LibGuides: Digital accessibility: Writing

Writing

Kaitlyn Baker

Grammarly

Grammarly
Free grammar checker, approved by the university for use in your studies

Grammarly Logo

Grammarly at Westminster
How to set up your account
Getting started
How to improve your writing
Troubleshooting
See also GrammarlyGO
A generative AI writing assistant similar to ‘CHATGPT’
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Use with the reassurance that it has been aligned with the University’s policy and guidance on the use of Generative AI
Check out the blog 11 Ways AI Can Help You With Your Assignments - without cheating!

Google Docs dictation

Type with your voice
Gmail users:
Dictate notes into Google docs or Google Slides speaker notes
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You need to be using Google Chrome, ensure your microphone is on and works
Correct mistakes and use voice commands to select text, format text and move around the document

Use voice assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant or Amazon’s ‘Alexa’ to ask how you spell words you are struggling with. Just ask;

"How do you spell…?”

Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus

Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus
Use Microsoft 365 for free on up to five devices, using your student login credentials.
Start using OneDrive and download the Microsoft package
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Use Office 365 for free on up to 5 PCs or Macs, using your student username and password.
Create, communicate and collaborate on any device
Make your documents, presentations, and worksheets accessible with Word, PowerPoint and Excel:
Improve writing quality
Type with your voice
Transform printed text into searchable, editable, digital content
Microsoft Azure
Download Microsoft software for free onto up to 5 personal devices, including Visio, Project, Visual Studio, Windows 10 and Windows 11. Plus more...
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NB: after leaving university, the software will remain on your device and you will only receive standard security updates.
You won't be able download new versions of the software for free.

Audio for podcasts

Ferrite Recording Studio
For iPhone and iPad.

Create podcasts, radio journalism, or other professional voice production work — lectures, speeches, voice-overs and more.

Combining a “voice memo” audio recorder, with a versatile multi-track editing studio for streamlined recording.

Speedy typing apps

Fleksy
Keyboard that lets you type at unparalleled speed in total privacy - officially the fastest keyboard in the world
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For android and iOS
FlickType
Apple Watch free keyboard also for iPhone and iPad
Auto-Correct, Swipe Typing, customization features and more
AbilityNet's Robin Christopherson demonstrates FlickType

Mind maps for planning

How to build a mind map in Word and PowerPoint
Start with your central idea, add associations, and branches
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Brainstorm topics, create sub-topics, rearrange the topics, add images and formatting, notes and research.

Visually organise and present ideas

Microsoft has tools for creating mind maps in Word, Excel and PowerPoint called SmartArt

You can find the SmartArt icon in the Insert tab

Click on this icon which contains different types of charts

Collaborate visually in Teams with Visio
Create diagrams and allow others to view or edit
From the side menu in Teams, find the three dots after OneDrive
Click here to reveal more Apps, including Visio
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To share, use the drop-down menu in the top-right corner menu and enter the email address of the person you'd like to share with or collaborate

Mind maps for Apple

Inspiration Maps
This app is free for iPhone and iPad
Build beautiful diagrams, graphic organizers and outlines with ease

Referencing guides

University of Westminster Citation and Referencing Guide
How to reference your work to support your academic and research practices

NB Check with your course or module leader which referencing style is used
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Recommended reference management software
Examples of citations and references and quick tips
See also Cite Them Right
For comprehensive guidance on referencing in general
Introduction to reference managers
These citation or bibliographic managers can help you to gather, store and manage your data for references, and bibliographies

Reference managers and accessibility:
EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero are not easily accessible for screen readers
MS Word's built-in Reference option
Reference managers and accessibility:
EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero are not easily accessible for screen readers

Guidance for using the Word referencing tab with NVDA and JAWS screen readers by Ros Walker and Samuel Kacer, University of St Andrews
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This is accessible but might be limited in the number of referencing styles available

Citation and Referencing Guide: Workshop recordings

Library Training Recordings for Students and Staff on:
* Referencing
* Plagiarism
* Tips for Google Scholar
* Finding news articles
and other academic skills

Proof read your work with audio

Natural Reader Text to Speech
This free text to speech extension for Chrome reads selected text
Listen to any email, webpage, google doc, PDF and kindle book
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With natural voices
Video for How to get started with Natural Reader Text to Speech

It can be much easier to hear where there are mistakes rather than reading them

Sensus Access
This is also good for having your work read back to you for editing
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Convert written text to MP3 and listen to it

Notes

Google Keep
For Android only
Make simple text notes, tick lists; share shopping lists, take pictures and record short voice memos.

Location-based reminders;
Set a note to notify you when in a specific location
E.G. Your shopping list can ping when you are in town
Or the question you noted to ask a lecturer will ping when you are on-campus.
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Take a photo to 'grab image text' to the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) engine
Place an editable copy of the text it finds under the original picture
Copy and paste into an assignment or notes document

Library Guides

Digital accessibility: Writing

Writing and organising