The blind and visually impaired face many challenges when using a computer. Thankfully there is a wide range of software and hardware devices available that can assist.

This list of visual aid resources was compiled by Robert (AKA "upamtn"). It consists of a mixture of free and commercial products. Feel free to post a comment below if you feel a particular  product warrants inclusion in this list.

Visual Aid Resources

Adaptive Computer Products 
http://www.makoa.org/computers.htm

e-speak also free trial, then $14 for license - voice recognition software

Arizona Assisted Technology Exchange 
http://www.azatexchange.org/home.php

Oklahoma Able Tech - Assistance Technolgy: 
http://www.ok.gov/abletech/

 
UCP State Guides: 
http://www.ucp.org/ucp_generaldoc.cfm/1/3/43/43-43/5807

Virtual Assistive Technology Center: http://vatc.freeservers.com/

NYC:  
http://www.ucpnyc.org/info/assist/types.cfm

WA Low Cost or Free:
http://watap.org/resources/providers.asp?LFL

Michigan Site:
http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313_33130-179596--,00....
– Awesome Stuff

ext Reader
http://www.readplease.com/english/downloads/#rp2003
Read Please (free) and not the Read Please Plus (trial)

http://www.ataccess.org/resources/lowcostnocost/lcncvision.html

http://www.ataccess.org/resources/lowcostnocost/lcncdownloads.html

Assistance Technology Exchange 
http://www.atxchange.org/v3/home.php
 
http://www.blindsoftware.com/

Downloads here 
http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads/visually-impaired.html

TEXAS Center for the Physically Impaired - including FREE Computers for Visually Impaired Persons
http://www.handicapability.org/computers.html
in Dallas:  Tel: (214) 340 6328  boblang@airmail.net

free e-books: 
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

free version that reads text to you, computer voice stuff ... the one on the top left of the page
 http://www.naturalreaders.com/download.htm

OPEN SOURCE software, has eSpeak in it, plus more
http://www.nvda-project.org/wiki/About
http://www.nvda-project.org/wiki/Download

iZoom - free trial, but $50 to buy

EasyRead is free but only works with HTML - internet pages
http://www.iconico.com/easyRead/

Desk Top Zoom, also freeware
http://users.telenet.be/littlegems/MySoft/Index.html

Virtual Magnifying Glass - A free, open source, screen magnifier
http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/

Workers Collection Magnifying Glass screen magnifier
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/wcmagnify.html

b-zone magnifier
http://www.b-zone.de/software/lens.htm

spoken text – converter
http://spokentext.net/

thunder – free screenreader
http://www.screenreader.net/