Accessibility Tools

Over the past few years I have been using some of these tools that also can help someone that are in need for accessibility tools. There are 7 tools that I find most helpful and I will be sharing about them today!

Gmail is amazing when sending emails, and speaking with others. Gmail is Google's free email service, letting you send, receive, organize, and store emails online. It's helpful for accessibility because it works well with screen readers (reading text aloud), offers keyboard shortcuts (no mouse needed), lets you adjust text size and colors, supports voice input (speaking instead of typing), and works with Braille displays. These features make Gmail easier to use for people with visual impairments, motor difficulties, or other disabilities.

Google Meet is like a virtual meeting room where you can video chat with others. It's helpful for accessibility because it offers live captions (words appear on screen), keyboard shortcuts (no mouse needed), screen reader compatibility (reads the screen aloud), and adjustable layouts. These features make it easier for people with hearing impairments, visual impairments, or motor difficulties to participate in online meetings.

Google Sheets is a free online program, like a digital spreadsheet. Imagine a grid where you can organize information, do calculations, and make charts. For accessibility, it's helpful because it works with screen readers (reading the spreadsheet aloud), offers keyboard shortcuts (for easier navigation without a mouse), and lets you adjust the font size and colors for better visibility. These features help people with visual or motor impairments use spreadsheets more easily.

Google Slides is a free program from Google that lets you make presentations you can show on a screen. It's like a digital version of a slideshow, where you can add words, pictures, and even videos. To help people with disabilities, Google Slides has features like: it can be used with screen readers (which read the text out loud), you can use only your keyboard to control it (no mouse needed!), and you can add subtitles to videos. This makes it easier for everyone, including people who are blind, have trouble using a mouse, or are hard of hearing, to create and understand presentations.

Chromebooks are like simple, fast laptops that mainly use the internet. They run on Google's Chrome OS. For people needing accessibility tools, Chromebooks are great because they have built-in features like screen readers (to read text aloud), screen magnification (to make things bigger), voice typing (to write with your voice), and on-screen keyboards. These tools help people with visual, motor, or learning disabilities use a computer more easily and affordably.

Google Calendar is a free online planner that helps you keep track of appointments, events, and reminders. It's helpful for accessibility because it works with screen readers (reading events aloud), allows keyboard-only navigation (no mouse needed), and lets you customize colors and reminders. This makes it easier for people with visual impairments, motor difficulties, or cognitive challenges to manage their schedules effectively.

Google Docs is a free online word processor, like a digital version of Microsoft Word. You can use it to write letters, reports, or anything else you need to type. It's helpful for accessibility because it works well with screen readers (which read the text aloud), lets you use voice typing (so you can speak instead of type), and has keyboard shortcuts (so you don't need a mouse). These features make it easier for people with visual impairments, motor difficulties, or learning disabilities to write and edit documents.