Assistive technology doesn't always mean specialised or complicated equipment. It can include everyday apps, websites and software that help students plan and organise their ideas, develop typing skills, access written information, conduct research, communicate their thinking or engage with books in a more accessible format.

In this guide, we've brought together a range of useful assistive technology tools for teaching assistants working with students in Australian schools.

The goal isn't to use technology simply because it's available.

The goal is to choose the right support for the individual student, teach them how to use it effectively and help them develop greater independence.

AudioNote (Paid App)
AudioNote combines written notes with audio recording, allowing students to capture spoken information alongside their own notes.

It can be particularly helpful for students with working-memory, processing-speed, attention, literacy or note-taking difficulties.

SimpleMind (Free and Paid Versions)
SimpleMind is a mind-mapping tool that helps students organise ideas visually using topics, branches, colours and connections.

It is especially useful for students who need support with executive functioning, organisation, planning, working memory or turning ideas into structured written work.

Kidspiration (Free and Paid Versions)
Kidspiration is a visual learning tool designed to help younger students organise and communicate their thinking through pictures, words and diagrams.

Its strong visual approach can assist primary-aged students who have literacy, language, organisation or working-memory difficulties, as well as students who benefit from seeing information represented visually.

Inspiration (Paid Subscription)
Inspiration supports visual thinking through mind maps, diagrams and outlines that can help students move from brainstorming to organised written work.

It can be particularly useful for students who struggle with planning, organisation, written expression, working memory or understanding how ideas fit together.

Popplet (Free and Paid Versions)
Popplet provides a simple visual workspace where students can organise words, ideas and images into connected concept maps.

It can support students who find a blank page overwhelming and those who benefit from visual scaffolding, including students with planning, language, literacy and executive-functioning needs.

Draft (Free and Paid Versions)
Draft is a writing and collaboration tool that can help students develop written work through drafting and revision.

This approach can benefit students who experience difficulties with written expression, organisation, editing or executive functioning and who may become overwhelmed when expected to plan, write and correct their work simultaneously.

Mindomo (Free and Paid Versions)
Mindomo is a mind-mapping and visual organisation tool that allows students to develop ideas and show connections between information.

It is particularly helpful for students who need visual structure to support planning, organisation, comprehension, working memory and written expression.

Nitro Type (Free and Paid Versions)
Nitro Type turns keyboard practice into an online racing game, with students improving their typing as they compete in virtual races.

Developing efficient typing can be particularly valuable for students who rely on a computer for written work because handwriting is slow, tiring, difficult to read or affected by fine-motor difficulties.

Nessy Fingers (Paid Program, Limited Free Trial)
Nessy Fingers teaches touch typing through structured activities and games designed to make keyboard practice engaging.

It can be particularly useful for students with dyslexia and other literacy difficulties, as well as students whose fine-motor or handwriting difficulties mean typing is an important alternative method for producing schoolwork.

Keyboarding Without Tears (Paid Subscription, Limited Free Sample Lessons)
Keyboarding Without Tears provides structured keyboarding instruction designed to progressively develop students' typing skills and digital literacy.

It may particularly benefit students who need additional support with keyboard familiarity, typing fluency, fine-motor skills or efficient access to digital learning tasks.

Dance Mat Typing (Free)
Dance Mat Typing is a child-friendly typing program from the BBC that introduces touch typing through colourful characters, levels and guided activities.

It is particularly helpful for younger students and students who need a highly engaging, step-by-step introduction to typing before they can confidently use a keyboard for classroom work.

TypeTastic! (Free and Paid Versions)
TypeTastic! develops keyboarding skills through games and structured typing activities.

It can support students who need an alternative or supplement to handwriting, particularly those with fine-motor, coordination or handwriting difficulties, as well as students who simply need explicit instruction in keyboarding.

Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS) (Paid Subscription, Limited Free Trial)
Touch-type Read and Spell combines touch-typing instruction with literacy practice, teaching students to type words while reinforcing spelling and reading patterns.

It is particularly suited to students with dyslexia and other literacy difficulties and can also provide an alternative means of written production for students who find handwriting challenging.

EnglishType (Paid Subscription, Limited Free Trial)
EnglishType is a touch-typing program designed to develop keyboard skills through structured, multisensory learning.

