The Keeble, App, which costs $15 and is available at the App Store, is a virtual keyboard for iPad made by AssistiveWare. The app is only available in English for iPads running iOS 8 and above.
As a result of new features available in iOS 8 the Keeble keyboard can be used in almost every app on the iPad including mail, Safari, and messages. Keeble gives users a number of customization options to make text input easier for users with special needs such as motor challenges, dyslexia, and other disabilities.
Writing at About.com, Andrew Leibs introduces MBraille, a free iOS app for an onscreen keyboard that lets blind users tweet and send text messages using contracted or uncontracted English braille.
MBraille displays a braille keyboard enabling blind iOS users to manage & navigate their device. MPaja
The MBraille app’s command line enables blind persons to enter braille characters, eliminating the need to navigate menu structures on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. It also eliminates the need for a a Bluetooth keyboard such as the BraillePen or Focus 14 Blue.
MBraille, developed by MPaja Software, grew from an earlier program, Braille Touch, developed by Georgia Tech University.
The app is also available in a “Pro” version that enables users to perform more functions via braille. including:
Call contacts or telephone numbers
Compose and send email
Update one’s Facebook status
Add calendar entries
Execute Google web searches and other queries
Automatically have typed text saved to the clipboard when you switch apps
Interact with other 3rd party applications.
Using MBraille
While most braille apps simply support input from outside keyboards, MBraille opens a braille keyboard (consisting of the six dots of the braille cell) on the iOS device’s screen.
MBraille on an iPhone lets users type in two ways:
Place the device on a table and use the modified braille keyboard layout like a refreshable display
Hold the iPhone horizontally with the screen screen facing away and placing three fingers from each hand, vertically typing away at the six dots.
MBraille has its own set of commands, e.g. dial_john finds John in your contacts and calls him. In addition to braille characters, iOS gestures facilitates data entry.
To enter a space, swipe right with one finger
To erase a letter (backspace), swipe left with one finger
To delete the previous word, swipe left with two fingers
For a new line, swipe down with one finger.
You can type and edit text and preview what you’ve typed. To enter preview mode, press and hold dot 3 on the braille keyboard.
Swipe left or right with one finger to hear the previous or next word, which VoiceOver will speak aloud to you.
Swipe up to preview by sentence.
Swipe down to preview one character at a time.
Note-taking, spell check, and file management features are in development — as are dot commands to work better across applications, including integration with BlindSquare.
About MBraille
MBraille, version: 1.7.1, requires iOS 6.1 or later, is compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, and optimized for the iPhone. File size: 1.7 MB. Supported Languages: Danish, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. Italian, Portuguese, and Slovakian are supported, but with no online help.
According to Carol Leynse Harpold, at OT With Apps, ClaroPDF is a great app that provides text to speech capabilities and annotation tools. If you work with students or adults, this is worth the small price. Developed by Claro Software, this innovative software company based in the UK develops and licenses Assistive Software, including speech technology, image technology and touch technology. The app is available from the iTunes store for iPhone and iPad.
ClaroPDF app features allow:
Annotation features:
-Highlight
-Underscore
-Strikeout
-Notes
-Free Text (type straight into the PDF)
-Free line draw (with many colors, opacity and thickness control)
-Shapes (Circle, Square, Line – with many colors, opacity and thickness control)
-Images (you can even insert Photos from your iPad Camera or Photo Library into the PDF file)
Easily manages PDF Files
– Open PDF files ClaroPDF from other apps
– PDF files can be Saved into the Gallery, sent by e-mail, or opened in other apps supporting the PDF file format
Smart Zoom
Full-Text Search & Navigation
ClaroRead compatibility – ClaroRead Pro and Plus for Windows can scan paper into accessible PDF files, retaining the original page image. Can be opened and spoken in ClaroPDF.
WINAHEAD 