AccessCollege

What accessibility features are provided with the Windows operating system?

Some individuals with disabilities require assistive technology (AT) in order to access computers. Hundreds of Windows AT third-party products are available, making it possible for almost anyone to use Windows® applications, regardless of their disabilities. The Microsoft® Windows® operating systems also provides a core set of basic accessibility features and AT applications, which can be deployed on all computers in a computer lab or classroom without additional cost.

SMARTer Board Project: A Promising Practice for Teaching Students to Solve Visual Accessibility Issues

In 2011-2012 three departments of Illinois State University, the Special Education Assistive Technology Center, Classroom Technology Support Services, and Metcalf University Lab School seized an opportunity to unite in a project which advanced research on better accommodations for students with visual impairments.

Is Java accessible?

Java is a general-purpose programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. It gained notoriety in the late 1990s in part because of its vision of platform independence: A compiled Java program can run on most computers, including those running UNIX, Linux, Mac OS, and Windows. This cross-platform support is possible because the Java interpreter, known as the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), is available for a broad variety of operating systems.

How does accessibility differ across operating systems?

On any computer, the operating system (OS) is the set of programs that performs basic tasks that are necessary for the computer to be functional. The OS provides a software platform on top of which application programs can run. Early operating systems, including Microsoft's Disk Operating System (DOS) and UNIX (originally developed by Bell Labs; now an open specification licensed by The Open Group), posed few accessibility barriers for users of assistive technologies because they were text-based.

How can I get involved with undergraduate research?

Undergraduate research can provide important and meaningful experiences for students in fields that include those in science and engineering. Research internships present opportunities for undergraduates to gain an exposure to research and consider whether they are interested in research careers and graduate school.

Following are examples of programs that allow undergraduate students with disabilities to become involved in research:

How can data tables be made accessible?

Data tables are tables that are used to represent actual tabular data, with rows and columns of related information. The technique for creating an accessible data table depends on the complexity of the table. Data tables can be described as either simple or complex. A simple data table is one in which each cell corresponds with only one column header and/or one row header. In contrast, a complex data table is one in which there are nested columns or nested rows. Consequently, cells within the table correspond with multiple column and/or row headers.

Can a person with a hearing impairment use a stethoscope?

Yes, there are digital electronic stethoscopes that can be used by people with hearing impairments.

For example, the ViScope™, amplifies sounds 30 times louder than an acoustic scope and provides a visual display of the phonocardiogram or phonopneumogram. The ViScope™ is intended for use with In-the-Ear (ITE) and "open fit" Behind-the-Ear (BTE) type hearing aids. Some models are supplied without headphones allowing the user to choose the appropriate listening device to meet their specific needs.

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