Robert Acosta, President
Helping Hands for the Blind
(818) 998-0044
www.helpinghands4theblind.org
From: dan Thompson [mailto:dthompson5@xxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2016 6:53 AM
To: dan Thompson
Subject: Using a Computer with a Visual Impairment: A Beginner's Guide to
Computer Accessibility, Dan's tip for Thursday June 16 2016
Today's tip is quite long. However, it is also very useful for a beginning
computer and/or one with a visual imparment.
Bill did an outstanding job bring all this information together.
Using a Computer with a Visual Impairment: A Beginner's Guide to Computer
Accessibility
By
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/about-visionaware/contributors/bill-holton/
235> Bill Holton
(Note: text of links inserted by Dan.)
Computer Access for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
Findings from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Preliminary
Report established that an estimated 20.6 million adult Americans (or nearly
10% of all adult Americans) reported they either "have trouble" seeing, even
when wearing glasses or contact lenses, or that they are blind or unable to
see at all.
Of course if you (or a loved one) have recently experienced profound vision
loss, these numbers are little more than mere statistics. We mention them
here for one reason: to assure you that you are not alone. Vast
resources-human, technical, medical, and rehabilitative-stand ready to
assist you in regaining your independence, resuming your career or starting
a new one, and, most importantly, increasing your enjoyment of life,
friends, and family.
In this section we will focus on the technical resources that are available
to those with visual impairments. We'll begin by describing one of the most
profound technological achievements to have benefited sight-impaired
individuals: the accessible personal computer.
This guide is organized into two main sections. The
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-i-access-for-the-novice-computer-user-with-a-visual-impairment/1
234> first section is for those with new visual impairments who are brand
new to computers. There, we talk about all of the ways in which computers
are helpful and useful, along with what to consider when purchasing a
computer.
The
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/1234> second section is for those with recent visual impairment who
already own, and have some experience using, a personal computer. There we
discuss the main components of accessibility and lay the groundwork for a
productive and happy computing experience.
Related Links
. <http://www.visionaware.org/info/reading-with-a-computer/5>
Reading with a Computer
.
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/specialty-reading-products-and-services/5>
Specialty Reading Products and Services
. <http://www.visionaware.org/info/helpful-products/5> Helpful
Products and Technology for Living with Vision Loss
.
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/audio-players-and-talking-books/5> Audio
Players and Talking Books
*Part I.:
"Access for the Novice Computer User with a Visual Impairment"
A. What a Computer Can Do for People with Visual Impairments
You may have a number of reasons for not using a computer up until this
point. Maybe you've felt that technology is depersonalizing. Perhaps you
tried using a computer briefly, became overwhelmed, and haven't touched one
since. Or perhaps you simply never felt the need to learn to use a computer
in the first place.
Whatever your reasons for not using a computer, your change in vision status
is a good time to rethink how technology can help you maintain your
independence. An accessible computer can be one of your most valuable tools.
Consider just a few of the tasks of daily living you will be able to
accomplish independently using a personal computer:
.
. Keeping in touch: E-mail is a great way to keep in touch with
friends and family. The social network <http://www.facebook.com/> Facebook
. www.facebook.com
.
. is another way to reengage in family life and keep in the know.
.
. Keeping up with the news: Most local and national newspapers,
including the <http://www.nytimes.com/> New York Times and
<http://www.usatoday.com/> USA Today,
* <http://www.usatoday.com/> http://www.usatoday.com/
*
. now publish online editions. These online editions often include a
great deal of additional content not available in the print editions. If
there is a subject that interests you, even narrow-focus topics like
community theater or one of the companies in your stock portfolio, you can
have <http://www.news.google.com/> Google News
* <https://news.google.com/> https://news.google.com/
*
. send new, relevant articles on this topic to your e-mail inbox.
.
. Handling finances: Online banking allows you to not only keep
track of your balances, but you can also monitor spending and pay
bills-nearly all of which you can have sent your way online so you don't
have to look for them in the mail.
.
. Shopping: You will marvel at the shopping opportunities that will
become available to you online. If you can find it in a store, you can
almost certainly purchase it online. In many communities you can even
grocery shop online and have everything delivered right to your front door.
.
. Catching up on your reading: Most books are now available in
digital formats, including those you can read on the
<http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Ereader-ebook-reader/dp/B007HCCNJU> Amazon
Kindle,
*
https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Ereader-ebook-reader/dp/B007HCCNJU/184-5086809
-6871022?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
.
. and those digitized by <http://www.gutenberg.org/> Project
Gutenberg,
* http://www.gutenberg.org/
.
. a vast repository containing nearly every work of literature
available in the public domain. You can also register for
<http://www.bookshare.org/> Bookshare,
. <http://www.bookshare.org> www.bookshare.org
.
. a membership service that allows individuals with print
disabilities to search, download, and read for free nearly 200,000 titles,
including the latest bestsellers.
. Saving money: Using a computer, you can speak directly to that
distant relation or pen pal who lives halfway around the world, with no long
distance charges, even to another country.
. Staying entertained: From accessing your local TV schedule to
renting and watching the latest hit movies, you won't miss your printed TV
Guide subscription or trips to the local video store. And don't worry about
reading the labels on your music CDs. Using a screen reader or screen
magnification, you can find the music you want online, discover and purchase
new music, or listen to it for free or via a low cost subscription.
. Reading your mail and other important documents: With a computer,
you won't need to hire a reader to help you go through your mail. Instead
you can use an image scanner and an optical character recognition (OCR)
program such as <http://www.kurzweiledu.com/kurzweil-1000-v12-windows.html>
Kurzweil 1000
* https://www.kurzweiledu.com/products/kurzweil-1000-v12-windows.html
.
. or <http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/LowVision/OpenBook>
OpenBook
* <http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/LowVision/OpenBook>
http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/LowVision/OpenBook
. to turn letters, fliers, and books into machine-readable text that
your computer can speak to you. Even cans and boxes from your pantry can be
identified for you using a hand scanner connected to your computer and the
Internet.
How a Computer Provides Access for Users with Visual Impairments
Computers use special programs, operating systems, and applications, to
perform tasks as varied as solving advanced mathematics problems to
displaying your grandchild's latest artwork on a screen. Though it might
seem that the majority of a computer's functionality relies on vision, the
truth is that text lies behind most of what a computer does, from
calculations to web pages. And since text can be output in an audible
format, under the right circumstances and with the right training, computers
are actually highly accessible to people with visual impairments. Think of
it this way: When you type an "A" on a computer keyboard, you can either see
that letter show up on the screen or hear it read aloud.
b. Desktops versus Notebooks or Laptops
When considering which kind of computer to purchase, one of the first things
you will want to decide is which type of computer will best suit your needs.
These days, most consumer personal computers are either desktops, which are
designed to be stationary, and notebooks or laptops, which are designed to
be portable. Let's see which of these designs is best for you.
Desktop Computers
Desktop computers are meant to remain stationary, on a desk or table. They
usually consist of several parts: the computer processing unit, which is
usually housed in a box-like case; a computer monitor; speakers; and a
keyboard and mouse. Some manufacturers combine two or more of these elements
into streamlined systems where the CPU, DVD drive, and speakers have all
been designed to fit inside the computer monitor.
Notebook or Laptop Computers
Doubtless you have encountered friends or family members who carry their
computers with them. Notebook or laptop computers are engineered to be
lightweight and easily carried around. They are similar to the streamlined
systems mentioned above but they also include a built-in keyboard, and often
replace the computer mouse with a square of glass called a touchpad that
allows you to control the computer with the touch of a finger.
