Microsoft Windows Vista Accessibility Resources
2 Keywords: Accessibility, Windows Vista
Windows Vista Accessibility Resources can be found within the control panel and offer the ability to change font style, colour, and size of items on the desktop as well as Icon size. High contrast schemes can be set up and mouse pointer and cursor changes made. There is also a basic magnifier and screen reader for menus and notepad.
- Accessibility options built into Microsoft Products
There are many accessibility features built into the Microsoft Office products although they do not all work in the same way and differ between versions. Keyboard shortcuts, colour changes and zooming in to magnify items are included along with basic screen reading for menus and start up.
- Making your computer speak using text to speech
"With the right software a computer can turn text into a spoken voice. Known as text-to-speech (or sometimes TTS), this tool is one of the most valuable uses of a computer for users with dyslexia or other reading difficulties as it helps them access the written word independently and develop reading skills. Text from web pages, documents, email or other files can be read aloud using text to speech technology." Iansyst
- Microsoft Word Accessibility
This gude is all about good use of Microsoft Word Styles, headings and specific formatting rather than TAB, Spacebar and Enter keys to present a document make it much easier for a screen reader user or someone requiring Braille to work with your learning materials. Text to speech and careful use of colour can also help those with specific learning difficulties and colour deficiencies. All this can also make it easier for you to convert documents into accessible PDFs or Web Pages. If you are using Office 2007 ensure it is backward compatible by saving as a .doc or .rtf as these formats can be read in many other applications such as Open Office.
- My Web My Way
"Do you need help in making the web easier to use? This site explains the many ways you can change your browser, computer, keyboard and mouse settings to make the web more accessible for you. " The site has been developed and maintained through a partnership between bbc.co.uk and AbilityNet, a leading UK computing and disability charity. It is based on AbilityNet's original My Computer, My Way site.
- Accessible Web Publishing Wizard for Microsoft Office
"The Accessible Web Publishing Wizard for Microsoft Office provides a simple way to create highly accessible and standards compliant web versions of Office documents that are more accessible and usable by everyone, including people with disabilities." The wizard is easy to use and offers text versions of the documents alongside graphical versions. The application does not at present work with Vista or Microsoft Office 2007.
- Keyboard shortcuts for Windows
This is a long list of Windows applications that allow for the use of shortcut keyboard strokes for access and when working within documents or for databases and web pages etc. They tend to be require a combination of two keys pressed simultaneously.
- Help with seeing the screen
AbilityNet have a series of guides that advise about making the screen easier to read by using a selection of software.
- Making PowerPoint Accessible
WebAIM offer advice for making PowerPoint slide shows accessible for publishing on the web so that they can be used by people using screen readers or keyboard control without the mouse. There is also advice about making audio and video elements usable by those who are deaf or blind.
