Transcript What You Wish You’d Known!! Accessibility Options Windows XP & Microsoft Accessibility Options, Access Supports Stacy Springer, MS, OTR/L, ATP Assistive Technology Specialist Cabarrus County Schools,

What You Wish You’d Known!!
Accessibility Options
Windows XP & Microsoft Accessibility Options,
Access Supports
Stacy Springer, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Assistive Technology Specialist
Cabarrus County Schools, NC
Introduction
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.
Accessibility options are beneficial to individuals who have:

Dexterity pain in the hands, arms, and wrists

Motor difficulties, including use of only one hand

Eye strain and reduced vision

Hearing loss

To work in noisy or poorly lit environments
Today You Will Learn:

About technology options built in to your computer

How to adjust your computer so it is:
- Easier to see
- Easier to hear
- Easier to use the mouse
- Easier to use the keyboard

Additional free resources for computer access

Alternative/Adaptive mouse and keyboard inputs
3
Did you know???
1
in 4 people experience a visual difficulty
 1 in 4 people experience discomfort in
hands, arms, or wrists
 1 in 5 people have difficulty hearing
(Forrester, 2003) Microsoft funded study
These Options Make the Computer Easier to Use for
Everyone – Not Just for Those with Disabilities
Severe
Mild
None
Easier to use
More convenient
More comfortable
Work environment
Health problems
Less than 1%
Avoiding health
problems
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Base: US 18-64 year old computer users who use accessibility options
5
Continuum of Technology:
No Tech – High Tech
 Least
Restrictive Environment = Least
Restrictive Technology
 Always consider low tech before high tech
 Greater access across environments

All computers have accessibility options vs.
requiring specialized additional software
 Ease
of Use (students & team members)
Windows XP
Accessibility
Features
www.microsoft.com/enable/
Where to go: Classic View
Start → Control Panel →
Keyboard
Sounds
Display
Mouse
Accessibility Options
8
Vision Options
Display & Appearance:
Vision Options
To
magnify any window,
press Control key and scroll the
mouse wheel
Start → Control Panel →
Display

Appearance

Change the
font
size (normal,
large, extra large)
and color


Use large Icons
Customize individual
sizes
Start → Control Panel →
Display

Settings
 Change the
screen resolution
 To increase size,
lower the resolution
Start → Control Panel →
Accessibility Options → Display

Use high contrast
 Select Settings for
more contrast options
 Adjust cursor width
and blink rate
Start → Control Panel →
Sounds and Audio Devices

Sounds
 Can chose a sound
(‘ding’) to hear
when an icon or
other action is
performed
 Can save different
sounds schemes
Start → Control Panel →
Accessibility Options →
Keyboard

ToggleKeys
 If you want to hear
tones when
pressing CAPS
LOCK, NUM
LOCK, & SCROLL
LOCK
Start → All Programs →
Accessories → Accessibility
→ Magnifier

Magnify up to 9x
 Floating window or
dock
 Track mouse
movements or only
selections
 Can invert colors
Hearing Options
Start → Control Panel → Sounds
& Audio Devices → Sounds

Adjusts the volume &
sounds
Start → Control Panel →
Accessibility Options → Sounds

Sound sentry
 Gives Visual
warning when your
system makes a
sound
 Show Sounds
 Displays captions
for the speech and
sounds
Motor Options
Keyboard & Mouse
Start → Control Panel →
Keyboard → Speed

Adjust Character Repeat
Rate
 Repeat Delay (amount of
time that elapses before
a character repeats when
you hold down a key)
 Repeat Rate (the speed
at which a character
repeats when you hold
down a key)
 Cursor blink rate can also
be found here
Start → Control Panel → Regional
& Language Options → Languages
→Details



In the Text Services &
Input Languages, Select
ADD
Choose US Dvorak or
alternate keyboard
Dvorak keyboard can be
used for one-handed or
faster two-handed typing.
Start → Control Panel →
Accessibility Options → Keyboard


