Accessibility Tools
 

 

Accessibility Wizard-
asks you questions about your accessibility needs. Then, based on your answers, it configures utilities and settings for you. The Accessibility Wizard is a very useful tool which allows individuals to reconfigure their computer screen to best fit their needs. These tools include services for vision, hearing, or mobile needs. Some services include changing the font size or magnifying the screen for individuals with visual needs. Also, for those who are hearing impaired, individuals can change the sound options on their computer so that it is easier for them to use.

Accessibility Wizard
Accessibility Wizard Poor Good Excellent Comments
Cost     This product is FREE if you have Microsoft Office on your computer!
Usefulness     This tool is great for helping people with impairments to
be able to function efficiently on the computer.
User Friendly     This software tells you step by step what to do!
Magnifier-
is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable by people who have low vision by creating a separate window that displays a magnified portion of the screen. Magnifier provides a minimum level of functionality for people who have slight visual impairments.

 Magnifier
Magnifier Poor Good Excellent Comments
Cost     This product is FREE if you have Microsoft Office on your computer!
Usefulness     This product is very useful for people with visual impairments. Makes it possible to see everything on your screen with ease!
User Friendly     This tool is very easy to understand yet can be confusing on where to point to get the magnification in the right spot.

Narrator-

is a text–to–speech tool for people who are blind or have low vision. Narrator reads what is displayed on the screen—the contents of the active window, menu options, or text that has been typed. It is designed to work with Notepad, WordPad, Control Panel programs, Internet Explorer, the Windows desktop, and some parts of Windows Setup.

Narrator

Narrator Poor Good Excellent Comments
Cost     This product is FREE if you have Microsoft Office on your computer!
Usefulness     The tool is useful for the visually impaired however you have to be strong in English.
User Friendly     This tool is very easy to understand and you are able to easily change its settings to match your needs and wants.


On-screen Keyboard-

is a tool that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen that allows people with mobility impairments to type data by using a pointing device or joystick. On–Screen Keyboard can also help people who do not know how to type. On–screen Keyboard has three typing modes you can use to type data:

  • In clicking mode, you can select the on-screen keys to type text.
  • In scanning mode, On-Screen Keyboard continually scans the keyboard and highlights areas where you can type keyboard characters by pressing a hot key or by using a switch–input device.
  • In hovering mode, you use a mouse or joystick to point to a key for a predefined period of time, and the selected character is typed automatically.

On-Screen Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard Poor Good Excellent Comments
Cost     This product is FREE if you have Microsoft Office on your computer!
Usefulness     This is great because the keyboard is on the screen so you don't have to look down at your fingers when you need to be looking at the screen.
User Friendly     This is great for people of all ages and is very easy to use!

 

Utility Manager-

is a tool that allows easy access to all Accessibility Tools. There are settings on the Utility Manager that allow users to turn on and off the other tools.  The Utility Manager allows for personalization because users can set when certain tools should be used and when certain tools should not be used.  To access this tool, go to the Start button at the bottom of screen, up to Programs, over to Accessories, over to Accessibility, and click on Utility Manager.

Utility Manager

Utility Manager Poor Good Excellent Comments
Cost     This product is FREE if you have Microsoft Office on your computer!
Usefulness     This product lets you personalize your own desires on your computer desktop.
User Friendly     This product is difficult to understand your first time.

 
EDUC 260
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