Pros and Cons
Desktop computers often offer more memory and faster processing speeds for
the price, but notebook computers are easier to carry around. If you have
partial sight, a desktop with a large monitor may be in order, however most
notebook computers include an external monitor port to which you can connect
a second, larger monitor when you are using the notebook at home. Desktop
computers usually have more powerful speakers, a definite consideration when
using a screen reader to make your computer talk, though notebooks and
laptops usually do include audio jacks to which you can connect a pair of
headphones, or even a set of higher-fidelity, external speakers.
Once you've determined which type of computer you think would be best for
your needs, it's time to move on to the question of operating system.
Built-in Accessibility Features of Windows and OS X Computers
A computer's operating system, or OS, is the basic set of instructions that
bridges the gap between you, the user, and the computer's hardware. It
enables your computer to accept keyboard input, process data and display the
results on a screen, send information to a printer, or play audio content
through the computer's speakers.
These days the two most popular computer operating systems are Microsoft
Windows and Apple OS X. These systems are similar in many ways. They both
allow you to have more than one application running at the same time, such
as a word processor and an e-mail program. Both operating systems feature
visual text cursors and arrow pointers to indicate where text will be
entered and where you're pointing with the mouse, along with the display of
various collections of tiny pictures, or icons, that represent elements you
can interact with.
Both operating systems also include their own built-in accessibility tools,
which assist people with visual impairments in two main ways:
1. making visual elements easier to see and interact with via screen
magnification software
2. reading text and describing visual elements aloud via screen reading
software
We'll discuss screen magnification and screen reading in detail in Part II.
For now, let's take a closer look at the Windows and OS X operating systems.
Microsoft Windows: Considerations for the User with a Visual Impairment
Microsoft Windows has been around, in various versions, for more than 20
years. Windows 8.1 is the most current version, but Windows 7 is still among
the most popular computer operating systems. Windows XP is still also used
by millions, but Microsoft has ended support for this product, so we will
not discuss it here.
Microsoft licenses the Windows operating system to a variety of computer
manufacturers, which is why you will find Dell, Acer, Sony, HP, and many
other companies selling Windows computers.
All Windows 7 and 8.1 computers include the Microsoft Ease of Access Center,
where you can start the built-in screen magnifier program, Magnifier, and
the Narrator screen reader. These built-in accessibility features offer only
basic functionality, but they are improving with each new OS version.
Windows 8.1 offers substantially better built-in accessibility than Windows
7.
We'll go into detail about
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/windows-accessibility-options/12345> accessibility options and settings
for Windows computers in Part II.
Apple OS X: Considerations for the User with a Visual Impairment
Unlike Microsoft, Apple does not license OS X to other computer
manufacturers. OS X comes installed on every Apple laptop or desktop
computer and updates to the OS are usually free.
Apple has designed a complete accessibility suite that is built right into
the operating system. Indeed, the very first time a new Mac starts up, any
and all users are invited to turn on VoiceOver, the Apple native screen
reader, and to take a quick tutorial before using VoiceOver to set up your
new Mac.
Additional Considerations when Looking at Windows Versus OS X as a User with
a Visual Impairment
Hardware
Unlike Windows machines, Mac computers do not offer touchscreen controls.
They do offer small glass trackpads located just beneath the spacebar on
their notebook computers, and an optional Magic Trackpad for their desktop
units. Nearly all accessibility keyboard commands are also available, or can
be easily made so, to work with touch gestures as well as the keyboard. Many
find using these touch gestures simpler than using the multi-keystroke
commands used to operate screen access software .
Text-to-Speech: A Comparison
Here is a sample of Windows 7 Narrator text to speech found on YouTube:
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PEyKCTszP0>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PEyKCTszP0
Here is a sample of Windows 8.1 Narrator text to speech.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-cfj3kkmOM>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-cfj3kkmOM
Visit the <http://www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/#vision> Apple
Accessibility website to hear a sample of Alex speaking at a normal, slow,
or fast rate of speed.
<http://www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/#vision>
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/#vision
c. The Importance of Keyboard Skills for Computer Access for Users with
Visual Impairments
As a computer user with a visual impairment, the ability to use the computer
keyboard to both get around and issue commands is critical. Particularly if
you will be using a screen reader, you will rely on keyboard commands
instead of a mouse to get your computer work done. If you have spent your
life as a "hunt-and-peck" typist, you will want to develop at least some
touch-typing skills.
Windows and Mac keyboards share most of the same keys. All of the standard
letter, number, and punctuation keys familiar to most typists are usually
arranged in the same order on computer keyboards. A computer keyboard has a
number of extra keys, however, and the number and function of these keys
differs based on the kind of computer you have and the operating system
you're using. Here are a few basics:
The Windows Keyboard: An Overview
On a Windows keyboard, moving left from the spacebar you will find the Alt
key, the Windows Logo key, and the left Control key. Smaller keyboards
without a separate number pad (where the numbers are arranged like those on
a calculator or an adding machine) on the right may also have a key labeled
FN to the extreme left. Going up along the far left column of keys, you will
find the Shift key, the Caps Lock key, the Tab key, the Grave Accent key,
and then the Escape key. To the right of the Escape key and running across
the top of the keyboard you will find the F1 through F12 keys.
Returning to the spacebar and moving right you will find the right Alt key,
the Windows Application key, and then the right Control key. Moving just a
bit more to the right, there will be a grouping of Left, Right, Up, and Down
Arrow keys. On some keyboards the Arrow keys are arranged in an inverted "T"
arrangement, with the Left, Down, and Right cursor keys in a line, and the
Up cursor key situated just above the Down key. On others keyboards they are
arranged in more of a diamond formation, with the Down key positioned just a
tad lower than the Left and Right cursor keys.
Here are a few typing tutorial programs for Windows that you might consider:
. <http://tech.aph.org/tt_info.htm> Talking Typer from the American
Printing House for the Blind
* <http://tech.aph.org/tt_info.htm> http://tech.aph.org/tt_info.htm
*
.
. <http://www.yesaccessible.com/typeability.html> TypeAbility from
YesAccessible
* <http://www.yesaccessible.com/typeability.html>
http://www.yesaccessible.com/typeability.html
*
. The open-source, accessible version of the free
<http://www.typefastertypingtutor.com/accversion.html> TypeFaster Typing
Tutor
http://www.typefastertypingtutor.com/accversion.html
All of the above tutorials are Windows only. Unfortunately, to date we are
not aware of any accessible typing tutors available for Apple computers.
The Apple Keyboard: An Overview
The Command key is to the immediate left of the spacebar on the Mac
keyboard, the Option key is one key further to the left, and then you will
find the left Control key.
Just as on the Windows keyboard, going up along the far left column of keys,
you will find the Shift key, the Caps Lock key, the Tab key, the Grave
Accent key, and then the Escape key.
To the right of the Escape key and running across the top of the keyboard
you will find the F1 through F12 keys.
Returning to the spacebar and moving right you will find the right Command
key, the Option key, and then the right Control key. Moving just a bit more
to the right, there will be a grouping of Left, Right, Up, and Down Arrow
keys.
Computing Without a Mouse: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Both Windows and OS X include keyboard shortcuts that enable you to perform
most computer functions from the keyboard. Screen reader and magnifier
programs also use keyboard shortcuts-we'll discuss those commands later in
this guide. First, let's take a look at some of the most useful operating
system keyboard shortcuts.
