Visual Impairment OptionProfessional Development

Conrad Weiser Area School District

Microsoft Windows XP

Start Utility Manager

1. To open Utility Manager, press the Windows logo key+U. You can press the Windows logo key+U when the Welcome to Windows dialog box is displayed, before you log on to the computer. If you do this, if you make changes to the specified accessibility features when you are logged on, these changes are automatically applied. 

You can also access the Start menu which contains visual enhancement utilities that you can select.

To use the Accessibility program, follow these steps:1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Accessibility.2. Select one of the following features:

MagnifierWith this feature, you can enlarge the screen display.

NarratorThis feature provides audio assistance about the items that are displayed on the screen.

2. You can use Utility Manager to check the status of an accessibility program and to start or stop an accessibility program. If you have administrator-level access, you can configure Microsoft Windows so that the accessibility program starts when Utility Manager starts. The following built-in accessibility programs are available from Utility Manager:

Magnifier Narrator On-Screen Keyboard

Narrator starts by default when Utility Manager starts so that users who have impaired vision have immediate access to Utility Manager.

3. You can configure Windows to automatically start any or all of the three accessibility programs at any of the following times:

When you log on When you lock the computer desktop When you start Utility Manager

For example, you can configure Magnifier to start automatically the next time that you log on to your computer. When you do this, you do not have to follow the procedure to start Magnifier each time that you log on to your computer.

4. To use Magnifier to enlarge the screen display

Magnifier is a display utility that makes the screen more readable for users who have low vision. Magnifier creates a separate window on which a magnified portion of the screen is displayed. You can also change the color scheme of the magnification window for easier visibility. You can move or resize the Magnifier window, or use a drag-and-drop operation to move it to the edge of the screen and lock it in place. Magnifier is intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with slight visual problems. When Magnifier is open, you can arrange the Magnifier window, and use the Magnifier Settings dialog box to set Magnifier options.

To update Magnifier options, use the following methods:

To use the Change position of the Magnifier window feature, put the pointer inside the magnification window. The insertion point becomes a hand. Use a drag-and drop operation to move the window to the desired area on your desktop.

To use the Change size of the Magnifier window feature, move the pointer over the edge of the magnification window. The insertion point becomes a double-pointed arrow. Use a drag-and drop operation to move the magnification window border to resize the window.

To use the Set the magnification level feature, in the Magnifier Settings dialog box, select a magnification level. The default magnification level is 2.

To use the Set Magnifier tracking options feature, select the check box next to each tracking option that you want to use:

To magnify the area around the pointer as it moves on the screen, click Follow mouse cursor.

To magnify the area at the insertion point, click Follow keyboard focus. When you press TAB or use the arrow keys, the focus moves to reflect the current screen position.

To display the magnified area that surrounds the insertion point while you are typing, click Follow text editing.

To use the Invert colors of the Magnifier window feature, in the Magnifier Settings dialog box, click to select the Invert colors check box.

5. To use Narrator to provide audio assistance for the screen display

Narrator is a text-to-speech utility for users who are blind or who have low vision. Narrator is designed to work with Notepad, WordPad, Control Panel programs, Microsoft Internet Explorer, the Windows desktop, and Windows Setup. Narrator may not work correctly in other programs. Narrator reads what is displayed on your screen: the contents of the active window, menu options, or the text that you have typed. You must have text-to-speech capabilities installed on the computer to use Narrator. Narrator is not available for all languages and is currently only supported on the English version of Windows XP. Narrator has a number of options with which you can customize the way in which screen elements are read. 

Click the options that you want in the Narrator dialog box:

Click Announce events on screen to have new windows, menus, or shortcut menus read aloud when they are displayed.

Click Read typed characters to have typed characters read aloud. Click Move mouse pointer to the active item to have the pointer follow the active item

on the screen. Click the Voice button to adjust the speed, volume, or pitch of the voice.

6. The Control Panel Accessibility Program

You can use the Accessibility Program in Control Panel to enable and configure features that assist users who have low vision.

To open the Accessibility dialog box, follow these steps:

a) Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Accessibility Options.b) In the Accessibility Options dialog box, click the Display tab to have access to options

for visually-impaired users.c) Click to select the Use High Contrast check box to change the screen display to use

colors and fonts designed for easier reading. Click the Settings button to select a high-contrast color scheme for your Windows XP system. The default high-contrast scheme is High Contrast Black (Large). Choose a scheme from the drop-down list in the High contrast appearance screen; picking a scheme with the word "large" or "extra large" in the scheme name is typically best.

d) Use the Cursor Options section of the dialog box to change the appearance of the cursor so that it is easier to see:

Adjust the Blink Rate to change the speed of the cursor's blinking action. Move the slider bar between None andFast until you find the blink rate that makes it easy to spot the cursor on the screen.

