Accessibility Options in Windows
By Joy Stapleton
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.”
Filter Keys is used to screen out unintentional repeated keystrokes, and Sticky Keys lets you press key combinations one key at a time instead of having to hold down multiple keys at once.
Filter Keys and Sticky Keys can be accessed by going to the Accessibility Options in the
Control Panel in Windows XP, or by going to the Ease of Access Center and selecting “Make the keyboard easier to use” in Vista and Windows 7.
Microsoft has provided a vast amount of information on Accessibility Options on their Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/ where you’ll find a host of demos, tutorials, and guides.
The Guides available on the site provide information on assistive technology products that are available for vision impairments, dexterity and mobility impairments, hearing and learning difficulties, and language and communication impairments.
You’ll also find helpful links to demos and tutorials within each of these guides to assist you with adjusting your PC to accommodate each of these impairments.
In the Product Information section, if you click on the “More Microsoft products and resources” link, that will take you to the “Accessibility in Microsoft Products” Web page, where you’ll find additional accessibility information on the following Windows software products and operating systems:
Microsoft Office products, and Microsoft browsers: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 6, and the MSN browser.
There are also tutorials available in the Reference section on that page that you can find by clicking on the” Product documentation in accessible formats” link, and if you click on the “Keyboard shortcuts” link you’ll find an extensive list of shortcuts for all of the above mentioned Microsoft products.
Joy Stapleton started out as a mainframe Programmer/Analyst in 1985. In 1992 she became a PC software developer and PC technician. As a private consultant, Joy provides PC technical services and develops Web sites.