Running Microsoft Windows from the Keyboard
If you are accustomed to using a mouse to run Windows, you may be pleasantly
surprised by just how well you can get along without one. For example, if
you've ever spent any time minimizing a collection of windows down to
taskbar icons so you can see your desktop, you may be surprised to learn you
can accomplish the same task with a quick press of Windows + M which will
minimize all applications at once, or Windows + D, which will bring your
Windows desktop to the forefront.
Here are several more of our favorite Windows keyboard shortcuts.
. The Windows Logo key: When pressed, it's like clicking the Windows
Start button. Begin typing to perform a search, or press the Tab or Left
Arrow key for other options.
. Alt: You don't need a mouse to access those menu bars at the top
of nearly every Windows application. The Alt key will take you to the very
first option. Use the Arrow and Tab keys to find the command you wish to
issue. Notice that many of these commands offer additional keyboard
shortcuts, such as CTRL + O to Open a file, CTRL + S to save it, and CTRL +
P to print a document.
. Tab and Shift + Tab: These keyboard commands will move you option
by option through many application options. For example, when composing an
e-mail in most e-mail applications, pressing the Tab key is a fast way to
move from the To, From, Subject, message text, and other fields. Shift + Tab
will move you in reverse through the same fields. Additionally, when you
surf the Web, the Tab and Shift + Tab keys will move you up and down the
webpage one link, combo box, text entry field, or other element at a time.
. Alt + Tab and Shift + Alt + Tab: If you have more than one Windows
application open at the same time, use these key combinations to cycle your
way through them. Hold down Alt or Alt + Shift and hit Tab to cycle through
each open window in turn. Release all keys when you reach your destination
window.
. Windows + T: This key combination will move you directly to your
taskbar, where you can open an application that has been pinned there or
switch to another running application quickly.
. Alt + F4: This exits an application and closes its window.
. Alt + Spacebar: This presents you with the options to Move, Size,
Minimize, Maximize, or Close the active application window.
. Shift + Arrow keys: When working with text, if you hold down the
Shift key while using the Left or Right Arrow keys, text will be highlighted
character by character as if you selected it with a mouse in the same
direction. Shift + Left or Right Arrow + CTRL will highlight text a word at
a time. Holding down the Shift key while using the Up or Down Arrows
highlights text one line at a time.
. CTRL + C, CTRL + X, and CTRL + V: Even devoted mouse users enjoy
using these keyboard alternatives for copying (CTRL + C), cutting (CTRL +
X), and pasting (CTRL + V) text and/or files.
. The Windows Application or Shift + F10 key: Many Windows keyboards
include an Application key immediately to the right of the right Alt key.
Pressing this key is like pressing your right mouse button to call up a list
of program options. If you do not have an Application key, pressing Shift +
F10 will accomplish the same thing.
. The Enter key: In most places where performing a left mouse click
is required, pressing the Enter key will perform the same task. Other times
you will need to use your screen reader's left click shortcut, which we will
discuss later.
This list is just a selection of the
<http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/126449> Windows keyboard shortcuts that
are available.
Here is a more complete list at the link below.
<https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/126449>
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/126449
With Windows 8.1, Microsoft
<http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/new-keyboard-shortcuts/?v=t>
introduced a number of new keyboard shortcuts to enhance functionality with
the updated operating system. These can be found here:
<http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/new-keyboard-shortcuts/?v=t>
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/new-keyboard-shortcuts/?v=t
Running OS X from the Keyboard
If you are accustomed to using a mouse to run your Mac, you may be
pleasantly surprised by just how well you can get along without one. For
example, if you've ever spent any time minimizing a collection of OS X
applications to clear the clutter from your desktop, you may be surprised to
learn you can accomplish this task with a single shortcut, Command + Option
+ M, which minimizes all of your active windows to the dock.
Here are several more of our favorite OS X keyboard shortcuts.
. Control + F2: You don't need a mouse to access those menu bars at
the top of nearly every application. Press Control + F2 to go directly to
the Apple Menu. Use the Right and Left Arrow keys to move between the menus,
then press Enter to make a selection. Notice that many of the menus offer
additional keyboard shortcuts, such as Command + O to open an application or
a file, Command + S to save a file and Command + P to print it.
. Tab and Shift + Tab: These keyboard commands will move you option
by option through many application options. For example, when composing an
e-mail in the Apple Mail program, pressing the Tab key is a fast way to move
through the To, From, Subject, message text, and other fields. Shift + Tab
will move you in reverse through the same fields. Additionally, when you
surf the Web, the Tab and Shift + Tab keys will move you up and down the
webpage one link, combo box, text entry field, or other element at a time.
. Command + Tab and Shift + Command + Tab: If you have more than one
Mac application open at the same time, use these key combinations to cycle
your way through the various open windows. Hold down the Command or Shift +
Command keys to Tab through each open window in turn, and release all keys
when you reach your destination window.
. Command + Q: This is the keyboard command to exit an application
and close its window.
. Shift + Arrow keys: When working with text, if you hold down the
Shift key while using the Left or Right Arrow keys, text will be highlighted
character by character as if you passed over it with a mouse in the same
direction. Shift + Left or Right Arrow + Option will highlight text a word
at a time. Holding down the Shift key while using the Up or Down Arrows
highlights text one line at a time.
. Command + C, Command + V, and Command + X: These shortcuts copy
(Command + C), paste (Command + V), and cut (Command + X) text and/or files.
If you wish to move the object, use Command + Option + V.
. The Enter key: In most places where performing a left mouse click
is required, pressing the Enter key will perform the same task. Other times
you will need to use VoiceOver's left click shortcut, which we will discuss
later.
. Command + Spacebar: This is the shortcut to summon Spotlight, the
Mac system search function. Want to send an e-mail? Type "mail" in the
Spotlight text entry field and Mail will likely be at the very top of the
results list.
These are just a selection of all of the Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts
. The rest can be found here:
* https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201236
*Part II. For the Experienced Computer User with a New Visual Impairment
This section is designed for those who have some experience with computers
and who are recently visually impaired, and for those computer novices with
visual impairments who have recently purchased a computer with the help of
the information in Part I of this guide. In Part II, we'll first take a look
at which parts of the computing experience require accessibility solutions,
then we'll introduce
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/screen-readers-and-screen-magnifiers/12345> screen readers and screen
magnifiers. Be sure to read why
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-i-access-for-the-novice-computer-user-with-a-visual-impairment/t
he-importance-of-keyboard-skills/12345> keyboarding and keyboard shortcuts
are critical to accessible computing before launching into our detailed
discussion of
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/windows-accessibility-options/12345> Windows and
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/apple-os-x-accessibility-options/12345> Apple accessibility settings and
software.
a. Using a Computer With Low Vision or Without Sight
You may be asking yourself, "How is it possible to use a computer when I can
no longer see the screen well enough to read the text or manipulate a
computer mouse?" The good news is that you can indeed operate a computer,
even with absolutely no sight at all. As a sight-impaired individual, the
difficulties you may encounter when learning to use or continuing to use a
computer fall into just a few basic categories:
. Accessing the screen to determine the location of all the various
menus and controls you will need to surf the Internet, create a document,
read your e-mail, or use any other computer program.
. Keeping track of the constant flow of new screen information.
. Using a computer mouse to navigate the screen and issue commands.
. Confirming that the information you enter into documents and
fields is correct and in the right location.
