DSA-recommended assistive technology tool
Mulquatro: a recommended DSA tool for students who think visually
Lecture notes Outline Mind map Finished assignment
Mulquatro turns long, dense information into mind maps, concept maps, outlines and Gantt charts. Students who find it hard to process text or structure written work use it to break topics down, see how ideas connect, and carry that structure through to finished coursework.
Who it helps
How Mulquatro supports DSA Students
Mulquatro helps address these challenges by providing flexible visual tools that allow students to break complex topics into manageable sections, identify connections between ideas, and organise information in a way that supports understanding, recall, and effective task completion.
Dyslexia
Processing written information and structuring work can be difficult. Visual mind maps let students organise ideas spatially, spot the key concepts and plan assignments without relying on linear text.
Show me how
Mulquatro is recommended to help the student organise information visually before writing, reducing the effort of processing dense text and structuring written work.
ADHD
Holding focus across a complex task is hard. Focus mode lets a student work on one branch at a time, cutting distraction while the overview of the whole topic stays one click away.
Show me how
Mulquatro’s focus mode is recommended to help the student concentrate on one section of a task at a time, reducing distraction while keeping the wider structure accessible.
Dyspraxia (DCD)
Planning and sequencing ideas takes extra effort. Drag-and-drop topics can be reordered as thinking develops, so a plan can be rearranged without starting again.
Show me how
Mulquatro is recommended to help the student plan extended written work visually and revise that plan without starting again, reducing the effort of sequencing and drafting.
Autism spectrum conditions
Predictable, structured layouts help. Hierarchical maps and templates give a consistent way to approach every new task, and colour and icons can be kept deliberately calm.
Show me how
Mulquatro’s templates and hierarchical structure are recommended to give the student a consistent way to approach new academic tasks.
Working memory challenges
Retaining and organising information is a bottleneck. Notes, files, links and audio attach directly to the topic they belong to, so nothing has to be held in mind or hunted for later.
Show me how
Mulquatro is recommended to externalise information the student would otherwise need to hold in mind, by attaching resources directly to the relevant topic.
Information processing difficulties
Large volumes of text are hard to work through. Branching maps let a student expand one section at a time and collapse the rest, reducing the load at any given moment.
Show me how
Mulquatro is recommended to reduce the volume of information visible at any one time, allowing the student to focus on one section before expanding the next.
In practice
Where it fits in a student’s week
Students may use Mulquatro across a range of academic tasks to organise information, plan assignments, and review material in a structured visual format. By representing ideas visually, students can break complex topics into manageable sections, identify relationships between key concepts, and develop clearer structures for written work and revision.
Reading and research
Summarise the key points of a reading list into one map, with the source attached to each branch.
Essays and assignments
Build the argument visually, switch to outline view, then export to Word as a structured first draft.
Revision and exams
Revision maps work as visual prompts for recalling topics, themes and the relationships between them.
Group work and tutorials
Share a map with peers, a tutor or a study skills mentor and work on it together in real time.
Whichever way you think
Some students think in maps, others in lists. Switch between map and outline on the same content, any time.
Placements and fieldwork
Capture observations on a phone or tablet, offline, and organise them into a clear record afterwards.
Features
The features that do the assistive work
Visual Learning
Students can create visual diagrams that organise ideas around a central topic and represent relationships between concepts.
Outline View
Students can switch between visual maps and a linear outline format, supporting different stages of the learning process such as planning essays or organising revision notes.
Attaching Resources
Supporting materials such as documents, hyperlinks, notes, images, and videos can be attached directly to map topics, allowing students to keep research and notes organised in one place.
Presenter Mode
Supporting materials such as documents, hyperlinks, notes, images, and videos can be attached directly to map topics, allowing students to keep research and notes organised in one place.
Real-time Collaboration
Students can collaborate with peers or tutors on the same map, enabling shared brainstorming, project planning, or group assignments.
Accessible across devices
Mulquatro can be used on laptops, tablets, or smartphones, both online and offline, allowing students to access and develop their maps whenever needed.
Mobile App
Students can create, edit, and review maps on the go. This supports continuity of work and enables students to capture ideas, and engage with their study materials in a range of environments.
Intuitive User Interface
The user interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, with a focus on simplicity and efficiency. This allows students to focus on their learning and not on the technical aspects of the tool.
Compatibility
Works with the rest of the student’s toolkit
Mulquatro combines built-in accessibility with support for the assistive technology students already have, so a recommended package works as one setup rather than several.
- Compatible with text-to-speech tools (Read&Write, ClaroRead) for reading content aloud
- Supports speech-to-text tools (Windows Speech, macOS Dictation, Dragon) for dictating into topics and notes
- Works with screen readers and magnifiers (JAWS, SuperNova, ZoomText)
- Record or upload audio directly into a diagram
- Built-in dictation in the mobile app on iOS and Android
- Keyboard shortcuts for building and navigating a map without a mouse
Standards and conformance
An accessibility conformance statement covering WCAG criteria, and a VPAT for institutional procurement, are available for assessors and universities on request. Request the documentation.
Assessor toolkit
Justification document
Full feature-to-need mapping and recommended report wording.
Get the document →Book a demonstration
A walkthrough with our team, shaped around the needs you assess for.
Book a slot →Demonstration licence
A one-year licence for assessors, free of charge, so you can show it in a session.
Request a licence →Trainer resources
Guides, templates and short videos for AT trainers delivering DSA support sessions.
Open the help centre →Beyond graduation
The same tool works at work
The habits a student builds (like mapping a task before starting it, keeping everything attached to the idea it belongs to) carry straight into a job. Mulquatro is used the same way for workplace planning, meetings and projects, and can be considered as a visual planning tool under workplace support schemes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mulquatro available through DSA (Disabled Students’ Allowance)?
Can students import lecture notes directly into Mulquatro?
What device is required for Mulquatro?
Can students export their projects?
Can students upload handwritten notes to Mulquatro?
Can I have a demonstration licence for Mulquatro?
Is it easy for a student to activate their Mulquatro account?
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See it in an assessment session
Book a demo shaped around the needs you assess for, or read the justification document first. Both take about fifteen minutes.
Questions about licences or DSA orders? Email dsa@as-dsa.com.