Digital Assistive Tools
A collated library of digital assistive apps, websites and built-in device features from BCITO's Learning Success team, to help with reading, writing, listening, staying organised and getting your point across, on site and off.
Find your starting point
Who it's for
- Apprentices with dyslexia, ADHD or another neurodiverse way of learning
- Anyone who finds reading, writing or big tasks hard to get started on
- Apprentices speaking English as an additional language
- Anyone who thinks better out loud than on the page
- Anyone wanting a reliable maths or measurement check on site
What you'll get
- Free (or mostly free) tools you can turn on today — no forms, no waitlist
- Options already built into your phone, plus extensions, apps and MyBCITO settings
- A quick description of what each one does and how to switch it on
- A direct line to the Learning Success team if you want help choosing
No download needed
Your phone already has most of this built in - it just needs switching on in Accessibility settings.
Apple's iPhone · Free
Read & Speak
Apple's on-device text-to-speech, refreshed with new 2026 features. Reads selectable text in apps, emails, web pages and documents aloud.
- Speak Screen - reads everything visible on screen, started with a two-finger swipe down
- Speak Selection - reads back only the text you highlight
- Speech Controller - an always-on floating control for play, pause and speed
- Typing Feedback - speaks words, letters or predictions as you type
- Highlight Content - highlights words or sentences as they're read, in a colour of your choice
- Voice & Speaking Rate - over 80 voices and 60+ languages to choose from
- Text in photos - reads text found inside photos aloud too
Turn it on: Settings → Accessibility → Read & Speak
Android · Free
Select to Speak & TalkBack
Android's built-in reading and screen-reading tools, refreshed with new 2025 features. First download Android Accessibility Suite from the Play Store.
- Select to Speak - tap or drag to select text; a floating play button reads it aloud
- Read all - tap play on the mini toolbar to read everything on screen
- TalkBack - a full screen reader that narrates every element for navigation
- Read in background - keeps reading while you scroll or switch apps
- Camera OCR - point the camera at printed text or images to have it read aloud
- Voice & language - uses Google Text-to-Speech, with more voices downloadable
- Live Captions - real-time on-screen captions for any audio, including calls and videos
Turn it on: Settings → Accessibility → Select to Speak or TalkBack
iOS & Android · Free
Voice recording & transcription
Both platforms come with a recording app that lets you capture speech instead of writing it down - handy if you process ideas better out loud, or want a recording to check back against later. Also useful for dictating an explanation to go alongside photos of your work.
- Audio recording - captures verbal notes for playback later
- Automatic transcription - converts recorded speech into text (availability depends on device)
- Playback speed control - review recordings faster or slower to suit you
Apple: the pre-installed Voice Memos app.
Android: Recorder (Pixel and most stock Android) or Voice Recorder (Samsung).
Add these to your browser
Free tools that work quietly in the background while you browse, fill in forms or work through MyBCITO.
Web · Free
Goblin Tools
A free task management tool that breaks any task or project into a series of smaller, actionable steps. Particularly useful for anyone who finds large or complex tasks difficult to start or structure, including apprentices with ADHD, dyslexia or other neurodiverse conditions.
- Task breakdown — enter any task and it's split into sequential steps
- Adjustable complexity — control how granular the breakdown is
- Step completion tracking — tick off steps for a clear record of progress
- Compiler tool — turns a brain dump of thoughts into an organised action list
- Estimator tool — a rough time estimate for a task, to help with planning
- Taskmaster tool — focuses attention on one task at a time to cut overwhelm
Chrome extension · Free
Smart Reader - Bionic Reader
Reformats webpage text by bolding the start of each word, creating a visual pattern that guides your eyes along the line. Can be particularly helpful for people with ADHD or dyslexia, supporting reading speed and cutting down on how often content needs to be re-read.
- Bionic text formatting — bolds the beginning of each word
- One-click toggle — turn the extension on or off for any page from the toolbar
- Works on most standard web pages — best suited to static, text-based pages such as articles and blog posts
Chrome extension · Free
Voice In
Turns spoken words into typed text on any website, so you can talk instead of type when filling out forms, MyBCITO, or emails. Punctuation and formatting can be spoken as commands, or tidied up by hand once the dictation is done.
- Speech-to-text dictation — speak instead of type, directly into any website text field
- Voice commands — supports spoken punctuation and formatting
- Browser extension — works across most websites without switching apps
Worth the download
A stand-alone text-to-speech app for anyone who finds reading on screen difficult or tiring, including apprentices with dyslexia or ADHD.
Web, iOS & Android · Free (20 min/day)
Natural Reader
Reads any text aloud, including documents, PDFs, worksheets and textbooks. The free version allows up to 20 minutes of listening a day using basic voices, making it best suited to shorter reading tasks. No account or payment needed to get started.
- Text-to-speech reading — reads any typed or pasted text aloud with a selection of basic voices
- Camera scanner — photograph a physical document or book to convert it to readable, audible text
- Document support — uploads and reads PDF, DOCX, TXT and ePub files directly
- Webpage reading — reads any webpage via the Chrome browser extension in one click
- Word highlighting — highlights words as they're spoken, to help you follow along
- Playback speed & voice selection — adjust the pace and choose a voice that suits you
- Immersive Reader mode — a focus mode with highlighted text, reduced distractions and synced audio
- Cross-device sync — documents and reading progress sync across web, mobile and Chrome when signed in, free
Built for the trade
Two tools built around the job itself - getting the numbers right on site, and communicating clearly when English isn't everyone's first language.
iOS & Android · 7-day free trial
Chippy Tools
A construction calculator app covering 18 common on-site calculations, with results displayed as diagrams and running measurements to support accuracy. Works offline and supports metric and imperial units — a reliable reference point on site for apprentices still building confidence with construction maths.
- Stairs, concrete, roof pitch, decking and baluster spacing calculators
- Triangle, dumpy level, equal spacing, rake wall and diagonal calculators
- Check square, running measurements, fence picket and wainscoting calculators
- Gravel, soil and asphalt calculators
The Baluster Spacing Calculator is always free. Everything else is free for 7 days, then needs a subscription or one-off purchase.
Web, iOS & Android · Free
Google Translate
Converts text, speech or images between languages in real time. Useful for learners who speak English as an additional language, for communicating on site, or when reading written material. Also available in the browser.
- Text translation — type or paste text to translate between languages
- Speech translation — speak into the app and hear the translation read aloud
- Camera translation — point the camera at printed text, such as signage or worksheets, to see it translated on screen
- Offline mode — download language packs to translate without an internet connection
Already built into your portal
myBCITO has its own immersive reader and translation tools, ready to switch on.
myBCITO · Free · built-in
Immersive reader & page translator
MyBCITO includes a built-in immersive reader and a page translator, so you can have content read aloud or switched into another language without leaving the portal.
Web, iOS & Android · Free
Google Translate
Converts text, speech or images between languages in real time. Useful for learners who speak English as an additional language, for communicating on site, or when reading written material. Also available in the browser.
- Text translation — type or paste text to translate between languages
- Speech translation — speak into the app and hear the translation read aloud
- Camera translation — point the camera at printed text, such as signage or worksheets, to see it translated on screen
- Offline mode — download language packs to translate without an internet connection
Removing barriers for every apprentice
These tools sit alongside BCITO's wider commitment to neurodiverse and disabled apprentices - find out more about the support on offer through Building Abilities.
Not sure where to start?
The Learning Success team can talk you through these options and help you find the right fit - free, confidential, and just a message away.