01. BATS – Basic Assistive Technology Suite

To help the dyslexic individual, Ibis Creative Consultants has created BATS – Basic Assistive Technology Suite. This is a selection of freely available software that dyslexics can use. Furthermore, much of the software is available in different languages.

Freeware is used here to suggest all the software that can be used without paying anybody. This excludes Shareware, where you are supposed to send money after a given amount of time.

Does this mean you do not need to buy any software? Commercial software exists because is has advantages. But if you waiting for funding (or will never get it!) you can still explore the following software. Note that the list includes online and offline versions.


The Suite includes the following:
Basic Office software (offline)
Open Office www.openoffice.com

Basic Office Software (online)
Google Docs http://docs.google.com
Zoho www.zoho.com
Thinkfree www.thinkfree.com
Buzzword www.acrobat.com

Text-to-speech (offline)
Readplease www.readplease.com
YeoSoft www.text-mp3.com
Natural Reader www.naturalreaders.com
SayzMe www.datafurnace.net.au/sayzme
Readpal www.readpal.com/one/screenreader.htm

Text-to-speech (online)
TTST http://text-to-speech-translator.paralink.com/

Concept mapping (offline)
Freemind http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Compendium http://www.compendiuminstitute.org/

Concept mapping (online)
Mindomo www.mindomo.com
Ekpenso www.ekpenso.com
Mindmeister www.mindmeister.com (Collaborative)

Sound recording
Audacity www.audacity2008.com

Typing tutor (offline)
TypeFaster Typing Tutor www.typingsoft.com/all_typing_tutors.htm
Klavaro Touch Typing Tutor www.typingsoft.com/all_typing_tutors.htm

Typing tutor (online)
Online Keybr www.keybr.com
Digicurso www.digicurso.com

Magnifiers
Magnifiers www.magnifiers.org

Organisers (online)
Don’t forget the milk www.rememberthemilk.com


BATS – Basic Assistive Technology Suite – is available to the Ibis website:
www.ibisconsultants.info