StickyKeys - designed
for people who have
difficulty or can not hold
down 2 or more keys at a
time (CTRL+ALT+DEL)
Turning on StickyKeys
allows you to press one
key at a time to perform
the action
Start → Control Panel →
Accessibility Options → Keyboard
 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
Start → All Programs →
Accessories → Accessibility →
On-screen keyboard

On-screen keyboard enables typing for individuals who cannot
access an external keyboard
 To activate letters
 Mouse
 Hover (dwell)
 Scan (change rate, select key function) – row, column
 Does not include word prediction
 Can adjust the font of the individual keys, but not the size of the
keys or keyboard
Start → Control Panel → Mouse
→ Button Properties



Switch Left/Right click
functions (for lefthanded users)
Adjust the double-click
speed to open folders
Turn on ClickLock allows the individual to
highlight or drag without
having to hold down the
mouse button
Start → Control Panel →
Mouse → Pointers
 Choose
a Pointer
scheme

For example:
Magnified or
Windows Black
Start → Control Panel →
Mouse → Pointer Options

Adjust the speed of
the pointer (mouse
cursor)
 Snap To - moves the
pointer to a default
button
 Visibility - pointer
trails; hide pointer;
show location
Start → Control Panel →
Accessibility Options → Mouse

Mousekeys - allows
the mouse pointer to
be controlled by the
keyboard instead of
the mouse
 Uses the number pad
to move the mouse
Keyboard Shortcuts
Press
To
Right SHIFT for eight seconds
Switch FilterKeys on and off.
Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN
Switch High Contrast on and off.
Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK
Switch MouseKeys on and off.
SHIFT five times
Switch StickyKeys on and off.
NUM LOCK for five seconds
Switch ToggleKeys on and off.
+U
Open Utility Manager.
30
Open MS Word → Tools →
AutoCorrect

Abbreviated Expansion Feature reduces
number of keystrokes required to produce a
word
 The user can assign a series of letters or
keystrokes
Type S S R J →
Stacy Springer, Reading Class, Mr. Johnson
Type SS →
Stacy Springer
Read Aloud
Options
XP Narrator
MS Text-to-Speech
MS Voice Recognition
Start → All Programs → Accessories
→ Accessibility → Narrator
 Very
Basic Text-to-Speech support
 Reads what is displayed on the screen



Contents of the active window
Menu options
Text that has been typed
 Reads
in Notepad and Word pad, not in
MS Word
 Does not allow you to select text, so it
reads the whole window – including
toolbars, links, and headings before
getting to the text.
Text-to-Speech
Open MS Word→ Tools → Speech





If you are prompted to train the speech recognition, select “cancel”
Click the microphone icon to turn off the speech recognition
feature
The “speak text” option does not appear by default. 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
Speech-to-Text
Voice Recognition
Open MS Word→ Tools → Speech
 This
enables the language bar for both
speech-to-text and text-to-speech options
 You will be guided through training needed
to create a user voice profile (15 minutes)
 You will need a microphone
 Can dictate directly into MS Office, not
other applications
You can make that talk?!?!!
Downloads for MS Word, Text-toSpeech, & Internet Browsers
Text-to-Speech
Microsoft Reader


Microsoft Reader for Windows (introduction)
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/default.asp
Microsoft Reader Download (free)





Will need to activate, then download some free books
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/pc.asp
Microsoft Reader Text-to-Speech Package (free)
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/tts.asp
Microsoft Reader Plug-In for MS Word (free - to make
ebooks)
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/rmr.asp
Microsoft Encarta dictionary for Microsoft Reader for Windows
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/dictionaries.asp
Text-to-Speech
NaturalReader

Download free from
http://www.naturalreaders.com/download.htm
 Reads (text-to-speech)





Text files
MS Word files
MS Internet Explorer Webpages
Adobe PDF files
Emails
Text-to-Speech

Word Talk
Word talk.
 Download free (http://www.wordtalk.org.uk/)
 Speak the text of the document.
 Highlight it as it goes.
 Contains a talking dictionary.
 Sits neatly in your toolbar.
 Allows configuring of highlight colors, voice and the
speed of the speech.
Text-to-Speech
Read Please

