Make your ICT Accessible

Using an electronic medium to provide information ensures that users can access information in a way that suits their individual needs. In general terms, having information in electronic format is a great starting point as it can be configured by the user to suit their preferences; text can be presented in different font typefaces, sizes and colours.

Below are examples of how you can make your ICT more accessible for you, staff and customers accessing your services.

Keyboard use

• keyboard tuning - adjusting keyboard responses to slow or cancel the repeat rate - for example StickyKeys accessibility feature for single digit users
• different sized physical keyboards, compact keyboards for example can more easily fit between the arms of a wheelchair allowing lap use
• keyboard guards, to provide support for hands while typing preventing RSIs and improving comfort
• prediction, phrase saving, templates, autocorrect, word banks - all ways to help produce text more easily or quickly
• synonyms, spell checkers - very useful for expanding and checking written work
• keyboard stickers - for visually impaired users or those with dyslexia. These can often take the form of lower case letters for people that find them easier to recognise.

Mouse (pointing device)

• mouse tuning - adjusting the speed of the pointer on screen to suit the dexterity of the user.
• swapping buttons to left handed use
• different physical hardware: ergonomic mice, trackballs, touch-pads, joystick mice etc.
• MouseKeys accessibility feature - move the pointer and click using the keyboard
• keyboard shortcuts - use the keyboard instead of the mouse, click here for a glossary.

Display

• think about physical display issues - positioning relative to external windows to reduce reflections and glare, size of display, CRT versus TFT flatscreens and lighting
• check the cleanliness of the screen
• change the screen resolution
• reduce screen clutter including unused icons and shortcuts
• adjust the mouse pointer to a larger size or use magnifying tool
• change Windows system fonts to a larger, clearer font (such as Arial)
• in Microsoft Word - switch to 'Normal' view, Zoom the document up to '500%' and wrap the text around the width of the magnified screen
• double space text to increase the white space in between the sentences. this makes it easier to distinguish between the lines.
• change screen colours to suit individual's preferences. Some users find it easier to read certain colours on certain backgrounds
• screen reader software for blind users - reads back the entire screen environment

Text-to-speech (TTS)

• consider simple TTS - such as ReadPlease
• explore talking word-processors and web browsers
• install utility programs to support dyslexic users - combines TTS with other literacy support
• use a full screen reader for blind users
• voice recognition software for dictating text. Although it should be noted that this software can be tricky to get used to using effectively.

Websites

If you have a website which you want to make as accessible as possible then send us your link.

Further Information

Step-by-step skill sheets for adjusting the above settings are available at

www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway

More accessibility articles

http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway/

For a full accessibilty guide click here