Making a laptop suitable for someone with autism.

[matty-hodgson]

Strictly this isn't parenting.. But it's the most fitting forum area for this..

My sister is autistic, as some of you may know, and she got a laptop today (Cos I'm nice like that and she's been wanting one for a very long time)
So I took her out to PC world and she picked out a very nice Acer with a shiny red lid, she's very pleased with it.

It was clogged full of the usual crap though, so I wiped it, fresh Windows, Flash, Java, everything installed, set up all her bookmarks as desktop icons.

So now basically what I need to know is:

1) What's the best internet filtering software out there?
2) Is there anything I can use to make the computer speak out words instead of my sister having to read because she can only read a few words?

And anything else I can put on this laptop to just, well, make it easier for her to understand?

I don't mind spending a bit of money for software for it if it's actually worth the money..

Any help greatly appreciated .

[XA04]

I'm sure Windows 7 has the capability to read things out in the accessibility settings, heck I think Vista and XP had them too... might be worth looking at?

Can't comment on the filtering though I'm afraid.

[matty-hodgson]

I'm sure Windows 7 has the capability to read things out in the accessibility settings, heck I think Vista and XP had them too... might be worth looking at?

It reads EVERYTHING out though, which makes it pretty much useless..

[TheAnimus]

well what do you want it to read out?

If you want word type things for help with school, try http://www.textease.com/publisher/ , I used to use a version of textease some 15 years ago on the Acorn!

[Phage]

This thread may be useful.
http://forums.hexus.net/parenting/17...wn-laptop.html
I'm fairly sure that we didn't get to a conclusion on filtering software.

[repon]

This would be an important point to make a laptop for someone with autism.
Nice to know that you already configured a fresh windwos and all required software and utilities. Now only the question about filter out. I have not found any working filter software yet but my browser filter working good.
Yeah, speaking the words, windows accessibility=>Narrator working not so bad.