Believe it or not, accomplishing any and all of the above poses no
insurmountable challenges. How you can best accomplish these tasks will
depend on your level of sight.
b. Screen Readers and Screen Magnifiers: An Introduction to Computer
Accessibility Software
The two main computer accessibility tools are screen magnifiers and screen
readers. If you have little to no usable vision you will be best served with
screen reading software, which reads aloud all of the text and text-based
elements displayed on a computer screen. If you have some usable sight, you
might find screen magnification software, which enlarges the information
displayed on a computer screen, helpful on its own or used in concert with a
screen reader.
Built-in versions of screen readers and screen magnifiers are included on
both OS X and Windows 7 and 8.1 computers. In addition, there are both free
and paid options available that we will discuss later in this guide. First,
let's take an introductory look at how these programs help users with visual
impairments use a computer.
Screen Magnification Software
The most basic task of screen magnification software is to magnify the
screen. Some screen magnifiers enlarge text, icons, and other graphics up to
20 times or more. If you are typing an e-mail while using a screen
magnifier, for example, the program will enlarge the words you type to make
them easier to read. As you type characters, issue keyboard commands, or
move your mouse, a magnified screen view will keep up with what you are
doing and where you are focused on the screen.
Screen magnifiers can also enlarge and enhance mouse and text cursors to
make them easier to see and track. Magnifiers can also sharpen edges,
increase contrast, and change color combinations to make things easier to
see.
Since vision acuity differs from person to person, screen magnifiers give
users many options to customize what to magnify and what to highlight or
sharpen. You'll probably spend considerable time at the beginning optimizing
various settings for your particular needs, but this is a one-time chore.
Once you save your settings they will be available anytime you use your
computer.
Screen Reading Software
Screen readers speak letters, words, numbers, punctuation, and elements
aloud, sending the voice output to your computer speakers or connected
headphones. Screen readers are the default computer access method for people
who are unable to see the computer screen. Even users with partial sight
will want to learn about, and most likely use, screen readers. Perhaps right
now you can operate a computer perfectly fine with just a bit of screen
magnification, but what if your vision deteriorates? Even if your functional
vision remains steady, pairing a screen reader with a screen magnifier will
enable you to spend more time using your computer with minimal eye strain.
Screen readers use one of a growing number of computer voices, also called
text-to-speech engines, to speak text. You've probably already heard these
voices in use on phone trees and the US Weather Bureau forecast cable
weather channel, and in airport gate announcements and TV commercials
featuring the Apple Siri voice. The voices are usually customizable, giving
you the ability to set volume, pitch, tone, and speed. You can start out
with a slow voice, then, as you grow accustomed to the program, speed it up
to the point where you may be able to read text faster than a computer user
with sight.
Of course a screen reader must do a lot more than simply read the computer
screen. As you enter data, click links, or issue other commands, the
computer screen changes. If you had to wait for the software to read the
full screen each and every time a single letter or graphic changed, you
would never get much done. That's the "special sauce" in these software
programs: screen readers use a bit of artificial intelligence to determine
what information you may wish to hear at any given time. Full-feature screen
readers include dozens of screen reader keyboard shortcuts that will read
highlighted text, characters, words, paragraphs, and any number of other
text elements. Screen readers can announce each keystroke as you press it,
decode and describe icons, and even describe certain graphic images. Screen
readers also include special mouse navigation keys that allow you to
manipulate the mouse pointer, moving it wherever on the screen you like, and
to press other keys to perform a mouse click or double click.
If you are learning to read and write braille, most screen readers offer an
additional useful option. Instead of having your screen read out loud, you
can obtain a refreshable braille display and use your screen reader without
audible speech.
Before taking a closer look at screen readers and magnifiers, let's talk
about the importance of keyboarding and typing skills for accessible
computing
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/the-importance-of-keyboard-skills/12345>
http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-com
puter/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairment
/the-importance-of-keyboard-skills/12345
Windows Accessibility Options for People who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
Both Apple OS X and Microsoft Windows include absolutely free, built-in
accessibility features. In this section we will show you how to summon the
Windows Ease of Access Center, a suite of software and special settings that
can assist users with visual impairments and those with hearing, motor, and
cognitive impairments.
.
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/windows-accessibility-options/12345#ease> Ease of Access Center
.
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/windows-accessibility-options/12345#tips> Tips for Web Browsing
.
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/windows-accessibility-options/12345#magnifier> Windows Magnifier Screen
Magnification Program
.
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/windows-accessibility-options/12345#narrator> Windows Narrator Screen
Reader
.
<http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/using-a-co
mputer/part-ii-for-the-experienced-computer-user-with-a-new-visual-impairmen
t/windows-accessibility-options/12345#getting_help> Help with Windows
Accessibility for Users with Visual Impairments
Ease of Access Center
Both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 include the Ease of Access Center. The
simplest way to get started is by pressing and holding down the Windows Logo
key (located at the bottom left of the keyboard between the CTRL and Alt
keys) while pressing the letter U. In Windows 8.1 when you release the keys,
a screen with the following text will appear (Note: the Windows 7 Ease of
Access Center includes all of the same options in a slightly different
screen layout):
. Make your computer easier to use
. Quick access to common tools
You can use the tools in this section to help you get started. Windows can
read and scan this list automatically. Press the SPACEBAR to select the
highlighted tool of your choice:
. Always read this section aloud
. Always scan this section
. Start Magnifier Alt-G
. Start Narrator Alt-N
. Start On-Screen Keyboard Alt-K
. Set up High Contrast Alt-U
Not sure where to start? Get recommendations to make your computer easier to
use Alt-R. Explore all settings. When you select these settings, they will
automatically start each time you sign in.
. Use the computer without a display
. Optimize for blindness
. Make the computer easier to see
. Optimize visual display
. Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard
. Set up alternative input devices
. Make the mouse easier to use
. Make the keyboard easier to use
. Use text or visual alternatives for sound
. Make it easier to focus on tasks
. Make touch and tablets easier to use
Notice how several of the Ease of Access Center options list keyboard
shortcuts you can use to activate them, such as Alt + G to start Magnifier,
the built-in screen magnifier, and Alt + N to start the Narrator built-in
screen reader. Press the Tab key to move item by item down the list. Press
the Enter key to make a selection.
Launch Narrator or Magnifier Using the Windows Logo key
Here's an even quicker way to access Magnifier or Narrator on your Windows 7
or Windows 8.1 computer. Simply press the Windows Logo key, then type
"Magnifier" or "Narrator," depending on which one you wish to open. Press
the Enter key, and the program should begin running almost immediately.
In Windows 8.1 there is one additional way to start Narrator. Simply press
the Windows Logo key + Enter once to turn Narrator on and a second time to
turn it off.
Making Your Windows Computer Easier to See Without Using Magnifier: Tips for
those with Low Vision
It may be that your vision is such that you don't need to rely on the full
power of the Magnifier program.
If this is the case, try accessing the Ease of Access center and selecting
"Make your Computer Easier to See." There, among other options, you can:
. Choose a built-in high contrast theme
. Toggle high-contrast mode off and on when you press Alt + Left
Shift + Print Screen
. Change your desktop background image and color
. Change the size of text and icons
. Select a different mouse pointer
. Set the thickness of the blinking cursor
. Adjust the color and transparency of window borders
. Make the focus rectangle thicker
. Turn off all unnecessary animations
c. Windows Accessibility Options for People who Are Blind or Have Low
Vision
Both Apple OS X and Microsoft Windows include absolutely free, built-in
accessibility features. In this section we will show you how to summon the
Windows Ease of Access Center, a suite of software and special settings that
can assist users with visual impairments and those with hearing, motor, and
cognitive impairments.
.
Ease of Access Center
Both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 include the Ease of Access Center. The
simplest way to get started is by pressing and holding down the Windows Logo
key (located at the bottom left of the keyboard between the CTRL and Alt
keys) while pressing the letter U. In Windows 8.1 when you release the keys,
a screen with the following text will appear (Note: the Windows 7 Ease of
Access Center includes all of the same options in a slightly different
screen layout):
. Make your computer easier to use
. Quick access to common tools
You can use the tools in this section to help you get started. Windows can
read and scan this list automatically. Press the SPACEBAR to select the
highlighted tool of your choice:
. Always read this section aloud
. Always scan this section
. Start Magnifier Alt-G
. Start Narrator Alt-N
. Start On-Screen Keyboard Alt-K
. Set up High Contrast Alt-U
Not sure where to start? Get recommendations to make your computer easier to
use Alt-R. Explore all settings. When you select these settings, they will
automatically start each time you sign in.
. Use the computer without a display
. Optimize for blindness
. Make the computer easier to see
. Optimize visual display
. Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard
. Set up alternative input devices
. Make the mouse easier to use
. Make the keyboard easier to use
. Use text or visual alternatives for sound
. Make it easier to focus on tasks
. Make touch and tablets easier to use
Notice how several of the Ease of Access Center options list keyboard
shortcuts you can use to activate them, such as Alt + G to start Magnifier,
the built-in screen magnifier, and Alt + N to start the Narrator built-in
screen reader. Press the Tab key to move item by item down the list. Press
the Enter key to make a selection.
Launch Narrator or Magnifier Using the Windows Logo key
Here's an even quicker way to access Magnifier or Narrator on your Windows 7
or Windows 8.1 computer. Simply press the Windows Logo key, then type
"Magnifier" or "Narrator," depending on which one you wish to open. Press
the Enter key, and the program should begin running almost immediately.
In Windows 8.1 there is one additional way to start Narrator. Simply press
the Windows Logo key + Enter once to turn Narrator on and a second time to
turn it off.
Making Your Windows Computer Easier to See Without Using Magnifier: Tips for
those with Low Vision
It may be that your vision is such that you don't need to rely on the full
power of the Magnifier program.
If this is the case, try accessing the Ease of Access center and selecting
"Make your Computer Easier to See." There, among other options, you can:
. Choose a built-in high contrast theme
. Toggle high-contrast mode off and on when you press Alt + Left
Shift + Print Screen
. Change your desktop background image and color
. Change the size of text and icons
. Select a different mouse pointer
. Set the thickness of the blinking cursor
. Adjust the color and transparency of window borders
. Make the focus rectangle thicker
. Turn off all unnecessary animations
d. Tips for Web Browsing
If you are browsing the Web, there are a few additional settings that can
help increase your enjoyment and productivity.
In most browsers, the F11 key will toggle you from normal view to full
screen. The latter will hide all of those distracting menu bars and other
icons. Also in the View menu of most browsers there is a Zoom option that
will enlarge the currently displayed webpage.
Web developers like to use different sized fonts and a variety of colors to
make their websites stand out. These constantly changing text sizes, hues,
and intensities can make browsing more difficult than it needs to be for the
Web surfer with a visual impairment.
If you are using a Windows computer with Internet Explorer as your browser,
you can override these changes and create more visually accessible webpages,
either on a one-time basis or for all future webpages.
Here's how: In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and select Internet
Options. Use the Fonts and Colors options to make your desired changes. If
you want to make these settings permanent, select Accessibility, where you
will be given the chance to do the following:
. Ignore colors specified on webpages
. Ignore font styles specified on webpages
. Ignore font sizes specified on webpages
. Ignore default caption colors and fonts
Most of these options can also be found in the Firefox browser by going to
the Tools menu, selecting Options, and then selecting Content.
e. Low Vision Computer Screen Access Using the Windows Magnifier Screen
Magnification Program
As described previously, you can start Windows Magnifier either through the
Ease of Access Center, where you can instruct Windows to start the program
every time you turn on your computer, or by pressing the Windows Logo key,
typing "Magnifier," then pressing Enter. There is another way to magnify the
screen quickly without launching Magnifier itself. Simply press the Windows
+ Plus key combination to enlarge the screen, and Windows + Minus key to
reduce screen size.
You can use Magnifier's Zoom control, or the Windows + Plus key combination
to enlarge your screen up to 16 times.
Windows Magnifier offers three different ways to enlarge the screen.
. Full screen: In full screen mode, the contents of the entire
screen will be magnified. Naturally, this means not all of the information
can be shown at once, so you may need to scroll around the screen
considerably to be productive. With Magnifier running, press CTRL + Alt + F
to activate full screen mode.
. Lens mode: Lens mode is like holding a magnifying glass up to your
computer display: a portion of the screen will be magnified; the rest will
appear normally. The lens follows the mouse pointer or text cursor. You can
also use the mouse to move the reading lens. With Magnifier running, press
CTRL + Alt + L to activate Lens mode.
. Docked view: In Docked view, a portion of your screen is "docked"
to your display, and the information presented changes as you move about the
screen. With Magnifier running, press CTRL + Alt + D to activate Docked
mode. The "docked" portion of the screen stays unmagnified.
Whenever you start Magnifier, the program's toolbar appears briefly, then
gets out of your way. You can summon it again by clicking the magnifying
glass icon on your screen or the Magnifier icon on your computer's taskbar.
Use the Options menu to set the percentage increment each press of the Zoom
key increases or decreases the enlargement. You can also turn on color
inversion to reverse colors on the screen. Reversing colors can make text
easier to read.
A
<http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-use-windows-7-magnifier-make-co
mputer-screen-easier-see.htm> list of Magnifier hotkeys and other useful
information is available from Microsoft.com.
Partial sight is unique to each individual. Consequently, there are no
"best" settings-only the settings that are best for you. Experiment with the
settings until they work for you. You may find that Windows Magnifier is the
only computer access product you need. Or perhaps Magnifier combined with
the screen reading features of Narrator will do the trick.
You may also discover that you need a bit more help. Happily, there are
several third-party screen magnifier software programs available. We'll
discuss them in a later section.
You may also find it helpful to run both a screen magnifier and a screen
reader simultaneously. Let's turn our attention to Windows Narrator in the
next section.
f. Low Vision and Blind Computer Screen Access Using the Windows Narrator
Screen Reader
As described previously, you can start Windows Narrator either through the
Ease of Access Center, where you can instruct Windows to start the program
every time you turn on your computer, or by pressing the Windows Logo key,
typing "Narrator," then pressing Enter. Windows 8.1 users have an additional
option: press the Windows + Enter keyboard shortcut to toggle Narrator on
and off.
Narrator and other screen readers will speak dialogue boxes and error
messages as they appear on your screen. They will also speak pertinent
screen elements, such as new text, icons, and field names and data as they
appear or become important to your computing session. For example, use the
Left Arrow key to move one space to the left in your text and Narrator will
echo the character that is now beneath the cursor. Use Control + Right Arrow
to move one word to the right and you will hear that new word spoken aloud.
Tab your way down a webpage link by link and you will hear the text
associated with each link.