It may be particularly beneficial for students with dyslexia, dyspraxia or handwriting and fine-motor difficulties who need an efficient alternative way to produce written work.

Read&Write (Free and Paid Versions)
Read&Write is a literacy-support toolbar offering features such as text-to-speech, word prediction, dictionaries, highlighting and tools for collecting information.

It is particularly valuable for students with dyslexia, reading difficulties, language difficulties, attention or processing needs, although its accessibility tools can benefit a much wider range of learners.

ChatGPT (Free and Paid Versions)
ChatGPT can support research by explaining concepts, generating search terms, simplifying information, brainstorming questions and helping students organise what they have learned.

It can particularly assist students who need support with language, comprehension, planning, working memory or getting started, provided its use aligns with school policies and assessment requirements.

Microsoft Copilot (Free option, Included in Paid Microsoft Suite)
Microsoft Copilot can assist students with tasks such as generating research questions, explaining concepts, summarising information and brainstorming ideas.

This can help students who experience difficulties with comprehension, language, planning, information processing or executive functioning while also providing opportunities to explicitly teach responsible AI use.

QuillBot (Free and Paid Versions)
QuillBot provides tools for paraphrasing, summarising and refining written language.

It may assist students with language, literacy and written-expression difficulties, but students should be taught to use it transparently and appropriately so that the final work remains their own.

Rewordify (Free)
Rewordify is designed to make difficult English text easier to understand by simplifying challenging words and expressions.

It can be particularly useful for students with reading and language difficulties, students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D), and students who need support understanding vocabulary-heavy texts.

Co:Writer (Paid Subsciption Options, Limited Free Trial)
Co:Writer is a writing-support tool that uses features such as word prediction to help students construct sentences and express their ideas in writing.

It can be especially useful for students with dyslexia, spelling difficulties, physical access needs or other difficulties with written expression.

Clicker 8 (Paid Subscription)
Clicker 8 is a literacy-support tool that provides features such as word prediction, speech feedback, visual supports and word or sentence grids.

It can be particularly helpful for students with literacy, language, communication, motor or learning difficulties who require additional scaffolding to participate in reading and writing tasks.

DocsPlus (Paid 3-year Subscription, Free demo option)
DocsPlus is a writing-support tool aimed at older learners and provides features such as word prediction, speech feedback and curriculum vocabulary support.

It can be especially helpful for secondary students with dyslexia, literacy difficulties, physical access needs or difficulties organising and expressing ideas in writing.

State Library of Queensland (Free for QLD residents)
The State Library of Queensland provides access to a range of digital collections and online resources, including eBooks and other materials available through its services.

Digital materials can be particularly helpful for students who require flexible access to texts or benefit from accessibility features available through their device or reading software.

Note: State libraries are generally free to join and use online, but specific rules, residency requirements, and collection access vary by state and territory. Check your state or territory library website for further details.

BorrowBox (Free for Anyone with Valid Participating Library Membership)
BorrowBox allows participating library members to borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks digitally.

Audiobooks can be especially valuable for students with dyslexia, reading difficulties, print disabilities or fatigue, enabling them to access vocabulary, ideas and age-appropriate content that may be above their independent reading level.

Libby (Free)
Libby provides digital access to eBooks, audiobooks and other resources through participating public libraries.

It can support students with reading or print-access difficulties and can also encourage reluctant readers by providing greater choice in how and where they engage with books.

TumbleBooks (Paid Version, Free through Participating Library or School)
TumbleBooks provides a digital collection of children's books and literacy resources, including animated and read-along content.

The combination of text, narration and visual content can be particularly helpful for younger students, emerging readers, EAL/D learners and students who need additional support with decoding, language or reading comprehension.

Bookshare (Paid for non-US students and schools)
Bookshare is an accessible online library specifically designed for people with qualifying print disabilities, offering books in formats that can be read with tools such as text-to-speech, enlarged text and braille technology.

It is particularly valuable for students who cannot efficiently access standard print because of dyslexia, vision impairment, physical disability or another recognised print disability.

Vision Australia (Free for Eligible Australian Residents)
Vision Australia provides accessible information and library services for people who are blind or have low vision, including access to reading materials in alternative formats.

These services are particularly important for students who are blind or have low vision and require alternatives to standard printed classroom materials.