Configuring Accessibility Features in Windows 2000

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Creating custom interfaces lets users with disabilities control their computing environment so that they can succeed in using the software they need to perform their work. Depending on each person's specific needs, users might find challenges with different aspects of Windows. Although accessibility features install automatically with Windows 2000, in a complete installation, previously configured options and settings must be reconfigured and new customized options must be configured for individual users.

Table E.1 describes some of the user aids that are built into the Windows 2000 operating system to make it more accessible. Because some features can apply to several disabilities, they are listed by particular difficulty, instead of by category of disability. For descriptions of features by category of disability, see the section "Setting Options by Type of Disability" later in this chapter.

Table E.1 Common User Difficulties and Their Solutions

User has difficulty...

Windows 2000 solutions

Customizing settings in a multiple-user network.

Accessibility Wizard, Administrative Options, Accessibility Options in Control Panel

Doing the following:

  • Opening Windows or applications.

  • Navigating through desktop elements and Windows.

  • Customizing keyboard settings.

  • Customizing display settings.

Hot keys, Utility Manager, Narrator, On-Screen Keyboard, Active Desktop, keyboard shortcuts, system status icons

Remembering what accessibility features are activated.

Accessibility Options in Control Panel

Finding a needed feature.

Accessibility Wizard for listing by disability

Remembering keyboard navigation indicators.

Accessibility Options and Display in Control Panel, Accessibility Wizard

Spelling words correctly.

Automatic Spell Checker, AutoComplete feature, AutoCorrect feature, keyboard shortcuts

Hearing, such as in the following situations:

  • Hearing sound prompts.

  • Distinguishing sounds.

  • Hearing audible cues.

  • Working in a noisy environment.

ShowSounds, SoundSentry, customizable sound schemes

Using standard keyboard configurations.

Dvorak keyboards, On-Screen Keyboard, MouseKeys

Using the keyboard due to slow response time.

RepeatKeys and keyboard options

Using the keyboard due to inadvertent hitting or bouncing off keys.

SlowKeys, BounceKeys, RepeatKeys, and ToggleKeys

Holding down two keys at the same time.

StickyKeys

Using standard user interface methods, including a mouse and keyboard.

Third-party voice-input utilities, Narrator, On-Screen Keyboard

Manipulating a mouse.

MouseKeys

Working with flashing events and other schemes that trigger seizures.

Accessibility Options in Control Panel, which allows the user to change timing, sound schemes, and color and contrast; and the Accessibility Wizard

Seeing or following the mouse pointer.

Mouse options in the Accessibility Wizard or Control Panel

Seeing keyboard status lights.

ToggleKeys

Seeing screen elements.

Narrator, Magnifier, Control Panel, and size, color, and contrast schemes in Accessibility Wizard

Functioning well with built-in accessibility features (needs add-on devices).

Active Accessibility, SerialKeys for third-party assistive devices

Finding third-party assistive devices and other accessibility information.

Microsoft Accessibility Web site (see the "Additional Resources" section in this appendix for details)

Users and administrators can use Accessibility Options in Control Panel to customize many of the accessibility features in Windows 2000. However, you can now configure many popular accessibility features using the Accessibility Wizard. For example, you can customize display, keyboard, mouse, and sound operation for the user's own particular needs by using either Control Panel or the Accessibility Wizard. The two ways to configure options are described in the following subsections.