Assistive technologies and tools

Introduction

Assistive technology sis a piece of software or hardware used by people with disabilities to help them perform tasks online.

Screen reader

What is it?

Software that processes content and converts it into speech or braille.

Who uses it?

The visually impaired, or those with cognitive impairments who better understand audio over text content.

How do they use it?

Screen readers use a variety of keyboard commands to carry out different tasks. This might include reading part or whole of a document, navigating web pages, opening and closing files, editing and listening to music. Common products are JAWS, Apple Voice Over.

Related guides

Section headings, Navigation, Lists, Alt text, Tables, User testing
https://www.w3.org/WAI/perspective-videos/speech/

Try it

Voiceover on a mac (under accessibility in system preferences), Narrator on Windows

Keyboard

What is it?

Navigating the web purely with a keyboard.

Who uses it?

Blind users, people with motor disabilities, tremors, a broken mouse, or with little or no use of their hands and arms.

How do they use it?

The Tab key can be used to navigate through links and form controls, Enter (and sometimes Spacebar) selects an element, and the arrow keys are sometimes used for other navigation.

Related guides

Links and buttons, Navigation, Page layouts, User testing, Colours and colour contrast
https://www.w3.org/WAI/perspective-videos/keyboard/ 

Try it

Dump your mouse and try using your computer with these commands:

• tab – move between focus areas on the page, for example links, form controls, buttons, media player controls. Shift together with Tab does the same in reverse
• enter or return – activate a link or control
• spacebar – activate a button or checkbox
• cursor keys – move between radio buttons; scroll the page up/down and left/right
• esc – may close a lightbox or overlay

Speech recognition

What is it?

Software that converts a user’s speech into text on the screen or give commands to programs and browsers.

Who uses it?

Those with physical disabilities who can’t use the keyboard or mouse, repetitive stress injuries (RSI), cognitive and learning disabilities who need to use voice rather than to type, or temporary injuries such as a broken arm.

How do they use it?

Users can dictate text for a form field, as well as navigating to and activating links, buttons, and other controls. More advanced software allows complete control over the device – scrolling the screen, copy and pasting text, activating menus, and other functions.

Related guides

Forms, Navigation, Page layouts, User testing,
https://www.w3.org/WAI/perspective-videos/voice/

Try it

Dictation on Mac (under accessibility in system preferences), Speech Recognition on Windows

Screen magnifiers

What is it?

Software that magnifies the screen and displays an enlarged portion of it.

Who uses it?

People suffering from low vision, including elderly users.

How do they use it?

As a user types characters, issues keyboard commands, or moves their mouse, a magnified screen view will keep up with what they’re doing and where they’re focused on the screen. Screen magnifiers can also enlarge and enhance mouse and text cursors to make them easier to see, sharpens edges, increases contrast, and changes colour combinations.

Related guides

Colour and colour contrast, Forms, Page layouts

Further reading:

https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2016/11/01/results-of-the-2016-gov-uk-assistive-technology-survey/

Try it

Zoom on Mac (under accessibility in system preferences), Magnifier on Windows