OStatic

The UK-based charity AbilityNet announced today that it has bundled a number of open source tools to help people with a variety of disabilities more effectively use their computers.

The bundled applications are available for ﾣ16.99 including VAT (to cover costs of testing and distribution), and appear to be Windows only (though it's difficult to root out system requirements). The included software is designed to help those with a number of different needs, including dyslexia, visual impairments, and some physical disabilities.

The disk, called AccessAT, has been tested in a number of settings (home, work, and educational institutions). Some of the included open source tools are the NVDA screen reader and the Virtual Magnifying Glass.

Every once in a while you run across an open source project that has the potential to make a lot of lives easier - without making anyone richer. Open source is a good fit for this sort of altruistic project: giving stuff away and reaching out in practical ways just seem to go well together. One such project is WebAnywhere, a new take on the speech-enabled (and thus accessible to people with limited or no sight) browser.