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

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)
5353 Scotts Valley Dr.
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
800-443-2976
http://www.smartkidssoftware.com/ndgws1.htm

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!

You can even download a demo version before you buy it. Check it out at:
http://www.aph.org/products/mathflash.htm 
http://www.aph.org/tech/mf_info.htm