, docs, videos, and other files. Send a large file to anyone, even if they don’t have a Dropbox account.
Freedom is used to block distractions so you can get your work done. Block what you want, when you want, and be more productive.
EduCalc Classic is a powerful, flexible graphing calculator.
RealCalc Scientific Calculator is for serious computing.
Panecal is a scientific calculator application for technical work such as information engineering, mechanical engineering, dynamics, measurements, and construction, an essential item for engineers and science students. Can display and correct mathematical formulas.