Read Please 2003 sits in the task bar.
 Download free from www.readplease.com
 A formatted clipboard is designed to read text from any
source.
 Offers three text voices.
 Highlights text as it reads.
 Adjustable font size
and color.
 Easy to use interface
with VCR-like controls.
Browsealoud

Free download for reading web pages aloud
 www.browsealoud.com
 Only works with websites that have partnered
with Browsealoud
CLiCK, Speak
A Free extension for Firefox web browser



Free extension for Mozilla Firefox – both Mac & PC http://clickspeak.clcworld.net/
Reads web pages
Auto Reading Mode or Speak Selection
Additional Resources
Onscreen Keyboard
Mouse Features
Click-N-Type








Free on-screen keyboard with word prediction
Lake Software - http://www.lakefolks.org/cnt/
Keyboard size can be adjusted, no limit
QWERTY & ABC layout
Change Keyboard colors
Modify & Add to word list
Dwell & Scan Access for Mouse Click
Windows 95 - Vista
BasicMouse
by Dolesoft






Disable Right Click of
Mouse
Can merge all mouse
buttons to act as left click
Also has options for
disabling various windows
keys
Assign key commands to
turn on/off basic mouse
Download for free trial
Purchase for $16.99
http://www.basicmouse.com/
Free Information
Microsoft Accessibility Web Site
•Microsoft Accessibility
www.microsoft.com/enable/
•Free Accessibility Resource CD Set
www.microsoft.com/enable/cd/
•Free Step-by-Step Tutorials for Windows,
Office, and Internet Explorer
www.microsoft.com/enable/tutorials/
•Free Accessibility Update e-newsletter
www.microsoft.com/enable/subscribe/
Your Local Assistive Technology Center
Try out assistive technology products and learn about additional options at
the South Carolina Assistive Technology demonstration center. Call (803)
935-5263 or (800) 915-4522 for an appointment.
Low Tech pointing devices
Typing pointers
Head pointers
Adaptations for keyboards
Keyguards
Stickers for keyboard
Adapted keyboards and mice
Remote (cordless)
keyboards and mice
Ergonomic keyboards
Adapted keyboards and mice
Trackball
Joystick
Touchpad
Adapted keyboards and mice
Head Mouse
Touch Screen
Switch access
Adapted keyboards and mice
One-Handed Keyboards
Adapted keyboards and mice
Expanded and
Programmable
keyboards
Intellikeys Keyboard
BigKeys and SAM Trackball
Adapted software
Word Prediction
Text-to-speech
Adapted software
Screenreading
Screen magnification
Voice recognition
SC AT Support

SCATP – South Carolina Assistive Technology Program Columbia, SC;
provides state-wide resources for the community; demonstration lab for
public; free trial loan of AT devices (only pay shipping); almost every
state has an AT center (tech act) - www.sc.edu/scatp

SC Department of Education Assistive Technology Regional
Specialists - trainings on assistive technology for districts and regions,
consultations, support for districts & schools, assistance in facilitating AT
teams





Midlands: Elizabeth Bagley, 803-935-5389, [email protected]
Pee Dee: Mary Jo Schneider, 843-669-3391 X21, [email protected]
Low Country: Sue Maloney, 843-987-0109, [email protected]
Greenville: Coming Soon
Coastal: Coming Soon
http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Educational-Services/RegionalServices/AssistiveTechnologyRegionalSpecialists.html
Resources







www.tamcec.org - TAM-CEC - Technology and Media Division of
the Council for Exceptional Children
www.ataccess.org –Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is the
national network of community-based Resource Centers
www.wati.org – (Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative) free
downloads & guides
www.gpat.org – (Georgia Project for Assistive Technology)
www.qiat.org – (Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology
Services) Best practice guides for School Services and free public
Listserv
www.lburkhart.com – Linda Burkhart’s webpage for resources
for supporting children with multiple complex needs
www.atto.buffalo.edu – (ATTO – Assistive Technology Training
Online Project, University of Buffalo) provides online trainings in
areas of AT
Questions?
Comments?
Stacy Springer, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Assistive Technology Specialist
Cabarrus County Schools, NC
[email protected]
Many Thanks to Dr. Carol Page O’Day
& SCATP for support and resources