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Accessibility Options in Windows (page 1 of 2)
By Joy Stapleton       Printer-friendly version

Windows has provided a number of built-in features to assist you if you have vision, hearing, or mobility problems. Most of the common Accessibility Options for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 include High-Contrast, Magnifier, Narrator, Mouse Keys, Sticky Keys and Filter Keys.

Options to aid readability and vision problems include settings for magnification and high-contrast (where Windows uses colors and fonts that are designed for easy reading), and Narrator is a basic screen reader that will read text aloud.

In Windows XP to use the Magnifier or Narrator go to Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> Accessibility --> and select the Magnifier or Narrator.

In Windows XP to use High Contrast go to Start --> Control Panel --> Accessibility Options --> select the Display tab and check the box for Use High Contrast.

In Vista and Windows 7 these options are available by going to Start --> Control Panel --> Ease of Access --> Ease of Access Center.

If hearing problems are making it difficult for you to hear the audio warnings that your PC provides when there’s a system alert you can add visual cues as warnings to assist you.

In Windows XP you can use SoundSentry to add visual cues by going to Start --> Control Panel --> Accessibility Options. Click on the Sound tab and then check the Use SoundSentry box.

In Vista and Windows 7 the visual cues are available by going to Start --> Control Panel --> Ease of Access --> Ease of Access Center and then click on “Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.”

Mouse Keys will allow you to use the arrow keys on the numeric keyboard to move the mouse pointer. In Windows XP go to Start ---> Control Panel ---> Accessibility Options --> click on the Mouse tab and then click on the Use MouseKeys box. If you check the Use Shortcut box in the Settings dialog box, you can toggle Mouse Keys on and off by pressing left-ALT + left-SHIFT + NUM LOCK.

In Vista and Windows 7 the Mouse options are available by going to Start --> Control Panel --> Ease of Access --> Ease of Access Center and clicking on “Make the mouse easier to use.”


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