Useful mobile apps
We have listed some commonly used accessibility apps here. We do not endorse any apps.
Hearing
Apps that support people who are d/Deaf or have hearing impairments
Google Live Transcribe
Live Transcribe is a free Android service that provides real-time continuous transcriptions.
Microsoft Translator
Microsoft Translator is an app that can help with translating conversations with captions, translate menus and street signs without an internet connection, and translate web pages and app content with one tap. But this app can also be used as an accessibility aid by selecting English to English translation where the app will act as a captioning service.
Vision
Apps that support people who are blind or have visual impairments
AccessNote
AccessNote is the official iOS notetaker from the American Foundation for the Blind. It supports VoiceOver users to create efficient note taking experience.
Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes is a free app that also offers in-app purchases. This app works a little differently as the app works by pairing the blind or visually impaired user with a sighted volunteer base on language and timezone. The vounteer answering the request is connected to the user requesting assistance and the volunteer receives live video feed from the rear-facing camera of the user's phone. The audio connection allows the user and volunteer to communicate and solve the task together.
Color Blind Pal
Color Blind Pal is a free app available for iOS, Android and Mac to help users with colour vision deficiency to identify colours. Opening app and pointing the device camera at what you want to see will show the colour name in the app.
Evernote
Evernote app stores voice notes, images and text and allows sharing between devices. Photographs are scanned for text using VoiceOver support. While the baisc version of the app is free there is more features for paid monthly subscriptions.
Microsoft Lens
Microsoft Lens trims, enhances and makes pictures of written text on a whiteboard or paper readable. This app can convert images to PDF, Word, PowerPoint or Excel formats. This app can be useful not only for people with visual impairements but also for students with learning disabilities.
TapTapSee
TapTapSee is a free app that uses the mobile camera and VoiceOver functions to identify an object when a picture or video of it is taken by the user.
Navigation
Apps that support navigation
what3words
what3words app makes it easier to share and save pecise locations with a resolution of about 3 metres. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is encouraging UK events, businesses and venues to share what3words addresses to help blind and partially sighted people.
Mental health and concentration
Apps that support mental health and focus
Alarmy Alarm Clock
Alarmyis available for Apple and Android devices and the basic version is free. It is described as an alarm that can be set up to not switch off until you take a photo of something specific, which encourages you to physically get out of bed
Catch It
Catch It is a joint project between University of Liverpool and University of Manchester to help users better understand their moods though the use of a diary. The app uses principles of psychological approaches to mental health well-being and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Clockwork Tomato
Clockwork Tomato is a time management app that aims to increase productivity by breaking down work periods separated by short breaks.
Coffitivity
Coffitivity recreates the ambient sounds of cafe to boost creativity.
Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey is an app to help increase productivity by blocking distractions. The basic version is available for free with more features in the paid-for version.
Focus Keeper
Focus Keeper is a free time managment app. It allows you to break your time to chunks where you will have blocks of time for working and breaks.
Microsoft To Do
Microsoft To Do app is a smart daily planner that helps to organise yourself better.
MindShift
MindShift is a free evidence based anxiety relief app created based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) strategies by Anxiety Canada, a charity created to to raise awareness about anxiety and support access to proven resources and treatments.
SAM Self-help App for the Mind
SAM app was developed by the University of the West of England working with a digital studio MyOxygen. It helps monitor and chart mood levels over time, discover guided self-help techniques including games and multimedia and share advice and ratings with teh SAM community through the Social Cloud.
Study Ambience
Study Ambience is an app for Android devices that allows the selection of calming melodies or atmospheric noises to help studying.