Computer+Access

**What is Computer Access?** Computer Access is a set of tools and built-in computer features that allow individuals with disabilities to use a computer to the same extent as a non-disabled individual. These features are built in to Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, as well as, Mac OS X.
 * === COMPUTER ACCESS ===
 * In Windows, these features are catagorized under "Ease of Access". One can get to this menu by clicking on "Start">"Control Panel">"Ease of Access"
 * In Macs, these features are catagorized under "Universal Access". One can get to this menu by clicking on "System Preferences">"Universal Access"

**Some Features Available through Computer Access and How/Who they Help** **//Modifications for the Keyboard //** **StickyKeys ** What the StickyKeys feature does, is allow the individual using the computer to press one key, have it stick, and then press another. This is particularly useful for any shortcuts using SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, or any other similar types of keys, such as "CTRL" "P" to quickly get to the print menu. For individuals with poor fine motor skills, who cannot hold more than one key down at a time, this feature allows them to do so. (This is refered to as "StickeyKeys" in both Windows and Macs.)

**FilterKeys/SlowKeys ** This feature, called FilterKeys for Windows and SlowKeys for Macs, is used to place a delay on the acceptance of keys being pressed. In other words, one can tell the computer to only display the keys if they are held down for a determined amount of time. This feature is used to help individuals with involuntary hand tremors who may accidentally hit keys without meaning to.

**ToggleKeys ** The ToggleKeys feature allows the user to hear certian tones when they press CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, and SCROLL LOCK. This can help a visually impared individual recognize whether these specific keys have been pressed.

// **Modifications for the Mouse ** // **Mouse Speed ** Changing This feature allows you to speed up or slow down the mouse speed. For individuals that have a low range of motion, one will want to increase the mouse speed. On the other hand, for individuals with poor fine motor skills or even visual difficulties, the mouse speed should be slowed. By adjusting the speed to what a person needs, allows them to use the computer with more ease.

// **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Modifications for the Hearing Impaired ** // **<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Screen Flash Notifications ** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a feature thats a feature allows the user to tell the computer to display a visual warning, or flash, when the computer makes a sound. This can be helpful for individuals who have difficulty hearing the warning sounds a computer may make.

// **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Modifications for the Visually Impaired ** // **<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Magnification ** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Magnification is actually located Magnification allows the user to increase and decrease the size of the screen. This can be particualrly helpful for individuals who have very poor eyesight. In order to get to the Screen Magnifier in Windows, one must go to "Start">"All Programs">"Accessories">"Accessabilities". <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">For Macs, the magnification option is located under "Seeing" Option in "Universal Access".

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">

**<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Narrator ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Narrator is a tool that will read everything displayed on the computer screen aloud to the user. This feature is very helpful for individuals who either have poor eyesight or are blind.

**<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Contrast Change ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">This feature allows the user to change the contrast of the screen. they can brighten it, darken it, and even invert the background to a darker color and the letters to a lighter one. This feature is used to help people with visual disabilities see the screen clearer. For some individuals, the standard look of a computer screen in very irritating to the eyes, so to ease the pain and difficulties, one can adjust it to their liking.



**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Word Speech Recognition ** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">This feature allows the user to speak commands to the computer and have the computer follow the instructions. This is good for both visually impared individuals and those with poor fine motor skills.

//**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other Features **// **<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">On-Screen Keyboard ** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">This feature is built-in to Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. Once again, in order to access it you must go to "Start">"All Programs">"Accessories">"Accessabilities". This feature places a keyboard on the desktop, which the user can type with like the standard keyboard. This can help individuals with poor fine motor skills. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">If there is no built-in keyboard, like Mac users will discover, one can simply go to [], and download the "Click-N-Type" Keyboard.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Video Resources**

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">How To Use StickyKeys <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">media type="youtube" key="4brxT6vgc_g?rel=0" height="244" width="296"

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Features of Mac OS X Univeral Access <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">media type="youtube" key="OiFSPDCAxNE?rel=0" height="244" width="296"

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Web Resources** WATI-Computer Access Using Ease of Access Using Universal Access


 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">My Sources **

Dell, A, Newton, D, & Petroff, J. (2008). //Assistive technology in the classroom: enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities//. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

WATI. (2009). //Assessing students' needs for assistive technology (asnat)// [5th Edition]. (Assisstive Technology for Computer Access), Retrieved from []

Lake Software. (n.d.). //Click-n-type virtual keyboard by lake software//. Retrieved from []

Onlinecomputertips.com, Initials. (2005-2011). //Windows vista ease of access center- free computer tutorials//. Retrieved from []

Purdy, K. (2011, April 06). //Get more from windows 7's magnifier tool//. Retrieved from []

Microsoft. (2011). //Using the ease of access center//. Retrieved from []

Apple. (2011). //Apple-mac os x- universal access//. Retrieved from []

(2011). //Using StickyKeysin Windows 7 Ease of Access Center// [Web]. Available from []


 * (2007). //Mac OSX Univeral Features for sight impaired users// [Web]. Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiFSPDCAxNE**