Unlocking Potential

The Accessibility Features of Microsoft Windows

Benevolent Bill The things Microsoft got right…

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What do you already know?

• Working in pairs, discuss some of the ways you’ve assisted learners in helping them access materials on a PC.

• What barriers have you been able to overcome?

• How good is the support and advice available at your institution? (both for learners and staff supporting them).

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What is accessibility?

• Accessibility is about removing barriers to participation and engagement.

• Issue - technology can help to remove barriers but can also create new ones

• All organisations need to raise awareness of accessibility issues and their obligations

• Issue – everyone has a responsibility for supporting learners effectively, whatever their role. Learn the basics yourself, know what “solutions” are available in your college and who the real experts are!

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Accessibility in your role?

Accessibility means different things in differentcontexts. Some of the key roles in education andresearch are listed below. Select the appropriate linksfor more guidance.

Role• Learning and Teaching Practitioners• Staff Supporting Students• Web Developers and Managers• Assistive Technologists• Staff Involved in e-Learning• Staff involved in IT Support

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Accessibility Features of Windows* (from “Accessories”)

• Windows Magnifier:• Start > Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > Magnifier.

• Windows Narrator:• Start > Programs > Accessories> Accessibility > Narrator.

• On-Screen Keyboard:• Start > Programs > Accessories > Accessibility >

On-Screen Keyboard.

*Ensure your network staff have enabled access!

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Accessibility features (from “control panel”)

Start> Control Panel> Accessibility options• Sticky keys:

• Allow one-handed use of key combinations e.g. Alt-Tab or Control-Alt-Delete.

• Filter keys: • Filter out accidental repeated key strokes.

• Keyboard shortcuts: • Allow rapid mouse-free access to common

tasks – e.g. copying, pasting etc.

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• Toggle keys:• Provide audio warning if Caps Lock button

is switched on.

• Mouse keys:• Allows the cursor to be moved and

operated using keystrokes instead of a mouse.

• Feedback options: • Allows system feedback to be provided

either as audio signals (beeps etc) or visual signals (eg screen flash).

Accessibility features (from “control panel”)

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• Colour / Contrast Options: • Allows customisation of colour scheme.

• Cursor Options:• Allows customisation of the cursor colour,

size, speed, display etc.

Link to activity

Accessibility features (from “control panel”)

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The Windows Accessibility Wizard

Start>Accessories>Accessibility> Accessibility wizard

• For new users to set up options that address visual, hearing and dexterity needs.

• Asks the user questions about their needs, then configures the system to suit them.

• You must complete all the questions to the end whichever options you choose.

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Word and Accessibility

• Auto Summarise (Auto Summarise Activity):

Automatically attempts a summary of a document.

• Auto Text / Autocorrect:

(Auto Correct Information Sheet AutoText Information Sheet)

Adds user-defined text automatically.

• Click and Type:

Automatically aligns text depending on cursor position.

• Colour / Contrast (Colour / Contrast Information Sheet):

Allows user customisation of background or font colours.

• Comments (Comments Example):

Provides additional text where a user requires it.

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Word and Accessibility

• Drop-down Forms (Drop-down Forms Example):

Allows user interaction to make selections from an offered menu.

• Font options:

Allows customisation of font type, size and colour.

• Images:

Allows insertion of graphics and re-positioning if required.

• Keyboard shortcuts (List of common keyboard shortcuts):

Provides easy ways to access menus and commands.

• Mouse scroll / zoom:

Allows rapid zooming and scrolling around document.

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Word and Accessibility

• Screen tips (Screen tips example):Provides extra information that can pop up over image

“hot spots”.• Sound clips (Sound Clips Example):

Allows easy creation of embedded sound files.• Styles & Outlines (Styles & Outlines Example):

When used with format Styles, Outline view creates different views of a document’s contents.

• Toolbar options:Allows easy creation of user specific toolbar – e.g. simplified version.

• Zoom options:Provides for different levels of magnification.

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Word and Accessibility

• On the previous pages were a number of the accessibility features built in to Word.

• The activity below allows participants to examine the features and discuss which disabilities they may be beneficial for.

Link to activity

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Conclusion

• Windows and Word have accessibility features that benefit many target groups.

• Many of these features benefit all learners.• An accessibility solution for one group may be an

accessibility hindrance for another.• Saving Word as a web page often disables its

accessibility features so if you have capitalised on inbuilt accessibility tools beware of saving the finished document as a web page!