Special Needs
First published in Special! Magazine. Reproduced with thanks.
The easy-to-access accessibility options
There are a great many reasons why the use of ICT is important for people with special needs. Those with physical difficulties and related handwriting problems may find it easier to record their work using computer technology. Those with a visual impairment can use ICT to access learning materials, while people with severe and complex special educational needs can learn essential skills such as understanding cause and effect or turn taking.
However, while ICT is incredibly important for these groups and others with special needs, it can have its own difficulties when it comes to access. Fortunately, not only are there many different access devices and educational software titles on the market, but computers have their own in-built options that can have a huge impact on their accessibility. Adaptations can be made to make them easier to use and meet different needs – quickly, easily, and best of all, free of charge.
Seating and positioning
Firstly, it is important that the physical positioning of computer technology does not present a barrier to its use by all learners. It should be accessible in terms of location, with plenty of room for wheelchairs or standing frames, for example. Equipment should be stable and secure, on a non-slip surface, with cables tidy so that they will not be pulled out or tripped over.
Chairs should give support, allow the feet to be flat on the floor and be at the correct height in relation to the monitor and keyboard. People with physical disabilities may need specialised seating and supports; professional advice from a physiotherapist or occupational therapist should be sought if there is any doubt. As with anyone using a computer, frequent breaks should be taken to avoid discomfort.
Monitors should be used at the correct height and distance for individual pupils; not an easy proposition at times, but the use of an adjustable height computer table such as the Vari-X from Atkinson will help avoid discomfort and strain – which is unhealthy for anyone, but can be a particular problem for those with physical difficulties.
The monitor should be tilted towards the pupil and should not reflect glare, which can be a particular problem for those with visual difficulties. An anti-glare screen can help in some circumstances. The monitor should also be positioned in front of the keyboard, rather than to the side, as this can result in neck strain.
A comfortable working position doesn't just reduce the risk of long-term problems – it will help with concentration and quality of work too.
Organising the computer display
It is also important that the working environment in terms of the computer display is appropriate for the users. Applications should be easy to recognise and access and it is best for the screen to have a simple, clear appearance. We will look at some of the options you can set to facilitate this, using the Windows XP operating system.
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| A rather confusing desktop |
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| A better desktop |
A clear desktop is not just for those with a visual impairment; it makes much more sense to people with learning difficulties, provides fewer distractions and is easier for everyone. It is also more straightforward for young children to be able to find what they need rather than spending their time learning to navigate the desktop. And it is much more motivating to be able to get going quickly rather than spending lots of time on just getting started.
A simple first step is to ensure that the desktop is clutter-free. We're all guilty of getting carried away with our holiday pictures (well, I am, as you can see!)
But where a computer is being used by learners with special needs it is really important to get rid of that wallpaper and think minimalist.
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| Display properties window |
Right click on a clear area of the desktop, then left click on 'Properties' to access the 'Display Properties' menu. Click on the 'Desktop' tab at the top. You will then be shown a window with a choice of desktop designs:
Select 'None' (you may need to use the scroll bars to read through the list of available styles) and then click 'OK'. The result will be a nice plain screen. If you wish, you can also change the screen colour using the drop-down box on the right.
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| Screen resolution options |
Setting the screen resolution
Making things simpler still, you can change your screen resolution to make all of your icons and pointers look bigger.
Many computers use an 800 x 600 pixel display setting. The higher the pixels (or number of dots making up the image), the more you can display on screen. With fewer pixels you cannot view as much information, but everything will appear larger.
Again using the Display Properties box, this time click the 'Settings' tab and reduce the screen resolution using the drag bar on the left. Then click OK.
Managing folders and icons
To go a step further, you could put all of your desktop icons into a single folder. Computer shortcuts tend to accumulate over time until the computer can look very confusing, so this may also be a good time to click on any icons you don't need and hit the Delete key.
Find a clear space on your desktop, right click, and then left click on 'New' from the drop-down list. Further options will then appear, from which you can select 'Folder'. A folder will appear, all ready for you to type in a file name and press 'Enter'. If you wish you could perhaps set up two or three folders to keep different types of icon separate.
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| A simplified desktop layout |
To tidy away your icons simply drag and drop them into the required folder. The result should be a greatly simplified working environment. You could also put your learners' activities right in the middle of the screen for easy access!
However, if your computer seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to positioning icons, you may find that the 'Auto Arrange' setting is active. Try right clicking on the desktop, then select 'Arrange Icons By'. This will present a further choice of options where you should select 'Align to grid'. This will mean that you can position your icons where you like, but the computer will automatically ensure that they fall into nice neat straight lines.
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To access your programs simply double click on the required folder to find your icons all listed inside. And don't forget, you can reverse the process by dragging and dropping each item back onto your desktop.
If you then go to the 'Appearance' tab in Display Properties and click on the 'Effects' button, you will see a range of options including 'Use large icons'. Tick this option to further increase the size of the icons on your desktop display.
Other appearance settings
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| A high contrast display setting |
In the Display Properties menu, click on the 'Appearance' tab. This will give you the option of changing the display appearance of, for example, menu titles. In the 'Color Scheme' drop-down menu you can find many different styles, including a range of high contrast settings for those with a visual impairment. Some of these settings will also change the background colour, for example of your word processing documents in Word.
Learners with dyslexia can sometimes benefit from the use of coloured overlays when reading print on a white page. Changing the colour options may provide a solution for computer screens, so it is worth experimenting! For a wider range of options and colour management possibilities for the text, background, menu and toolbar colours of Windows applications you could try purpose-designed software like ReadAble from iANSYST. Version 2 also allows you to change the font, size and spacing of on-screen text and you can save multiple colour profiles for different activities.
Next steps...
We have seen that a few simple adjustments to the computer's settings can make a huge difference to some technology users. These subtle changes can begin to break down barriers to accessibility as well as help to make the computer working environment a much friendlier place to be!
The next article in this series will take a more in-depth look at accessibility. Once again we will cover your computer's own options settings that can make life a lot easier for some individuals – this time, when using the keyboard and mouse. We will also look at some of the alternative access devices that are available for those who need more specialist support.
By Alison Littlewood of Inclusive Technology.