Magnification, Text-to-Speech, and Speech-to-Text are examples of types of adaptive software. They are programs that allow for different ways of accessing information with computers.Many times, adaptive software is used by students to provide access to alternate format materials.
Other examples of software that some students find helpful are modified text input systems such as on-screen keyboards or Dasher (which lets users "drive" through the alphabet), word prediction software, or organizational software such as Inspiration.
Also important to note is that many programs that are not specifically designed to serve as adaptive software do offer features that are useful for those with disabilities. For example newer versions of Microsoft Office support voice recognition and Microsoft Word can read documents out loud. Adobe Reader also reads out loud and can automatically advance through a document with "reflow" enabled which allows a zoomed in view without horizontal scrolling. Other adaptive features are built right into operating systems.
To learn more about the adaptive computing applications that are available at UAA please visit