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Disability Support & Accessibility: Assistive software

Disability support and accessibility

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This guide was created by Muhammad Khan, IALS Digital Senior Library Assistant at IALS Library.

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Guide last updated by Muhammad Khan, September 2024

Microsoft Accessibility Features

The Audio Features section covers tools that enhance audio accessibility for people who may have hearing impairments or need audio support, such as screen readers, captions, and audio adjustments.

Audio Features

Narrator is a screen reader that reads out the text on your screen and helps users with visual impairments navigate their device.

Narrator
Use Shortcut

How to Turn On Narrator Using Keyboard Shortcut:

  • Press Ctrl + Windows Logo Key + Enter at the same time. You may need to go through the installation process the first time you do this.
Step-by-Step Guide

Step-by-Step Method:

  1. Click on the Start button.
    Start Button
  2. Click the Settings icon.
    Settings Icon
  3. In Settings, click on Accessibility.
    Accessibility
  4. In the left menu, click Narrator.
    Narrator
  5. Turn the toggle on.
    Narrator Toggle

Microsoft Edge Immersive Reader simplifies webpages, removing distractions and making it easier to read, while also offering audio support like reading the content aloud.

Microsoft Edge Immersive Reader
Step-by-Step Guide

Step-by-Step Method:

  1. Click the Microsoft Edge icon.
    Microsoft Edge
  2. Type the address of the webpage and press Enter.
  3. Click the Immersive Reader button (book icon with a speaker) or press F9.
    Immersive Reader
  4. Use the Immersive Reader tools to adjust text size, font, and background color. Click Read Aloud to have text read to you.
    Read Aloud

Live Captions provide real-time text for audio content, helping users who are deaf or hard of hearing to follow along with video or audio content.

Live Captions
Step-by-Step Guide

Step-by-Step Method:

  1. Click the Start button.
    Start Button
  2. Click the Settings icon.
    Settings Icon
  3. In Settings, click on Accessibility.
    Accessibility
  4. Click Captions in the left menu and toggle the switch for Live captions.
    Live Captions
  5. You can adjust the font, color, and size of the captions for better readability.
    Caption Options

Mono Audio combines audio into one channel, so users with hearing impairments in one ear don’t miss important sounds.

Mono Audio
Step-by-Step Guide

Step-by-Step Method:

  1. Click the Start button.
    Start Button
  2. Click the Settings icon.
    Settings Icon
  3. In Settings, click on Accessibility.
    Accessibility
  4. Click Audio in the left menu and toggle the switch for Mono Audio.
    Mono Audio
  5. Play an audio or video file to check if all sounds are coming from both sides equally.

The Visual Features section provides tools to enhance visibility on your screen for those with visual impairments, including magnification and color adjustments.

Visual Features

Magnifier makes everything on your screen bigger, helping users with visual impairments to see content more clearly.

Magnifier
Use Shortcut

How to Turn On Magnifier Using Keyboard Shortcut:

  • Press Windows Logo Key + Plus (+) at the same time.
Step-by-Step Guide

Step-by-Step Method:

  1. Click the Start button.
    Start Button
  2. Click the Settings icon.
    Settings Icon
  3. In Settings, click on Accessibility and then Magnifier.
    Magnifier
  4. Toggle the switch to turn Magnifier on.
    Magnifier Toggle
  5. To zoom in more, press Windows Logo Key + Plus (+). To zoom out, press Windows Logo Key + Minus (-). You can change the view mode (Full Screen, Lens, or Docked) in the settings.

Color Filters and High Contrast allow you to change the colors on your screen or apply contrast to make content more visible for users with color blindness or other visual impairments.

Color Filters
Step-by-Step Guide

Step-by-Step Method:

  1. Click on the Start button.
    Start Button
  2. Click the Settings icon.
    Settings Icon
  3. In Settings, click on Accessibility.
    Accessibility
  4. Click on Color Filters or High Contrast in the menu.
    Color Filter
  5. Toggle the switch for Color Filters or High Contrast.
  6. For High Contrast, you can choose a theme or customize colors for text, background, etc. For Color Filters, pick a filter that works best for you (like grayscale or red-green colorblindness).