Technology Resources the Following Resources May Be Useful When Learning More About Accessibility and Technology
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Technology Resources The following resources may be useful when learning more about accessibility and technology. Microsoft Microsoft offers a wealth of resources pertaining to accessibility. The Office Accessibility Center is a great place to visit and learn about creating content that is accessible to all individuals. More information on Microsoft’s accessible features built into the Windows 10 operating system can be found on Microsoft's Windows 10 Accessibility Page. Apple Apple products (iPhones, iPads, Macs, etc.) provide built-in accessibility features that benefit all users, especially those who may have disabilities. The Apple Accessibility Website showcases the wide variety of built-in accessibility that’s available on Apple devices. Screen Reading Software Job Access with Speech (JAWS) is a highly customizable screen reading software program made by Freedom Scientific and used by individuals who are blind or experiencing vision loss. Learn more about JAWS by visiting the Freedom Scientific Website. If you’re interested in trying the product, you can download it and run it in 40-minute demonstration mode segments. Nonvisual Desktop Access (NVDA) is a free screen reading program for the Windows operating system. NVDA performs similar functions to JAWS, however, it is not as customizable. Visit the NVAccess Website to learn more about this free option. Screen Magnification Software The following software may be useful if individuals need to enlarge the content displayed on a computer screen. Both Apple and Microsoft (resources listed above), offer free built-in applications, but there are options outside of those that may work better for some individuals. Fusion combines the speech of the JAWS program with magnification. A product called ZoomText also provides additional magnification that may be beneficial. Visit the Zoom Text Website and learn all about these tools. In addition, the NVDA screen reader (listed above) offers some magnification features. Also, Apple and Microsoft offer built-in magnification accessibility features within their products. Applications There are numerous smartphone applications that can be used to assist employees who are blind or experiencing vision loss. The application links below provide descriptions for the applications. Aira Aira connects trained sighted agents to individuals who need assistance identifying products, items, navigating their environment, etc. Visit the Aira Website to learn more about the service, watch videos of how it works, and the cost of the service. Seeing AI Microsoft created an application called Seeing AI which uses intelligence to help identify text, objects, currency, handwriting and more. The app is available for Apple devices via the iOS App Store and is free to download and use. .