Top 10 Apps for Accessibility & Disability
Here’s some of the best apps around for accessibility and disability.
1. Wheelmate (Android/iPhone, Free)
The purpose of Wheelmate is simple but invaluable for wheelchair users planning journeys or days out - the app gives information on the availability of toilets and parking spaces. The interface is a Google Maps-style GPS map indicating the location of wheelchair-accessible WC's and parking spaces. The service relies on users to verify and rate facilities (or add new ones) and there is also the option to add comments.
To download on Google play click here
To download on itunes click here
To see the Wheelmate website click here
2. My DisabledGo London (iPhone, Free)
Although it's primarily of use to Londoners and those visiting the city, we thought it was worth featuring DisabledGo London in our list as a shining example of an good accessibility app - and as an example for developers to follow suit in other locations! It provides tons of accessibility info and reviews for over 20,000 venues and attractions around London. it was developed by DisabledGo, drawing on over ten years of experience producing accessibility guide, in partnership with local councils and in consultation with disabled people.
To download on iTunes click here
3. Proloque2Go (IPhone, iPad, £129.99)
Proloque2Go is an award-winning Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch for people who have difficulty speaking or cannot speak at all. Natural sounding speech is generated by touching on-screen buttons representing common actions and requests, or typing into a predictive text keyboard. Although it’s pricey for an app (£129.99) it rivals stand alone AAC devices that cost thousands and has been very favourably reviewed.
To download on itunes click here
To see the Proloque website click here
4. iSpeak (iPhone, £0.69)
A cheap text-to-speech app. Type or copy and paste text then have it read out aloud. This app has been recommended by reviewers with visual impairments or verbal communication difficulties.
To download from Google play click here
To download on Itunes click here
5. Lingraphica Apps for Therapy and Practice (iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, Free)
Lingraphica develops specialist therapy and speech-generating apps for aphasia sufferers, which they make available for free on iTunes. They offer two groups of apps: SmallTalk Communication and Practice Apps and TalkPath Speech Therapy Apps. The SmallTalk apps provide simple icons for simple requests and common interactions while TalkPath is a series of exercises and activities covering reading, writing, speaking and listening.
To download on Itunes click here
To see the Aphasia website click here
6. Signed stories(iPhone, iPad, Free)
Signed Stories is an animated storytelling app in Sign Language designed for children by experts in the field. The app is free to download and comes with a story included (additional stories must be purchased). It also features a handy dictionary of signs that expands with each story you download.
To download on iTunes click here
7. LookTel Money Reader (iPhone/iPad, £6.99)
Point your smartphone camera at a banknote and Money Reader will instantly recognize its denomination (no need to take a photo or hold the camera still), reading aloud the result and displaying it on the screen. Useful for those with visual impairments or blindness.
To download on itunes click here
To see the Looktel website click here
8. Siri
iPhone owners will already be familiar with Siri, Apple’s voice activated personal assistant. You can send texts, make calls, get directions/find local businesses, play music, ask any question you like, all without ever touching the screen.
The voice recognition is actually very good and its computing-generated voice is acceptably human-sounding. Moreover, the software is quite flexible about how you speak to it - tell it your looking for Chinese food and it will understand you want the numbers to nearby takeaways. You can even have amusing (if slightly surreal) conversations!
8. Skyvi (Android, Free/pay to remove ads)
Skyvi is one of the Android market’s answer to Siri, offering much of the same functionality but with slightly less polish.
To download from Google play click here
9. Med Helper Pro (Android, Free ad-supported/£2.99 full version)
This is a great free app that reminds you what pills to take and when, making it particularly useful for people managing complex medication timetables. Medications are easily added (it's designed to require minimal effort) and the app keeps a tab on when you need refills. You can also store appointments and contact info, as well as export the medication logs for medical professionals or family members.
To download from itunes click here
To download from Google play click here
To see the Med Helper website click here
10. Nightcall (£0.69)
A great app that enables you to program a large red button on screen to call number. Ideal as an alternative to expensive mobile telecare services. To read more about this and other options read the Mobile Telecare Services article.
To download from itunes click here
Please do let us know if we have missed anything and if you use any of these apps we want to know what you think of them.
Is there an app you think would make a massive difference to disabled peoples lives we would really like to hear from you.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cathy Stephenson on
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EpDetect is not currently available for iPhone or WIndows 7 phones but is available in Android market and for some WIndows mobiles. Download information is here:
Good features include:
- the individual gets to nominate the recipients of calls and whether they receive the GPS location or not
- On detecting a seizure the first screen allows the person to cancel the alert if it is a false alarm
- The next screen shows a button to allow the person to cancel the alarm when the seizure has ended (sends a second alert message)
- The screens advise bystanders not to touch so it avoids well meaning people raising/cancelling alerts.
Given that many seizures are seen (by the public) as high risk, people who suffer seizures are often accompanied everywhere so it is difficult for an individual to have independence and they may be virtually house bound.
There are some other apps out there that support people to keep a diary of their seizures, prompt them meds and even in some cases allow videoing a seizure - all of which may be useful to their clinicians. I have not used any of those but it is well worth people doing a search and finding out which might suit their needs best. Look in your mobiles App library/store and search for "epilepsy"
Cathy
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Permalink Reply by gavin alastair neate on
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Hi all,
I found the following ap which I believe has some potential for visually impaired smart phone users.
Gavin Neate
Neatebox Ltd
Fleksy.com
"Fleksy is a revolutionary technology, which makes typing text on a touch-screen easy.
Ever dreamt of an auto-correct system powerful enough to work even when you don’t look at the screen? Enter, Fleksy.
Used today by thousands of blind and visually impaired users to type faster and easier than many sighted people, Fleksy is set to revolutionize the way people think about mobile devices and to challenge the traditional barriers in touch-screen typing for everyone.
Featuring Syntellia’s patent pending technologies, Fleksy uses the familiar QWERTY layout, coupled with probably the most powerful text prediction engine out there.
Tap typing, re-invented.
How Fleksy works
Fleksy allows users to type text on the familiar keyboard layout, by tapping on the screen. Our patent pending technology does not need accuracy – just tap on the screen and Fleksy will automatically detect the text you meant to enter – even if you have missed every single key.
It is like nothing you have used before.
Happy Typing!
Available now on the AppStore Coming soon to Android!"
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