What additional operating system features are provided for users with disabilities, and what are the characteristics of students for whom these specific features may be appropriate?

This is a focus question from Chapter 7 in our course textbook, “Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities”. In addition to the knowledge of universal design features to facilitate computer access it is essential to receive information on additional operating system features available to users with disabilities. One of these features includes visual signals that will help the hard of hearing and deaf. These visual signals will be prompts, captions, or icons that will appear on the screen to alert the user the need to make a selection instead of a standard beep or spoken alert. Another feature includes applying a high contrast color scheme for users with visual impairments or blindness. This makes a black background with white lettering or vice versa to help the user. The font will also be larger in the selected color scheme to help the user see clearer. The voiced feedback feature will help students with visual impairments or blindness by reading everything on the computer screen to the user. Hopefully with the help of these features you can better serve your students who struggle with computer access.  

 

Reference: Dell, A., & Newton, D. (2008). Assistive technology in the classroom: Enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.