Assistive Technology

What does the library offer users with learning difference?

MTU Kerry library is committed to providing all our users with high quality services and supports.  The library works with the university’s Disability Support Service in providing a range of services including assistive technology to enable students to participate fully in their courses. 

Click on the + signs below to expand the content and see more information about the supports and services available in the library.

Our Assistive Technologies (AT) room can be booked on the library website and at the library service desk.  The AT room contains one student networked PC on an electrically height-adjustable desk and a second electrically height-adjustable desk with a laptop powerpoint.

A table-top magnifier is also available in the room.

Assistive technology is changing very rapidly and most equipment and software is allocated individually to students for personal use through Student Support Services.

The equipment most commonly allocated includes:

  • Exam reading pen – text-to-speech scanning pen
  • Livescribe pen – smart pen with audio recording
  • Portable magnifiers
  • Hearing aid microphone systems

A few pieces of equipment are held and may be borrowed from the library desk:

  • Reader pens – to find out more about reader pens, visit Reader Pen Borrowing Service
  • Mini keyboard with wireless and trackball
  • Roller trackball II
  • Evoluent II mouse – left hand

An increasing range of software is now offered in packages freely available to all.  Students registered with Access Officer or Officer for Learning Difference may be provided with one or more licensed software packages depending on needs and preferences.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft Word and OneNote offer reading and writing support including read aloud, immersive reader, Editor and Dictate functions.  Learn more about these features here.

Screen readers

Many options are available to read digital text aloud.  Natural Reader is loaded on student PCs.  It can also be used online or added as a browser extension.  A mobile app is also available.  More information about Natural Reader is here.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

This technology can convert scanned documents or books to a digital text format that you can then have read aloud.  You can use MS OneNote to convert documents to text – instructions here.  You can then use View and Immersive Reader to have the document read aloud.  Other options for OCR include the mobile apps Google Lens and Office Lens.

 

Note-making software

Glean is a software which allows you to add your own notes and highlights to an audio-recording of a lecture.  It will also provide a full transcription if you need it.  Students registered with Support Services may be provided with a Glean account.  A protocol for audio-recording in class must be signed before the software is used.

Livescribe pen is an alternative note-making support for students who prefer to make handwritten notes.  The same audio-recording regulations apply.

Dictation software

Dictation software converts your speech to written text.  In addition to the Dictate function on MS Word, the following options are available:

Dragon Naturally Speaking – allows you to control your device with your voice as well as dictating your work.

Otter.ai – provides an accurate transcription with paired audio recording for easier correction.

Proofreading software

The Editor function in MS Word provides suggestions to improve your spelling and grammar.  Other popular proofreading options include:

Grammarly

Ginger

Organising and planning

A wide variety of software packages offer digital mind-mapping and other ways of visually organising information.  Current popular options are:

XMind

MindMeister

Inspiration

For further information on assistive software, please contact Jane Brennan, Study Guidance Facilitator jane.brennan@mtu.ie

For more information on Assistive Technology, please contact: