LibGuides: Disability Support HLS: Personalisation of my computer/device

System

Microsoft Accessibility

Microsoft has a lot of in-built productivity tools. Read the following overview of tools available and click on the link at the bottom for more information.

Vision

There are many adaptations you can make to your Windows set up with colour contrasts & filters, icon and mouse pointer sizes, screen reading software and hands free sign on.

Hearing

You can present using live subtitles with MS Translator; caption your videos & PowerPoint slides with MS Stream and adapt stereo to mono sound.

Neurodiversity

Focus Assist blocks distracting alerts and notifications. Tell Me lets you access commands in several Office 365 applications without using the ribbon. Reading View in MS Edge browser presents web pages in a simple uncluttered layout.

Learning

Immersive Reader helps you to improve your reading ability. Editor browser extension in MS Edge or Chrome corrects your grammar. Text suggestions in Word can also help with grammar.

Mobility

Dictate converts your speech to text in Office 365 applications. You can set up keyboard shortcuts so you don't have to use a mouse and you can click with your eyes if you purchase an eye control tracker such as Tobii Eye Tracker.

Find out everything your computer/device is able to do at Microsoft Accessibility

Mac Accessibility

Vision

Hover Text expands the text you're trying to read. VoiceOver can help you with Apple's built-in gestures, browse webpages and can tell Braille hardware what's displayed on your screen. Dark Mode can make it easier to read the screen.

Hearing

You can purchase closed captions for various forms of media and customise the caption fonts. You can also listen in mono instead of stereo.

Mobility

Voice Control lets you fully control your Mac using only your voice. Siri helps you to search the web, create reminders and send messages. An accessible on screen keyboard provides limited mobility, typing and navigational capabilities, auto-capitalisation and word suggestions. Macs also support the DwellClick app for hands-free clicking with your mouse. Built in Switch Control allows you the ability to navigate onscreen keyboards, menus and the doc using a variety of adaptive devices.

Learning

Built-in text editing and dictionary apps help improve your writing.

Find out what your Mac can do at Mac Accessibility

iPhone Accessibility

Accessibility options can be found in Settings under General - Accessibility.

Here you can access tools to assist:

Vision

VoiceOver gesture-based screen reader, invert colours, use dark mode, set text to speech options and text size.

Interaction

Switch control, assistive touch, dictation etc

Hearing

Set up Bluetooth for hearing aids, Speak Screen reads your screen to you, subtitles and captioning are available and also audio descriptions.

Find out what your Apple device is able to do at Apple Accessibility

Android Accessibility

You can customise your Android device using accessibility settings and apps. Accessibility features can be found under the Settings menu on Android devices.

From here you can alter the device settings to assist with:

Vision

Talkback screen reader and braille keyboard. Fonts, contrasts and colour options.

Hearing

Voice Access lets you control with your voice, Switch Access lets you interact with switches instead of the touch screen. Live Caption is available on Pixel devices. Sound Amplifier amplifies sounds. You can also pair hearing aids with an android device.

Find out what your device is able to do at Android Accessibility

My computer my way

Run by the accessibility guidance charity AbilityNet my computer my way is a guide to making individual adjustments on your device to make it easier to use.

AbilityNet supports people living with any disability or impairment to use technology to achieve their goals at home, work or in education. Find out more about how you can set up your device.