Built-In Computer Adaptations and Accessibility Options
Basic Built-In Computer Adaptations & Accessibility Options
For Use with Students …… For Your Own Use, too!
Article Submitted by Karin Nord
Many student computer users (as well as their teachers) could benefit from using options on their computers that make it easier to see, hear, and use. Sometimes, the simplest change in the way your computer looks and acts can make a huge difference with independence. There are many applications/software, as well as hardware, that can also achieve these results. The focus of this article; however, will review what built-in accessibility options are available in Windows XP.
Accessibility options are beneficial to individuals who have motor difficulties, hearing loss, visual impairments, as well as non-optimal work environments (noise level and lighting).
When assessing a student’s need for computer access:
l Observe the student using standard equipment before making any adaptations. Note areas that are a struggle for the student.
l Make adjustments in small increments thus maintaining the focus on “least restrictive”. Consider low tech and small changes vs. jumping to the high tech solutions.
l When an adaptation is made, a trial period of at least six weeks to assess usefulness is recommended.
Windows XP Accessibility Features
By visiting the Microsoft website, www.microsoft.com/enable/ , you can get more information and see demos about all the different Accessibility features available in Windows XP.
Basically, you can adjust settings in the control panels named keyboard, sounds, display, mouse, and accessibility options. For explanations below, the “Classic View” is being used.
ü To magnify any window, press Control key and scroll the mouse wheel
To modify appearance of text, go to the Display control panel and choose “appearance”. On this tab, you can change the font size (normal, large, extra large) and color, choose “large icons” and customize individual sizes. In this same control panel under “settings”, you can change the screen resolution. To increase the size of the icons, lower the resolution.
Accessibility Options Control Panel
When you open the “Accessibility Options” control panel, you have several tabs where you can make changes.
Under “keyboard” tab, you have “StickyKeys”, “FilterKeys” and “ToggleKeys”.
StickyKeys are designed for people who have difficulty or cannot hold down 2 or more keys at a time (i.e., CTRL+ALT+
FilterKeys adjusts the keyboard response so that accidental repeated keystrokes are ignored OR slow the rate at which the key repeats when the key is depressed.
ToggleKeys will play tones when pressing the CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, & SCROLL LOCK keys.
Under the “sounds” tab, you have the choices to turn on “Sound Sentry” and “Show Sounds”. Sound Sentry gives a visual warning when your system makes a sound. Show sounds will display a caption for the speech and sounds.
Under the “display” tab, there are settings for high contrast and cursor width and blinking rate.
Under the “mouse” tab, you can turn on “Mousekeys”. Mousekeys allow the mouse pointer to be controlled by the keyboard instead of the mouse. It uses the number pad to move the mouse.
Motor Options for Computer Access
ü The Keyboard & Mouse both have individual control panels.
Under the keyboard control panel, you can adjust the speed of several things.
ü Adjust Character Repeat Rate
o Repeat Delay (amount of time that elapses before a character repeats when you hold down a key)
o Repeat Rate (the speed at which a character repeats when you hold down a key)
o The cursor blink rate can also be found here.
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Under the mouse control panel, you have several options.
o “Button properties” – this allows you to switch Left/Right click functions (for left-handed users); adjust the double-click speed to open folders, and allows you to turn on “ClickLock”. ClickLock allows the individual to highlight or drag without having to hold down the mouse button.
o “Pointers” – this allows you to choose a pointer scheme.
o “Pointer Options” – this allows you to adjust the speed of the pointer (mouse cursor). There’s also “snap to” which moves the pointer to a default button and “visibility” which addresses how movement of the mouse pointer is shown on the screen.
Other Accessibility/Modification Options
ü For a simple, built-in magnifier, go to your start menu; choose “all programs”, then “accessories”, “accessibility” and then “magnifier”.
o This simple magnifier can magnify up to 9 times and you can also invert your colors for easier viewing.
ü For a simple, on-screen keyboard, go to your start menu; choose “all programs”, then “accessories”, “accessibility” and then “on-screen keyboard”.
o The on-screen keyboard enables typing for individuals who cannot access an external keyboard. Keys can be selected by mouse, “hovering” over the letters and even scanning by row/column
o This simple on-screen keyboard does not include word prediction.
o The on-screen keyboard font can be changed, but you cannot change the size of the individual keys or the actual keyboard itself.
ü Read Aloud Options
o Windows XP also has some built-in readers: XP Narrator, MS Text-to-Speech, and MS Voice Recognition.
o XP Narrator can be found under “all programs”, “accessories”, “accessibility” and then “narrator”. It has very basic text-to-speech support. It reads what is displayed on the screen in the “active” window, menu options, and text that has been typed. It will read in Notepad and Wordpad, but not in MS Word. It does not allow you to select text, so it reads the entire window, including toolbars, links, and headings (before getting to the text).
o Text-to-Speech can be accessed by opening up MS Word, going to “tools” and then “speech”.
§ If you are prompted to train the speech recognition, select “cancel”
§ Click the microphone icon to turn off the speech recognition feature. Click on the down arrow on the right side of the toolbar. Select “speak text” (it will be added to the toolbar). Click “pause speaking” or “stop” as needed.
§ You may highlight text to have a specific section read out loud.
§ Does not highlight as it reads.
o Speech-to-Text can be accessed by opening up MS Word, going to “tools” and then “speech” just as the Text-to-Speech option is done.
§ You will need a microphone and will be guided through training needed to create a user voice profile (15 minutes).
§ Can dictate directly into MS Office, but not other applications.
