Category

Assistive Technologies

Assistive Technology Focus: Keyboard

2 Jun 2020

Imagine not being able to use a mouse or touch-pad to use your computer. Folks with motor disabilities, vision issues–including blindness– or even a broken hand are not able to use a mouse to point to items on the screen, click on check-boxes or “right click.” This is where the trusty keyboard comes in–and considering […]

Gears 5: A Video Game Built for Accessibility

21 May 2020

The Vancouver-based game developer, Coalition Studio, developed their new game, Gears 5 with loads of accessibility features–something many video games lack. A sample of the new features include: Option to turn off “camera shake,” or quick camera movements Customize an on-screen display of information to minimize distractions and sensory overload while playing Improved subtitles with […]

Assistive Technology Focus: Captioning, Transcripts and Audio Descriptions

12 May 2020

I love captioning. I realized that I understand content, easily retain information and enjoy my viewing experiences more when I watch videos, TV and movies with the text right on my screen. Plus, I rarely need to backtrack to figure out what a character in a movie or show said! This is an example of […]

Assistive Technology Focus: Screen Readers

21 Apr 2020

…the Internet can mean many things to people with a disability: a luxury, a necessity, a way to participate in the information society, a way to gain access to more information than was previously available, or only one of the many ways of accessing information. It is also seen as a technology which may potentially […]

Accessible Video Conferencing While Social Distancing & Working From Home

7 Apr 2020

To date, most states in the U.S. have some type of “stay at home” or “shelter in place” order to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Many are relying on video conferencing tools to socialize and stay connected to friends and family. These video conferencing tools have become even more important for the almost 30% of […]

LEGO’s Commitment to Learning Through Play for the Visually Impaired

6 Sep 2019

Staying true to their commitment of re-defining play and re-imagining learning, the LEGO Foundation and LEGO Group are taking steps to ensure that LEGOs can be experienced by all children, especially those who are visually impaired. In August, LEGO debuted its first audio and Braille building instructions, a free service that gives visually impaired people […]

Accessibility Tools with Voice Assistant Amazon Alexa, Amazon Echo, and Amazon Dot

5 Dec 2017

Popular Voice Assistant product Amazon Alexa includes several useful features for users with accessibility needs related to vision, hearing, mobility, and speech. Included in both app and the physical device, Alexa can help support users by not only controlling their appliances, but help them navigate and interract with their devices, too. Tools offered by Alexa […]

Our Trip to the Assistive Technology Tryout & Access Center at CDCI

3 Mar 2017

Last week a few of our team members here at Accessible Web had the privilege of visiting the Center on Disability & Community Inclusion at the University of Vermont! Our goal at Accessible Web is to not only create accessible websites but to gain a better understanding of the kinds of assistive technology available to […]

NFB Newsline – The App You Should Know About

24 Feb 2017

Do you know the NFB-NEWSLINE? It’s an exciting phone service that lets you quickly and easily listen to the news straight from your phone. The Newsline provides non visual access to traditional newspapers, magazines, and other publications, converted to an easy to use audio format. By using their iPhone app you can “read” news, “on […]

Top Recommended Screen Readers

12 Apr 2016

Screen readers are software programs that allow blind or visually impaired users to read content displayed on a computer screen with a speech synthesizer or braille display—they are the interface between the computer’s operating system, its applications, and the user. Disabled World has compiled a list of available recommended screen readers that can help the visually impaired. From the […]