First published in Special! Magazine. Reproduced with thanks.

Although the keyboard and mouse are ubiquitous, they can cause problems for people who are not considered to have special needs. For those who do, our standard access devices can be a real barrier to accessing a computer. Fortunately, computers have built-in accessibility options that can help. Some simple adjustments can make a world of difference and are well worth trying out.

Access to Accessibility - the Control Panel

The first hurdle to overcome is to ensure that you have access to your computer's Control Panel. This can sometimes be blocked, in the interests of keeping school networks operating efficiently; but the staff involved need to understand the need to adapt to meet individual access requirements. For those with special needs, the failure to do so can be the equivalent to obstructing a wheelchair ramp.

To access the Control Panel, double click on the 'My Computer' icon and then select Control Panel from the 'Other Places' menu on the left.

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Adjusting the Mouse

In the Control Panel, click on 'Mouse' to access the Mouse Properties dialogue box.

The first tab, 'Buttons', allows you to:

• Switch the left and right button functions for left handed users.
  
• Change the double click speed (you can test your selected setting by double clicking on the folder graphic). This is really useful for users who struggle with this manoeuvre. Incidentally, if this doesn't help, it is possible to buy mice with a third, central button that you can easily program to carry out an automatic double click.
• Set the ClickLock. This allows the user to highlight or drag items on screen without having to hold down the mouse button.

The next tab, 'Pointers', allows you to choose alternative graphics for your mouse pointer.

By using the drop-down 'Scheme' menu at the top of this dialogue box you can access a whole range of pointers. These include extra large graphics that are helpful for users with a visual impairment.

If these are not sufficient you could try the freely available large pointers from ACE Oxford's website. Go to www.ace-centre.org.uk and look at the software products page – really useful!

The next tab, 'Pointer Options', allows you to:

• Change the pointer speed. Fast speeds are difficult for people who have a tremor, because the pointer will jump around the screen in response to any unintentional movement. Slower speeds will make computer operation difficult for anyone who can only make small motor movements.
  
• The 'Snap To' setting is especially useful for those who find it difficult to aim the pointer accurately. It will automatically jump to the default button in a dialogue box, for easier and quicker navigation.
• 'Display pointer trails' is great for those who tend to lose sight of the mouse pointer as they move it around the screen. It makes the pointer leave a trail behind it, making it easier to track.
• 'Hide pointer while typing' can be useful in removing a distraction!
  
• The last option is again useful for those who find it difficult to track the mouse pointer. If it gets lost, just press Control for a handy hint as to where it has gone.

The Wheel tab allows you to adjust the operation of mice with a central wheel. You can amend how quickly the screen will scroll in response to the wheel movement.

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Alternatives to the Mouse

Although making adjustments to the mouse operation will help some users enormously, others may need to use one of the alternative access devices on the market. These include:

• Ergonomic mice, designed to keep your hand in a comfortable position.
• Rollerballs – pupils with learning difficulties or physical difficulties may find these easier to use than a mouse. Some (such as the Traxsys Roller Plus) have useful features like pointer speed control, drag lock and switch sockets for button operation.
• Joysticks – not to be confused with games joysticks! These also act as a direct mouse alternative. Some users who cannot grip the handle can still achieve good control by pushing it using their hand or arm.
• IntelliKeys – more often thought of as an alternative keyboard, IntelliKeys could also be used with a mouse control overlay.
• Head Mice – If the user has good head control, they could use a head mouse. One example, the Tracker Pro, uses a reflective dot that can be worn on the forehead. The cursor then follows any head movement while selection is achieved with separate software or switch.
• Mouse Keys – controls the mouse pointer using the numeric keypad, so it is useful for those who struggle with a mouse but can use the keyboard. The numbers with the arrows control the direction, number 5 clicks, 0 acts as a drag lock, and Del releases the drag. / selects the left mouse button for clicking while - selects the right. To use Mouse Keys, open 'Accessibility Options' within the Control Panel. Then select the Mouse tab and click on the Mouse Keys tick box. Please note that some users may find this to be too slow a method and would benefit from an alternative mouse access device.

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Adjusting the keyboard

For some simple keyboard adjustments, click on your Control Panel, and then on 'Accessibility Options'. A dialogue box will appear where you need to select the Keyboard tab. Various adjustments can be made:

• Sticky Keys - for those who struggle with holding down two keys at once (for example Ctrl and P for printing). You can also access Sticky Keys by pressing the Shift button five times.
• Filter Keys – ideal for users who tend to hold down a key too long, resulting in a long line of the same letter, or those with a tremor who tend to press the same key in quick succession. (The use of a keyguard can also help with this problem.)
• Toggle Keys – gives sound support for when you press Caps Lock, Num Lock or Scroll Lock. Useful if the learner tends to type while concentrating on the keyboard, only to look up and find their Caps Lock was on all the time! You can also access Toggle Keys by holding down the Num Lock for five seconds.

Further keyboard adjustments can be made in the Control Panel, by clicking on the 'Keyboard' option. On the 'Speed' tab, the Repeat Delay is also of use for those who tend to hold the key down too long. Make it longer to increase the length of time it takes for the computer to register this as an additional input.

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Alternatives to the keyboard

Some users will require an alternative to the standard keyboard and some of the possibilities are outlined below. It is also possible to adapt a standard keyboard, for example with stickers that add lower case or extra large lettering to the keys. The use of a keyguard can help prevent unwanted key presses in those with tremor or uncoordinated movement.

• Ergonomic keyboards, designed to keep your hands in a comfortable position.
• Compact keyboards – useful for those with limited movement.
• Extra large keyboards – ideal for young children, for those who benefit from a simpler layout (they tend to have fewer keys than a standard keyboard) or people with a visual impairment. Some also have colour coding to help remember vowels, consonants, punctuation etc.
• Overlay keyboards – such as IntelliKeys. Different overlays can be placed on the touch-sensitive panel to provide all kinds of alternative keyboard layouts. They can be very motivating because 'keys' could have pictures on as well as words. A press could enter a whole word or sentence on screen rather than a single letter. Tactile overlays can support those with a visual impairment too.
  
• Lomak - an alternative keyboard operated by a beam of light from a head pointer or hand held pointer.
  
• Touch monitors – the user simply touches the screen and sees the response. A very direct way of learning about cause and effect, so this can be a good way of accessing the computer for those with learning difficulties.
• Voice recognition – software such as Dragon can help users to write documents by speaking.
• On-screen keyboards, which could provide keyboard input controlled by a mouse, switch or touch monitor.
• Other supporting software can help keyboard input by providing word prediction (eg. Penfriend XP) or a choice of words that can be entered with a single click (eg. Clicker 5).

Tweaking the computer's settings can make a huge difference to some users, but they will not work for everybody. Sometimes, alternatives to the standard access methods need to be sought. It also needs to be borne in mind that the user's requirements can vary – sometimes very rapidly – as their coordination or muscle tone changes. So you may need to monitor this and adjust their access settings on a regular basis.

As well as ensuring that the computer is accessible for the user it is important to provide tasks that actively develop their control skills, thereby increasing their ability to access educational opportunities. This will be the focus of the next article.