Computer accessibility

Accessibility on Windows desktops can be set up and configured by going into the Ease of Access centre. This can be found in the Windows settings.

The accessibility settings on an Apple Mac can be reached by going into the finder, choosing All Applications and then Accessibility.

Here you can personalise your accessibility settings by changing the speed, pitch and voice of Narrator or VoiceOver, the level of magnification, the way the mouse pointer and cursor appears, the colour of the background and the text.

Accessibility shortcuts, which consist of two or more keys pressed together, can also be used to launch some features quickly and easily without having to go into the settings.

Examples of this are:

• Windows Key + Enter to launch Narrator
• Windows Key + the Plus sign on the numerical keypad to launch Magnifier
• Command + Option + F5 to launch VoiceOver
• Command + Option + F8 to launch Zoom

The low vision accessibility settings on a Windows or Apple Mac machine are designed to provide access to content which may previously have not been possible.

Speech, magnification, virtual assistants, apps and tools enable blind and partially sighted people to use devices more effectively.

Note that a microphone is needed to use dictation and virtual assistant features on a desktop computer. A laptop usually has its own dedicated microphone built in.

The accessibility features found on Windows and Apple Mac computers are built into the operating system making the product accessible right out of the box meaning that a blind or partially sighted user can access and enjoy their device without many barriers or obstacles.

A dedicated screen reading or magnification software is recommended more complex tasks. Built-in accessibility functions may not be suitable in corporate and business environments for the best performance.

Further resources

• Microsoft: Windows 10 accessibility features
• Apple: Mac accessibility