Digital Inclusion Wales

Making computers more accessible.

In order to get everyone Digitally Included, we need to make sure that computers are easily accessible, to everyone.
 Here are some tips we have put together to make a computer more accessible for older users, and beginners alike.

Windows 7 Accessibility Tips:

Those who have difficulty with their eyesight may benefit from the following tips:

Enlarge the cursor/mouse:
Right Click on the Desktop,
Click on “Personalize",
Click on “Change Mouse Pointers”,
Select your favoured mouse from the drop down list
 Click on "Apply", then on "OK".

Turn on the screen Magnifier:
Click on the “Start” button,
Type “Magnifier” into the Search Bar,
Click on “Magnifier”.

Start the Narrator:
Click on the “Start” Button,
Type “Narrator” into the search bar,
Click on “Narrator”.

Make text bigger:
Click on the "Start" button,
Type "Display" into the search bar,
Click on "Display",
Select either "Medium", or "Large",
Click on "Apply",
Click on "Log Off Now" to apply changes.

The following tips may be useful for people with reduced motor function:

How to find the On-Screen Keyboard:
Click on the “Start” button,
Type “On Screen Keyboard” into the Search bar,
Click on “Turn On-Screen Keyboard on or off"
Click on "Start On-Screen Keyboard".

Turn on "Sticky Keys": Instead of having to press three keys at once (E.g: CTRL, ALT, and DELETE), you can press one key at a time when Sticky Keys is turned on.
Click on the "Start" button,
Type "Ease of Access" into the search bar,
Click on "Ease of Access Centre",
Click on " Make the keyboard easier to use",
Click on "Turn on Sticky Keys",
Click "Apply", then Click "OK".

How to find other accessibility tools, or settings to make using your computer easier:
Click on the “Start” button,
Type “Ease of Access” into the Search bar,
Click on “Ease of Access Centre",
Here you will find all the settings you need so that you can see, hear and use your computer with ease.

These tips will work with laptops and Desktop computers running Windows 7.
See http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/accessibility for help with other versions of Windows, and its accessibility features.

We also recommend the following websites for further accessibility information, which includes some free software: 
http://www.nvda-project.org/
http://www.sensorysoftware.com/dwellclicker.html
http://www.sensorysoftware.com/bigcalculator.html

Please feel free to pass this information on to family and friends!
Kind Regards
Jennifer
www.pcxuk.com