| Home | Site TOC | Site Search | Education |

Software for Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired

There is a great deal of functional software for student who are visually impaired to learn, including JAWS and Zoomtext. However, even children that are ready for JAWS need a break in their day to do something that is interesting to them. A variety of software is available that makes sounds and may increase a child's interest in using the computer.

Below are some programs that have sound, speech, etc. and can be beneficial as well as fun.

• Kids Time Deluxe
• IntelliTools
• Math Flash
• Magic Match

Kids Time Deluxe

One of my favorites for young students is a program called Kids Time Deluxe from Greatwave Software; it runs on Macintosh or PC. It is not fully accessible, but it does have two features that are helpful to students who are visually impaired. It has an ABC's recognition activity in which a letter is spoken and the student must press that letter on the keyboard. There is auditory feedback, but not very exciting. There is also a talking word processor activity called Story Writer. This might be more useful because a student could practice writing simple words, etc. The price is right.

Kids Time Deluxe (under $30)
Great Wave Software
5353 Scotts Valley Dr.
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
800-443-2976
http://www.greatwave.com

IntelliTools

Try software by IntelliTools, and the TACK-TILES KEYPAD for IntelliKeys. IntelliTools software creation tools such as IntelliPics, IntelliTalk II, etc. provide a lot of flexibility in the approach to enjoying the computer. IntelliTools has software that will run on PCs or Macintosh computers. Their web site http://www.intellitools.com/ has an activity exchange with scores of programs free to download. New programs are added frequently. Only a few are specifically focused on the visually impaired. The KEYPAD is very new to the market. I've played around with modifying programs I've downloaded from that site written for use by the sighted. It's not very difficult in many cases. Get TACK-TILES Keypad at http://www.tack-tiles.com.

Math Flash

I hope you will try Math Flash from APH (The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.). It has sounds, speech, animated characters, helps improve math skills, and is actually fun! (A child could work the problems mentally and/or on his abacus.) Math Flash runs on a PC with Windows 95 or later. It is recommended for ages 6 years and up. It is easily modified from super easy to increasingly difficult - very user friendly. You have to promise to let your student or child use it most of the time; don't worry he'll let you have a turn so you too can have a little fun!

The cost is $24. You can even download a demo version before you spend the money. Check it out at:
http://www.aph.org/products/mathflash.htm 
http://www.aph.org/tech/mf_info.htm 

Magic Match

We have the game Magic Match by MindsEye2. It is a matching game with various themes. It can be played alone or with a second player who is blind or sighted. My son likes this game; he is in the second grade. Magic Match has really helped him with keyboarding skills! I would highly recommend this product. 

Magic Match runs on a PC with Windows 95 or 98.MindsEye2 has a web site at http://www.mindseye2.bigstep.com/. From their web site, you can download a free demo of the game. You can order the game through the mail. 

The above information was gleaned from the AER listserv and edited by Christina Seay, with thanks to the authors. 

Please send any questions, comments, or additions to ChristinaSeay@tsbvi.edu

Agency Contact Information | Texas State Homepage | Texas State Wide Search

Please complete the comment form or send comments and suggestions to: Jim Allan (Webmaster-Jim Allan)