ADHD can make certain tasks feel heavier than they need to be, from planning projects to keeping up in meetings or just getting started on that one thing you’ve been putting off for days.

Assistive technology isn’t about “fixing” ADHD. But some tools can make things less effortful, especially when you’re navigating overwhelm, juggling deadlines, or trying to stay focused in a world that isn’t always built with your brain in mind.

We’ve teamed up with the folks at Remtek Systems, who’ve been supporting neurodivergent and disabled people with assistive tech for decades, to break down a few tools that might actually help, and when.

Caption.Ed

For: online meetings, note-taking stress, or fast-paced conversations

If you find it hard to stay focused in meetings, especially when people talk fast, jump between topics, or don’t follow an agenda — Caption.Ed might help. It adds real-time captions to live or recorded video and saves a transcript you can revisit later.

This could be helpful if:

• You’re in back-to-back Zoom calls and lose track of what’s been said
• You struggle to take notes and stay present at the same time
• You process things better visually than through speech
• You feel overloaded when there’s a lot of information coming at once

It won’t summarise or highlight the key points for you, but it will give you a clear record you can search through later, which can reduce pressure in the moment.

AYOA

For: getting ideas out of your head, managing projects, or remembering what you’re doing

AYOA is a visual planning tool that mixes mind-mapping with task lists. If you get overwhelmed by to-do lists, or your brain jumps between ideas faster than you can write them down, this might be worth trying.

This could be helpful if:

• You manage projects or people and need a way to track it all
• You start lots of things but lose momentum or forget next steps
• You find it easier to plan visually or in colour
• You like flexibility — it can be structured or messy depending on how your brain works that day

It’s not a magic cure for executive function, but it can help you externalise your thoughts and make tasks feel more manageable.

Texthelp – Read&Write

For: reading, writing, or getting started on documents

If you find long documents hard to process, or spend ages trying to get your thoughts down clearly, Read&Write by Texthelp offers a range of support tools like:

• text-to-speech (it’ll read stuff out loud)
• word prediction
• grammar and spelling help

This could be helpful if:

• You write reports, essays, or funding applications
• You know what you want to say but find it hard to structure
• You get stuck trying to process big chunks of written info

You can customise the features you actually need, and ignore the rest.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking

For: getting words out when typing feels slow or effortful

Dragon is voice-recognition software. You speak into it, and it types for you — which can be quicker and less frustrating than typing, especially if your thoughts come out better verbally.

This could be helpful if:

• You get physically or mentally tired when typing
• You want to pace or move around while working
• You have lots of ideas but struggle to write them in a linear way

You’ll need a quiet space and a bit of setup time, but once it’s going, it can free up a lot of energy.

Why This Stuff Matters

None of these tools are one-size-fits-all. And no tech is going to fix the fact that our systems and workplaces often aren’t designed for ADHD brains.

But when chosen intentionally, assistive tech can:

• Reduce the friction of getting started
• Take pressure off working memory
• Support clearer communication
• Make hard things feel a bit more doable

And that can make a real difference.

About Remtek Systems

Remtek Systems has been around since 1974, providing assistive technology and ergonomic solutions for disabled and neurodivergent people across the UK. They’re Disability Confident, experienced in DSA and workplace needs assessments, and offer hands-on setup and support — not just the tech itself.

They’ve also got over 2,000 five-star reviews, which says something about how they treat people.

Explore their tools and services at remtekworkplace.com

Looking for more tools?

This article shares a snapshot of assistive technology that can support focus, planning, reading and writing. If you want a broader list of practical tools, apps, books and research, visit our ADHD Tools and Resources page.

There you will find a dedicated Apps and Tools section with options organised by theme, so you can explore what might work for you.

Explore ADHD Tools and Resources.

This article was written in collaboration with Remtek Systems and ADHD Pirates CIC.