Adjust the width of the cursor by moving the Width slider bar between Narrow and Wide until you find the width that is easy to see.

7. The Accessibility Wizard (Method Shown Below)

If you prefer the wizard interface to enable features, open the Accessibility Wizard.

To open the Accessibility Wizard, follow these steps:

a) Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Accessibility, and then click Accessibility Wizard.

b) When the wizard starts, click Next to start setting accessibility options.c) Use the wizard options that apply to features for users with low vision. The following

three options are displayed on the Text size options screen:

1) Use usual size text for Windows: This option makes no changes to the standard Windows appearance scheme.

2) Use large window titles and menus: This option is the same as selecting the High Contrast option in the Accessibility program in Control Panel.

3) Use Microsoft Magnifier, and large titles and menus: This option turns on Magnifier.

4) Click Next after you make your selection. On the next screen, the options that are displayed depend on the choices that you selected in the previous screen.

5) Click Next to continue.

8. To set wizard options, follow these steps:a) For users with low vision, click the I am blind or have difficulty seeing things on

screen option, and then click Next.

b) Select the scroll bar and window border size that is comfortable, and then click Next.

c) Select the icon size that is comfortable, and then click Next.

d) Select the high-contrast color scheme that is comfortable, and then click Next

e) Select the size and color of the mouse cursor that is comfortable, and then click Next.

f) Adjust the cursor blink rate and size that is comfortable, and then click Next.

g) Click Finish to apply your settings.

9. Using Windows 7 additional options and access (Updated Computer Labs)

Windows 7 includes accessibility options and programs that make it easier to see, hear, and use your computer including ways to personalize your PC. Magnifier in Windows 7 includes a lens mode and full-screen mode. On-Screen Keyboard can be resized to make it easier to see and includes text prediction. Windows 7 also gives you more ways to interact with your PC by taking advantage of new strides in speech recognition and touch technology. Compare accessibility in Windows and find the Guide to transitioning to Windows 7 for people with disabilities.

10. Ease of Access is used in lieu of Accessibility Wizard

Ease of Access Center

The Ease of Access Center provides a convenient, centralized place to locate accessibility

settings and programs to make your computer easier to use. The Ease of Access Center can be

found in the Control Panel by selecting Windows logo key+U and also when logging into

Windows.

The Ease of Access Center includes:

Quick access to common tools. Start Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, Narrator, and High

Contrast quickly.

Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use. An optional questionnaire

provides a personalized list of recommended settings based on your answers to a series of

questions about your eyesight, dexterity, hearing, and more. A custom list of

recommended settings is provided so you can choose which options you want to try.

Explore all settings by category. Instead of looking for accessibility settings in various

places, settings are organized so you can explore how to:

Use the computer without a display

Make the computer easier to see

Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard

Make the mouse easier to use

Make the keyboard easier to use

Use text or visual alternatives for sounds

Make it easier to focus on tasks

Overview of accessibility features in Windows 7

Feature Description

Ease of Access Center

Provides a centralized location in the Control Panel where you can adjust accessibility settings and programs. You can also get recommendations for settings to make your PC easier to see, hear, and use.

Magnifier Magnifies the screen or a portion of the screen to make text, images, and objects easier to see.

On-Screen Keyboard A visual, on-screen keyboard with all the standard keys that you can use instead of a physical keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard also lets you type and enter data with a mouse or other pointing device.

Narrator Reads aloud on-screen text and describes some events (such as error messages appearing) that happen while you're using the computer.

Speech Recognition Enables you to interact with your computer using only your voice while maintaining, or even increasing, your productivity.

Change text size Lets you make text and objects larger and easier to see without losing graphics quality.

Personalization You can add a personal touch to your computer by changing the computer's theme, color, sounds, desktop background, screen saver, font size, and user account picture. You can also select specific gadgets for your desktop.

Touch If you've got a touch-screen monitor, you can just touch your computer screen for a more direct and natural way to work. Use your fingers to scroll, resize windows, play media, and pan and zoom.

Keyboard shortcuts Keyboard combinations of two or more keys that, when pressed, can be used to perform a task that would typically require a mouse or other pointing device. Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier to interact with your computer, saving you time and effort.

Feature Description

Sticky Keys Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must press the CTRL, ALT, and DELETE keys simultaneously to log on to Windows), you can press one key at a time when Sticky Keys is turned on.

Mouse Keys Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad to move the pointer.

Filter Keys Ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession and keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally.

Visual Notifications Replace system sounds with visual cues, such as a flash on the screen, so system alerts are announced with visual notifications instead of sounds.

Captions Get information via animations and video that some programs use to indicate that activity is happening on your computer.