Access to information
When access to information or materials depends on access to equipment, there will be problems for all students who can’t get to, or use, the necessary equipment. If information and teaching materials are provided in more than one format, along with advice about what is really important and what is less important, then not many students with impairments will require any additional provision.
Many students have personal equipment which allows them to access text in an alternative way. Computers with scanners, screen reading software, and speech output, CCTVs, screen magnifying software, computers with Braille input and output are some of the enabling technologies available. However, much personal equipment is not transportable even where students own their own equipment, and students who rely on such equipment need access to it on campus if they are to make use of periods between timetabled classes.
Setting up Outlook and Word
Microsoft Office provides an online course that gives you the information you need to choose and control message formats in Microsoft® Office Outlook® 2003 both for e-mail messages you send and for those you receive which might be benficial. You can also set your default setting on your PC to become larger fonts in appropriate type. If you open up Microsoft Word and go to 'Format' on the tools bar, the click 'Font' and then clic, on the font type and size that you desire (i.e 12, Ariel), then click the 'default' icon at the bottoen LHS of the window and this will save those settings for the next time you open up a document.
Since libraries and computing labs are the places on campus where many students access information, appropriate computer workstations with some of the above facilities will be needed. There are various other accessibility features of computers, which could also be incorporated, such as wrist rests, keyguards, large print key labels, and large monitors. The provision of adjustable height workstation tables will ensure access for students who use wheelchairs, for whom more general consideration about access to the library and computing laboratory rooms is also needed.
(adapted from the Teachability Project - University of Strathclyde 2000 – 2005)
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