Apps continue to level the playing field for individuals with disabilities. One of the greatest things about the ever evolving prevalence of personal technology is that these technologies make disabilities less obvious. The same applications that provide convenience for the general public look the same for people with disabilities. That being said, Megan Totka, Chief Editor, ChamberofCommerce.com has identified four mobile apps that have been created for specific impairments that she thinks are among the best for people with disabilities.
Voice Dream Reader. This app, first written about at WinAhead’s World, in 2012, is great for people with visual or hearing impairments because it makes use of sophisticated text-to-speech technology. People who have trouble seeing the screens on their smartphones or tablets can have messages read aloud and can also record them without needing to type/text any words.
On the flip side, people with hearing impairments can use the enhanced text features and cut out the read-aloud option. This app not only provides extra help with messaging, but has the ability to upload Word or PDF documents for use in the app.
Personally, I think anyone who has a small screened phone or smaller tablet would find this app useful.
TapToTalk. While similar to the Voice Dream Reader, this app is designed specifically for non-verbal children and adults, or those with verbal difficulty. It provides simple-to-complex commands that the user can issue at the touch of a button. Those with physical speech impairments or people with autism or cerebral palsy can benefit from the simple, straightforward communication this app provides.
Med Time. This is a great example of an app that has general public uses, but also can make life a lot easier for people with disabilities. This app does just what its name implies – notifies users when it is time to take a particular medication. This is a little more advanced than a basic smartphone alarm because it saves and stores all of your medication information and lets you know exactly what you need to be taking, and in what dose, at the moment the alarm sounds. The newest upgrade includes options for syncing the app to all your mobile devices and a speech-reminder that outlines the exact instructions.
PC2ME. This app really captured my attention and I’m considering downloading it. Connect all of the information from your personal computer to your smart devices with this app. You have instant access to the items on your desktop with the help of this app, cutting out the need to go back and forth between the two devices. It saves time and also plenty of energy, particularly if mobility is an issue. I see this app as being helpful if you work at home from time to time and need to refer to items on your desktop as a reminder.
WINAHEAD 