Narrator and other screen readers devote a lot of processing power to
helping you keep up with an ever-changing computer screen. But they also
offer a host of other keyboard shortcuts that enable you to reread a part of
a screen, even an entire document.
Here is a partial list of screen elements you can review using Narrator
keyboard shortcuts:
. Read the current character
. Read the current word
. Read the current line
. Read the current page
. Read the current document
Microsoft greatly enhanced the functionality of Narrator to help support
Windows 8.1. Consequently, we will need to discuss the old and new versions
of the Windows built-in screen reader separately.
Narrator for Windows 7
Narrator for Windows 7 includes a somewhat limited feature set. For many
users, the Narrator for Windows 7
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PEyKCTszP0> text-to-speech voice also
leaves a lot to be desired. That said, Narrator was never meant to be a
full-featured screen reader. As you will see in the next section, there are
several companies that offer complete screen reader solutions. Narrator for
Windows 7 is best used as an emergency screen reader to help you install
your main screen reader, or to provide audible cues for Magnifier users when
they move the mouse or wish to have an entire screen read out to them.
Here are several Narrator for Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts you may find
useful.
. Insert + F3: Read the current character
. Insert + F4: Read the current word
. Insert + F5: Read the current line
. Insert + F7: Read the current page
. Insert + F8: Read the current document
.
<http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hear-text-read-aloud-narrator#1T
C=windows-7> A full list of Narrator for Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts and
other helpful information is available from Microsoft at the link below.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hear-text-read-aloud-narrator#1TC
=windows-7
g. Narrator for Windows 8.1
Narrator for Windows 8.1 features a pair of extremely high-quality
text-to-speech voices, one female and one mmale.
These samples voices can be heard at this link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-cfj3kkmOM
Narrator for Windows 8.1 features a pair of extremely high-quality
text-to-speech voices- <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-cfj3kkmOM> one
male and one female-that are much easier to comprehend and listen to for
extended periods of time than the voice provided in Windows 7. Narrator for
Windows 8.1 also includes commands for touchscreen displays.
Nearly all of the keyboard shortcuts have been changed in this latest
version of Narrator. Here is the Narrator for Windows 7 sample commands list
from above, this time with their new Windows 8.1 keyboard shortcuts:
. Control + Caps Lock + Right Bracket (]): Read the current
character
. Control + Caps Lock + P: Read the current word
. Control + Caps Lock + O: Read the current line
. Control + Caps lock + U: Read the current page
. Caps Lock + H.: Read the current document
.
<http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/hear-text-read-aloud-with-narr
ator?v=t> A full list of Narrator for Windows 7 keyboard commands,
touchscreen gestures, and other helpful information is available from
Microsoft at the link below.
.
<http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hear-text-read-aloud-narrator#1T
C=windows-7>
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hear-text-read-aloud-narrator#1TC
=windows-7
h. Getting Help with Windows Accessibility for Users with Visual
Impairments
In this guide we have demonstrated how it is possible to continue using a
Microsoft Windows computer, or to use one for the very first time, with
either low or no vision. As you gain experience using a computer with a
visual impairment you will doubtless have many questions and may
occasionally need a bit of help or technical support. In this section we
will list just a few of the many excellent resources available for
assistance.
The Microsoft Accessibility Answer Desk
Microsoft offers free technical support for users of Windows accessibility
products. Their technicians are knowledgeable about both accessibility and
mainstream products, and are even able to log onto your computer, if
necessary, to offer assistance in running a particular piece of software
(even third-party software) with a screen reader or magnifier.
Microsoft's <https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/answerdesk/accessibility>
Accessibility Answer Desk,
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/answerdesk/accessibility
Or call800-936-5900, is available in North America from 5 am to 9 pm Pacific
during the week, and 6 am to 3 pm Pacific on the weekends. English Language
only.
One-on-One Training
Your rehabilitation agency may be able to provide you with one-on-one
computer access training. These sessions can either be provided at a
training center, in person at your residence, or via phone or audio/video
chat using Skype or other computer communications software.
<http://www.youtube.com/> YouTube
www.youtube.comBelieve it or not, this video sharing site is a veritable
treasure trove of information about running a Windows computer with
accessibility. Search for "Windows Narrator," "browsing the Web with a
screen reader," or other similar topics and you will be amazed by the
quantity, quality, and "listenability" of the results.
.
*III. Blind and Low Vision Windows Computer Access Using Third-Party Screen
Magnifiers and Screen Readers
Several companies offer third-party screen magnification and screen reading
solutions. These products generally offer more features than the built-in
accessibility options in Windows. They can also be more easily customized
and modified to fulfill a particular user's education or employment
accessibility needs.
Third-party magnification software offers more powerful magnification, and
can produce highly magnified screens with sharper contrast and smoother
fonts than what is offered through Windows Magnifier. Most third-party
solutions also "process" the screen, rewriting it into a single column
that's easier to scroll. If you consider that at a magnification level of
just 4x, only 1/16th of the screen can be shown on the computer's display at
a time, reducing the amount of scrolling required can save a great deal of
time and frustration.
Third-party screen readers generally offer a wider selection of
text-to-speech voices, and you can often mix them, using one voice, say, to
read a document, and another to follow and read your mouse cursor. They also
include many more keyboard shortcuts to help you get the screen information
you want to have spoken without extra verbiage that can slow you down.
Many users with partial sight are best served with one of the screen
magnifier and screen reader combination packages described below. It can be
quite restful to your eyes and mouse scrolling hand to have the screen
reader speak long passages of text. Also, if your vision is changing, a
combination pack can offer a relatively smooth transition from being able to
view a computer display with just a bit of help to not being able to see it
at all.
If you spend any time at all using Magnifier or Narrator, you owe it to
yourself to at least try a third-party solution. They range from completely
free to upwards of $1,000. Happily, all of the products we will describe
here offer a free trial or a timed-demo mode, which means you can run the
software for a limited time (usually less than an hour), restart your
computer, then run it again. This gives you ample opportunity to evaluate
the paid products before you or your sponsoring rehab agency plunk down any
cash on a specific program.
In alphabetical order below is a list of several of the major companies that
offer screen access solutions, along with contact information and links to
their products All of the third-party screen access companies mentioned here
offer accessible product documentation and various levels of technical
support-over the phone, via e-mail, or online. Most of these companies also
offer online training sessions, webinars you can attend in real time or
download to review at your convenience, and a host of additional learning
opportunities.
Ai Squared
http://www.aisquared.com/
800-859-0270 or 802-362-3612
Ai Squared is the publisher of ZoomText, the most widely used screen
magnification product. <http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw150605>
After a recent merger with GW Micro,
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw150605
Ai also offers the screen reader <http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/>
Window-Eyes.
<http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/> http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/
All Ai Squared magnification products can run in full-feature demo mode for
up to 60 days.
. ZoomText Magnifier is a magnification only product
. ZoomText Magnifier/Reader combines magnification and speech output
. <http://www.aisquared.com/products/zoomtext/> ZoomText Express
offers just a bit of magnification for those who have trouble reading fine
print on their computer display
* http://www.aisquared.com/products/zoomtext/
.
. The Window-Eyes screen reader can be purchased as a
<http://www.gwmicro.com/> stand-alone product,
* http://www.gwmicro.com/
.
. but thanks to a recent collaboration with Microsoft, owners of a
licensed copy of Microsoft Office 2010 or later can
<http://www.windoweyesforoffice.com/> download and use a free, full-feature
version of this screen reader.
