Additional Computer Features

In the previous blog post, I discussed universal design features that help students with disabilities. Here are additional operating system features that are provided for users with disabilities and whom they can be useful for:

Key Board Modifications:	Helps students who have:
Sticky Keys Allows students to press key sequentially	·      Cerebral palsy
Slow Keys Increases the amount of time a key must be depressed before registering a keystroke	·      Hand tremors ·      Muscle weakness or fatigue ·      Poor fine or gross motor control
Mouse Keys Allows users to direct the mouse pointer and execute all mouse functions using the keyboard’s numeric keypad	·      Poor fine or gross motor control ·      Hand tremors ·      Other physical disabilities
Onscreen Keyboards An interactive image of the keyboard is shown on the monitor, allowing students to select a key by moving the mouse to the desired key and clicking on it.	·      Limited motor control ·      Physical disabilities

Modifications for Sensory Impairments:	Helps students who have:
Visual Signals Icons or captions replace auditory prompts	·      Deaf ·      Hard of hearing
High-contrast color scheme Can change the background color to either black or white and the text to black or white	·      Visual impairments ·      Blindness
Screen magnification Enlarges the image on the monitor	·      Visual impairments ·      Blindness
Enlargement of mouse pointer The pointer of the mouse is enlarged	·      Visual impairments ·      Blindness
Voiced feedback  Text is read aloud	·      Visual impairments ·      Blindness

The following blog will discuss the major types of alternative keyboards and the characteristics of students for whom each type would be appropriate. 

Sources:
www.lazytechguys.com 

Dell, A., Newtown, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive technology in the classroom . (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey : Pearson Education.