Assistive technology toolkit
Tools, apps and technology that help you study or work at LJMU.
This toolkit lists technology and apps that LJMU students and staff have found useful and would recommend. These were tested by a group of students from different courses and study levels. You can browse this toolkit on your own and pick what looks useful, or come to the drop-in and try things out with support from our team.
Assistive technology drop-in
Every Thursday, from 1 to 4 pm, our Specialist Study Skills team is available for an assistive technology drop-in at the Student Life Building. You do not need an appointment or referral to come.
Come and have a chat about what you find difficult in your studies or your role, and how technology might help . You do not need a diagnosis or any evidence. The team will help you find something worth trying, get it set up on your device, and walk you through some features while you are there.
For more information, ask at Student Advice and Wellbeing reception.
Building your own tech toolkit
There is no single right set of tools, and you don't need to use everything on this page. The students who helped build this toolkit all study differently, and they all ended up with a different mix of apps that suited their course, their routine and the way they think.
Our advice is to start small. Pick one tool that tackles whatever you find hardest right now and give it a proper go before adding anything else. Learning one tool at a time is far less overwhelming than trying to overhaul everything at once, and over time you will build a personal toolkit that fits you.
It is worth knowing what a tool costs before you commit. Some of these apps and features you already have on our university devices, free, through your LJMU account. Many are free, or "freemium" (free to use, but with paid upgrades and subscriptions), so keep an eye on what you are signing up for and watch out for free trials that turn into monthly subscription charges. If you have a disability, some specialist paid-for software can be funded for you as part of the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). To find out what you are entitled to, contact our Disability Team.
Most of these tools are made by other companies, rather than by LJMU. Do not upload confidential information, anyone's personal data, or whole copyrighted readings into free or external tools; get permission before recording people; and never hand in AI-written work as your own. There is more guidance at the bottom of the page on staying safe, protecting your data and working within university policy.
One tool at a time
There is a lot of information in this toolkit, and that is deliberate.
There is something useful for everyone, whatever your study style. Don’t try to set everything up at once. Instead, choose one tool that will take the most pressure off, learn to use it, get comfortable with it, and then come back for more when you are ready.
This toolkit is a work in progress, and we update it based on what students tell us is helpful. If you find a tool that works well for you and it is not included here, please let us know via our quick two-question form.