. You can find this and how to complete the download here.
* <http://www.windoweyesforoffice.com/>
http://www.windoweyesforoffice.com/
*
Dolphin Computer Access
This UK-based company offers a suite of software and hardware products for
people with visual impairments. Dolphin Computer Access offers a free 30-day
demo for all their screen access software products, which can be purchased
through
<https://www.yourdolphin.com/dealer_zone.asp?id=&country=198&Submit=Submit>
the company's dealer network.
https://yourdolphin.com/login?zone=dealer
. <http://www.yourdolphin.com/product?id=4> SuperNova Magnifier
https://yourdolphin.com/product?id=4
. <http://www.yourdolphin.com/product?id=4> SuperNova Screen Reader
https://yourdolphin.com/product?id=4
. <http://www.yourdolphin.com/productdetailnew.asp?id=1> SuperNova
Access Suite (includes both magnifier and screen reader)
<https://yourdolphin.com/product?id=4> https://yourdolphin.com/product?id=4
(includes both magnifier and screen reader)
<http://freedomscientific.com/> Freedom Scientific
800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000
Freedom Scientific offers full-feature demo modes of both its screen reader
and screen magnifier that allow you to run the software for up to 40 minutes
before you must restart your computer.
. <http://freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/Jaws> JAWS (Job
Access Without Speech) is the screen reader with the largest user base
<http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/Jaws>
http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/Jaws
. <http://freedomscientific.com/Products/LowVision/MAGic> MAGic
(standard) is a screen magnifier that has been optimized to work with the
JAWS screen reader
<http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/LowVision/MAGic>
http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/LowVision/MAGic
. <freedomscientific.com:Products:LowVision:MAGic> MAGic LVS (Low
Vision with Speech) combines screen magnification with a number of speech
functions
<http://www.nvaccess.org/> NV Access
NV Access is a registered Australian charity that develops and distributes a
<http://www.nvaccess.org/download/> free, full-featured screen reader called
NVDA, which stands for NonVisual Desktop Access. When you download the
software, you will be offered the opportunity to donate to the NVDA project,
but a donation is not required. The
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZG3lwCzXb0> free open source
text-to-speech voice that comes with NVDA can be a bit difficult for new
speech users to understand, but you can purchase other voices for use with
the program, and a portion of those proceeds go to help support ongoing
product development.
<http://www.nvaccess.org/download/> http://www.nvaccess.org/download/
<http://www.serotek.com/> Serotek
http://www.serotek.com/866-202-0520
Serotek is the developer of the System Access screen reader, which is
<http://www.serotek.com/kk12> free for students in grades K-12.
http://www.serotek.com/kk12
The software can also be purchased outright, or users can choose a monthly
subscription model that includes a variety of other Serotek accessibility
products and services.
The company also offers a free, Web-based version of their screen reader
called <http://www.satogo.com/> System Access To Go (SA to Go):
www.satogo.com
. From any Internet-connected Windows 7 or 8.1 computer running
Internet Explorer as the default browser, press the Windows + R key
combination
. Type "www.SATOGO.com" and then press Enter
. Follow the audible instructions to start SA to Go
Once started, the SA to Go screen reader will continue to run until you
close Internet Explorer.
*IV. Apple OS X Accessibility Options for People Who Are Blind or Have Low
Vision
The OS X operating system includes built-in features to assist users with a
range of physical and motor disabilities. Command + Option + F5 summons a
complete list of accessibility options, including turning screen
magnification on or off, increasing or decreasing contrast, and inverting
screen colors. Note: Depending on your
<http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13982> keyboard preferences, to initiate this
or any other key combination that includes one of the Function keys, you may
also need to press the FN key, which is located at the extreme bottom left
corner of most Mac keyboards.
Information about "OS X Mavericks: Use keyboard function keys."You can
visit the link below
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH13982?locale=en_US
The Accessibility Options Screen has several settings of interest to users
with visual impairments.
. Zoom: The OS X built-in screen magnifier.
. VoiceOver: The OS X built-in screen reader. Many Zoom users also
enjoy having their text and application controls spoken aloud as well as
magnified. The keyboard shortcut to toggle VoiceOver on and off is Command +
F5.
. Invert colors: If you find it easier to read light text on a dark
background, give this setting a try. You can also toggle this setting from
the keyboard using Command + Option + Control + 8.
. Adjust contrast: You can adjust the screen contrast even more
using this setting, or even go to a full grayscale display. Increase or
decrease contrast from the keyboard at any time with the shortcut keys
Command + Option + Control + Comma and Command + Option + Control + Period.
. Smooth images: This setting smoothes the edges of highly magnified
text so it doesn't look jagged. Access this setting via the Command + Option
+ Backslash keyboard shortcut.
Low Vision Computer Screen Access Using the Zoom Screen Magnifier
Zoom is the OS X built-in screen magnifier. You can toggle it on and off at
any time by pressing Command + Option + 8. If this keyboard shortcut did not
turn on Zoom for you, you will need to turn on shortcut key access first.
After opening the Accessibility Options screen, press the Tab key once, then
press Spacebar to check the "Enable Zoom using keyboard shortcuts" option.
Press Command + Option + 8 again to start Zoom. With keyboard shortcuts
enabled, you can now press Command + Option + Equals Sign to increase text
size by increments up to 20x, and Command + Option + Hyphen to decrease text
size by increments.
If you are using a Mac notebook, or if your Mac desktop has a Magic
Trackpad, you can also make screen text larger by holding down the Control
key, then placing two fingers on the touchpad surface and sliding them up to
increase the size of the text, or down to decrease it. The "enable Zoom
using scroll gestures" setting in the Accessibility Options screen will need
to be enabled for this to work. If it is not, open the Accessibility Options
screen, press Tab twice to highlight the option, and press the spacebar to
toggle it on and off.
You can use Zoom in either full-screen magnification, which enlarges the
entire screen, or Window in Window mode, which magnifies just a small
portion inside a rectangle that you can resize and move around.
You can also have Zoom speak your current selection, or even an entire
document, with a simple key press. Enable the "Read selected text" option in
the Zoom tab of the Accessibility System Preferences panel and you can
simply press Control + Spacebar to have an entire webpage, e-mail or word
processor document read aloud. Even better, you can run the full-featured
version of VoiceOver simultaneously with Zoom, benefiting from the power of
each in turn to better accommodate your shifting accessibility needs.
Low Vision and Blind Computer Screen Access Using the VoiceOver Screen
Reader
Take any new Mac computer out of the box and start it up, and during the
initial setup you will be asked if you would like to run the VoiceOver
screen reader. You can also start VoiceOver at any time by pressing Command
+ F5 (or FN + Command + F5). In either case, the very first time you start
VoiceOver, you will be offered the opportunity to work your way through the
VoiceOver Quick Start Tutorial. The interactive tutorial describes many
VoiceOver concepts and commands, then gives you a chance to practice them,
moving through the lessons as you master each new skill. You can pause the
Quick Start at any time, or return to it as often as you like by pressing
the Command + Option + Control + F8 keyboard shortcut.
The default speaking voice is a high-quality text-to-speech engine named
Alex who often "takes a breath" between sentences. If you find his
"realness" a bit disconcerting, don't worry. The VoiceOver System Preference
panel allows you to change the voice to one or more of a number of nearly
equally high-quality voices that come preinstalled on your Mac or that you
can download free of charge.
