A list of ways that computers can be adapted for blind and partially sighted people. From the very simple alterations such as increasing the default font size through to large print keyboards, refreshable braille displays and software to make you computer speak.
Simple adaptations
Some small changes to your computer settings can make a big difference. Here is a list of simple changes than can be made to your computer to make screen information easier to see.
Find out more about the
simple adaptations you can make.
Keyboard skills
Whatever your sight difficulty, learning your way around the keyboard and learning to touch type are important skills to learn. At the most basic level these skills allow you to increase the speed at which you can prepare documents and input information into a computer. For many tasks, using a keyboard can often be faster than using a mouse.
Find out more about developing your
keyboard skills.
Hardware products
An overview of the hardware products that can be added to a computer to make it accessible by blind and partially sighted people.
More about
hardware products.
Software
There are a number of different software packages available and range in price from free to several hundred pounds. The more expensive products tend to have more features and technical support if things stop working.
More about
software packages.
Keyboard shortcuts
For most people with sight problems the most effective way to use a computer is to control the software by using keyboard commands. We have compiled a list of shortcuts for a number of popular programs. Each program has a separate document and is available to download in Word and PDF formats.
Find out more about
keyboard shortcuts.