About technology options built in to your computer. How t

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What You Wish Youd Known!! Accessibility
OptionsWindows XP Microsoft Accessibility
Options, Access Supports

• Stacy Springer, MS, OTR/L, ATP
• Assistive Technology Specialist
• Cabarrus County Schools, NC

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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

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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

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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

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These Options Make the Computer Easier to Use for
Everyone Not Just for Those with Disabilities
Less than 1
Base US 18-64 year old computer users who use
accessibility options
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Continuum of TechnologyNo 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)

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Windows XP Accessibility Features
www.microsoft.com/enable/
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Where to go Classic View
Start ? Control Panel ? Keyboard
Sounds Display Mouse
Accessibility Options
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Vision Options
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Display AppearanceVision Options

• To magnify any window, press Control key and
  scroll the mouse wheel

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Start ? Control Panel ? Display

• Appearance
• Change the font size (normal, large, extra large)
  and color
• Use large Icons
• Customize individual sizes

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Start ? Control Panel ? Display

• Settings
• Change the screen resolution
• To increase size,
• lower the resolution

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Start ? Control Panel ? Accessibility Options ?
Display

• Use high contrast
• Select Settings for more contrast options
• Adjust cursor width and blink rate

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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

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Start ? Control Panel ? Accessibility Options ?
Keyboard

• ToggleKeys
• If you want to hear tones when pressing CAPS
  LOCK, NUM LOCK, SCROLL LOCK

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Start ? All Programs ? Accessories ?
Accessibility ? Magnifier

• Magnify up to 9x
• Floating window or dock
• Track mouse movements or only selections
• Can invert colors

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Hearing Options
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Start ? Control Panel ? Sounds Audio Devices ?
Sounds

• Adjusts the volume sounds

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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

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Motor Options

• Keyboard Mouse

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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

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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.

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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 (CTRLALTDEL)
• Turning on StickyKeys allows you to press one key
  at a time to perform the action

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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

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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

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Start ? Control Panel ? Mouse ? Button Properties

• Switch Left/Right click functions (for
  left-handed 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

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Start ? Control Panel ? Mouse ? Pointers

• Choose a Pointer scheme
• For example Magnified or Windows Black

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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

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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

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Keyboard Shortcuts
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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

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Read Aloud Options

• XP Narrator
• MS Text-to-Speech
• MS Voice Recognition

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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.

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Open MS Word? Tools ? Speech
Text-to-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

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Voice RecognitionOpen MS Word? Tools ? Speech
Speech-to-Text

• 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

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You can make that talk?!?!!

• Downloads for MS Word, Text-to-Speech, Internet
  Browsers

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Microsoft Reader
Text-to-Speech

• 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.as
  p
• Microsoft Reader Plug-In for MS Word (free - to
  make ebooks)
• http//www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/rmr.as
  p
• Microsoft Encarta dictionary for Microsoft Reader
  for Windows
• http//www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/dictiona
  ries.asp

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Text-to-Speech
NaturalReader

• Download free from http//www.naturalreaders.com/d
  ownload.htm
• Reads (text-to-speech)
• Text files
• MS Word files
• MS Internet Explorer Webpages
• Adobe PDF files
• Emails

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Word Talk
Text-to-Speech

• 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.

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Read Please
Text-to-Speech

• 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.

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Browsealoud

• Free download for reading web pages aloud
• www.browsealoud.com
• Only works with websites that have partnered with
  Browsealoud

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CLiCK, SpeakA 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

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Additional Resources

• Onscreen Keyboard
• Mouse Features

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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

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BasicMouseby 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/
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Free Information

• Microsoft Accessibility Web Site
• Microsoft Accessibilitywww.microsoft.com/enable/
• Free Accessibility Resource CD Setwww.microsoft.c
  om/enable/cd/
• Free Step-by-Step Tutorials for Windows, Office,
  and Internet Explorerwww.microsoft.com/enable/tut
  orials/
• Free Accessibility Update e-newsletterwww.microso
  ft.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
  [phone] or [phone] for an
  appointment.

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Low Tech pointing devices
Head pointers

• Typing pointers

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Adaptations for keyboards

• Keyguards

Stickers for keyboard
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Adapted keyboards and mice

• Remote (cordless)
• keyboards and mice

Ergonomic keyboards
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Adapted keyboards and mice
Joystick
Touchpad
Trackball
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Adapted keyboards and mice
Head Mouse
Touch Screen
Switch access
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Adapted keyboards and mice
One-Handed Keyboards
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Adapted keyboards and mice

• Expanded and
• Programmable
• keyboards

Intellikeys Keyboard
BigKeys and SAM Trackball
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Adapted software
Word Prediction
Text-to-speech
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Adapted software
Screenreading
Screen magnification
Voice recognition
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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,
  ehbagley_at_ed.sc.gov
• Pee Dee Mary Jo Schneider, 843-669-3391 X21,
  mjschneiderat_at_gmail.net
• Low Country Sue Maloney, 843-987-0109,
  lowcountrygirl_at_hargray.com
• Greenville Coming Soon
• Coastal Coming Soon
• http//ed.sc.gov/agency/Educational-Services/Regio
  nal-Services/AssistiveTechnologyRegionalSpecialist
  s.html

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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 Burkharts 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

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• Questions?
• Comments?
• Stacy Springer, MS, OTR/L, ATP
• Assistive Technology Specialist
• Cabarrus County Schools, NC
• sspringe_at_cabarrus.k12.nc.us

Many Thanks to Dr. Carol Page ODay SCATP for
support and resources