VoiceOver will automatically speak dialogue boxes and error messages as they
appear on your display. It will also speak pertinent screen elements, such
as new text, icons, and field names and data as they appear or become
important to your computing session. For example, use the Left Arrow key to
move one space to the left in your text and VoiceOver will speak the
character the cursor just passed over. Use Option + Right Arrow to move one
word to the right and you will hear the word your cursor passed over spoken
aloud. Tab your way down a Safari webpage link by link and you will hear the
text associated with each link spoken out as you reach it along with the
word "link" which alerts you that if you press the Enter key, you will open
the new page.
VoiceOver devotes a lot of processing power to helping you keep up with an
ever-changing computer screen. But it also offers a host of additional
keyboard shortcuts that enable you to review a portion of the screen, issue
commands, and help you navigate your way through various software
applications and text entry fields.
Most VoiceOver commands use key combinations that begin with Control +
Option. This key combination is often referred to as the VO key, as in VO +
P (Control + Option + P), which is the VoiceOver command to read the current
paragraph.
Here is a list of just a few VoiceOver commands:
. VO + L: Read the current line
. VO + B: Read the current window or document from the beginning
. VO + M: Access the Menu Bar, at which time you can use the cursor
keys to move through the various menus and options
. VO + F2: Describe the current application window
. VO + Command + Left or Right Arrow: Move through various voice
controls, such as the voice that will be used and its volume, rate, pitch,
and intonation. Press the Up and Down Arrow keys to adjust any or all of
these options.
By default, if your Mac has a trackpad, you can use it to issue commands to
VoiceOver. Enable the Trackpad Commander in the VoiceOver Utility, which you
can access by pressing VO + F8, and you can use your trackpad to perform
VoiceOver commands such as:
. One-finger flick right: Move the VO cursor right
. Two-finger flick up: Read from the beginning of the screen content
. Two-finger scrub left-right-left: Escape from the current mode
(like pressing the ESC key)
A more <https://www.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/_1131.html> complete
list of VoiceOver keyboard shortcuts and gestures is available from Apple,
but you won't need to use the list because VoiceOver includes two commands,
VO + K and VO + H, that bring this information to your fingertips.
However, if you wish to visit the site yourself and obtain he list. Go
here:
Appendix A. Commands and Gestures
https://www.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/_1131.html
A more <https://www.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/_1131.html> complete
list of VoiceOver keyboard shortcuts and gestures is available from Apple,
but you won't need to use the list because VoiceOver includes two commands,
VO + K and VO + H, that bring this information to your fingertips.
. VO + K: This command invokes VoiceOver's keyboard help mode,
wherein VoiceOver announces both the name and the function of every
subsequent key you press or touchpad gesture you perform. It will continue
to do this until you press the ESC key, or perform a two-finger scrub
gesture on the touchpad.
. VO + H: This command invokes VoiceOver's Help mode, and calls up a
list of topics including:
o online help
o commands help
o keyboard help
o sounds help
Press Enter on any of these choices and you will receive help on that topic.
At the bottom of this help screen you will also find an alternate way to
replay the VoiceOver Quick Start Tutorial. You can also enter the Commands
Help Menu by pressing VO + H twice in succession. Once there, you can type
in a keyword or two about the command you wish to use, and when you find it,
simply press Enter to issue the command. For example, let's say you wish to
quickly navigate a webpage by headings. Press VO + H twice, then type
"heading." You will be presented with a list of VoiceOver commands that
include the word "heading." At the very top of the list is "Find Next
Heading," along with its keyboard shortcut: VO + Control + H. Press Enter to
move your VoiceOver cursor to the next heading. After that you can continue
to move by headings using the new keyboard shortcut you just learned.
If you'd like to learn more about VoiceOver-how to use it to read and write
e-mails, browse the web with Safari, or use it to write and format a
document-read Apple's
VoiceOver Getting Started Guide
https://www.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/
ZoomText Mac for Blind and Low Vision Apple Computer Access
Apple maintains strict restrictions on the operating system access they
allow third-party vendors to use, so at present there is only one
third-party screen accessibility product available for OS X.
<http://www.aisquared.com/> Ai Squared
800-859-0270
Ai Squared offers a low-vision product called ZoomText Mac.
<http://www.zoomtext.com/products/zoomtext-mac/>
http://www.zoomtext.com/products/zoomtext-mac/
The company offers a free, 60-day demo version and complete documentation to
help you get started.
. <http://www.aisquared.com/zoomtextmac/> ZoomText Mac offers
additional screen magnification and screen reader features to the OS X
operating system
Getting Help with OS X Accessibility for Users with Visual Impairments
In this guide we have demonstrated how it is possible to continue using an
OS X computer, or use one for the very first time, with Apple's built-in
Zoom screen magnifier and/or VoiceOver screen reader. As you commence your
journey you will doubtless have many questions and may occasionally need a
bit of help or technical support. In this section we will list just a few of
the many excellent resources available.
Apple maintains a special support department exclusively for users of their
accessibility products. You can reach them via e-mail at
accessibility@xxxxxxxxx
. In the US, you can also reach them by phone from 8 am to 8 pm at
877-204-3930. In addition, Apple offers a wealth of accessibility
information and resources on its accessibility website
<http://www.apple.com/accessibility/> http://www.apple.com/accessibility/
Books
Mastering the Macintosh with VoiceOver by Tim Sniffen
This free iBook is available from the
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mastering-macintosh-voiceover/id899197795?
mt=11> Apple iBook Store
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mastering-macintosh-voiceover/id899197795?
mt=11>
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mastering-macintosh-voiceover/id899197795?m
t=11
or
<https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=FD7F6D71D1904581!21021&authkey=!AOzAq
zSv-mLfEOc&ithint=file%2cdocx> online.
<https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=FD7F6D71D1904581!21021&ithint=fil
e%2cdocx&app=Word&authkey=!AOzAqzSv-mLfEOc>
https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=FD7F6D71D1904581!21021&ithint=file
%2cdocx&app=Word&authkey=!AOzAqzSv-mLfEOc
This eBook details how to use both VoiceOver and Zoom, with an emphasis on
using them with the Mac touchpad.
Learn to Use the Mac with VoiceOver: A Step-by-Step Guide for Blind Users,
by Janet Ingber
This book covers VoiceOver in a logical, step-by-step fashion. It is
available for $20 from the <http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/MAC.html> National
Braille Press
<http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/index.html?id=EgrIAep3>
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/index.html?id=EgrIAep3
or call, (888-965-8965) in your choice of:
. ASCII T
. ext, CD or download
. Braille
. DAISY, CD or download
. eBraille, CD or download
. MS Word, CD or download
One-on-One Training
Your rehabilitation agency may be able to provide you with one-on-one screen
access training. These sessions can either be provided at a training center,
in person at your residence, or via phone or audio/video chat using Skype or
other computer communications software.
Websites
Here are just two websites that offer users of Apple accessibility products
a place to gather, ask questions, and share information about using their
Macs with Zoom or Voiceover.
<http://applevis.com/> AppleVis
<http://applevis.com/> http://applevis.com/
or
http://maccessibility.net/
<http://www.youtube.com/> YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/
Believe it or not, this video sharing site is a veritable treasure trove of
information about running a Mac with accessibility. Search for "VoiceOver
for Mac demo," "browsing the Web with VoiceOver," "Using Zoom with your
Mac," or other similar topics and you will be amazed by the quantity,
quality, and "listenability" of the results.
Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights
in his commandments!
Psalm 112:1
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