Freeware and shareware programs are frequently overlooked as possible ways of making computers more accessible for people with disabilities. Below I have selected seven Windows programs and six Macintosh programs that hold great promise for helping individuals with disabilities use computers. None of the programs cost more than $30, and many are free. Clicking on a program name will take you to a page from which you can download a program to your computer.
ShortKeys 99 - ShortKeys 99 is a text macro program similar to the AutoText feature in Microsoft Word, ShortKeys 99 lets you automatically add a text string up to 3,000 characters to any document just by typing in two or three letters or numbers. It is $19.95. ShortKeys Lite, a reduced version of ShortKeys, is Free! ShortKeys Lite does not have network support or a spell checker, and users can only create 35 macros.
ToggleMOUSE by Toggle Software - This program can make just about any needed adaptation of the mouse or cursor. With ToggleMOUSE you can Scroll without scrollbars, reduce mouse movement with QuickPoint and ScreenWrap, reduce mouse clicks with ActiMouse and EconoClick, assign functions to unused mouse buttons, choose high-visibility cursors, and more. It is $19.95.
Virtual Keyboard V1.3 by SG Software - The virtual keyboard is a keyboard emulator that allows you to type using just your mouse. This version comes with two predefined keyboard layouts. The default layout is the standard key layout of a normal keyboard and one displaying larger buttons. It is $15.95.
Perfect Keyboard by Petr Pitrinec - Perfect Keyboard is an abbreviation/expansion (macro) program, which allows the user to make abbreviations for frequently used words. Has a nice way of organizing macros into categories. It is $21.
Ultra Hal Assistant by Zabaware, inc. - Ultra Hal Assistant is an animated, interactive information manager, windows helper and calculator program. Users can enter information through typing or speech, as well as have reminders spoken to them, $29.99 with speech recognition.
Click'n GO! by Trever Patriquin - This program provides a tray from which you can start programs with one click of the mouse. When users move the pointer to the top-right part of your monitor. Click'n GO! automatically expands to fill the right half of your desktop. Then you slide your mouse over to the program you want to start and click. It is FREE!
ReadPlease 2000 by MoneyTree Software - This program reads text in four different voices, highlighting words as they are read. An easy interface allows users to adjust the volume and reading
