Recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Mac OS contain many accessibility features that can assist computer users that are blind or vision impaired.
Skip to Content Link
A skip to content link is available at the top of every page. This link enables users with screen reading software to skip over navigation links and jump directly to the textual content of a page.
Adjusting the Text Size
You can use the following options within your browser to adjust text size:
Internet Explorer – Windows 98 / ME / 2000 / XP
- Go to the ‘View’ pull-down menu.
- Go to ‘Text Size’.
- A pop-up menu should appear showing you five different text sizes. Select ‘Larger’ or ‘Largest’ to make the text larger. This will also increase the size on many other Internet sites.
Internet Explorer – Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
- Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard.
- Press the ‘+’ key to make the text bigger or the ‘-‘ key to make the text smaller.
- Keep repeating step 2 until the text is at a suitable size.
Safari – Mac OS
- Hold down the ‘Apple’ key and press the ‘+’ key.
- Repeat until the text is at a suitable large.
FireFox – all platforms
- Hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard.
- Press the ‘+’ key to make the text bigger or the ‘-‘ key to make the text smaller.
- Keep repeating step 2 until the text is at a suitable size.
Adjusting the Colours
You can use the following options within your browser to adjust contrast:
- Internet Explorer – Windows 98 / ME / 2000 / XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
- Go to the ‘Tools’ pull-down menu
- Select ‘Internet Options’
- In the bottom-left hand corner you will see a ‘Colors’ button. Select this button
- Select the colours that you want by selecting the current colour and then select a new colour
- Select OK on the ‘Colors’ screen
- Select OK on the ‘Internet Options’ screen.
Safari – Mac OS
The easiest way to change the colours is to use the built-in ‘reverse’ feature in Mac OS 10.4 Tiger or higher. This will reverse all colours on the screen. This option can be selected by holding down the ‘CTRL’, ‘Option’ and ‘Apple’ keys while pressing the number ‘8′
Repeat step 1 to change the colours back to normal.
Text-to-Speech Access
Windows 98 / 2000 / XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10:
JAWS
You can purchase an additional software program such as JAWS (Job Access With Speech) – a screenreader which will read aloud web pages to you. For more information, please contact us or visit the JAWS/Freedom Scientific website (link opens in new window).
NVDA
NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access) is a free screen reader that can read aloud web pages. More information is available on the NVDA website (link opens in new window).
Narrator (Windows 8 and 10)
“Narrator” is a basic built in screen reader available for windows 8 and 10 free of charge. To start or stop Narrator, press the Windows logo key + Enter or access Narrator through “Ease of Access Center” (Windows logo key + U). To see all Narrator commands, press Caps Lock + F1. Further information about Narrator can be found on the Microsoft accessibility (link opens in new window) website.
Mac OS:
Mac OS 10.4 Tiger and higher have a built-in program called VoiceOver which can read aloud text on your computer screen, including web pages. To turn on VoiceOver, hold down the ‘Apple’ key and press the ‘F5′ key. Further information about VoiceOver is available on the Apple website (link opens in new window).
All platforms:
“Webanywhere” is a web page that can read aloud web pages. More information is available on the Webanywhere website (link opens in new window).