The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5)

Accessibility Question

One of my students is visually impaired, and has a hard time following the things I do in class. The class scenario is something like this: I do some stuff which is displayed on the projector and the students do the same on their computers.

For this student, I changed the desktop settings to High Contrast (Large) (I tinkered with various appearances – this was the best according to her), but her problem is that she cannot see the mouse pointer/ cursor, whatever the appearance.

Any suggestions?

Prakash S
Friday, March 12, 2004

Google on "Section 508" - that's the US Federal Requirements for enabling software for people with disabilities. Something regarding a "how to" or "tips" should surface.

Philo

Philo
Friday, March 12, 2004

Could she see an animated cursor, or possibly a laser pointer?

Sam Livingston-Gray
Friday, March 12, 2004

Philo - thanks. Will google it.

Sam - thanks for the reply..
Animated Curosrs - have not tried - good idea.

The laser pointer would help only to an extent - since she will need to see the mouse pointer on her screen as well.

Prakash S
Friday, March 12, 2004

On Win2K for example, "Control Panel/Mouse/Pointers" and set Scheme to "Magnified (system scheme)", or to one of various other enlarged schemes.

http://www.microsoft.com/enable has other information (not specifically about cursors).

Christopher Wells
Friday, March 12, 2004

Could you hook up a second monitor just for her? Something she could sit right in front off?

Robert Jacobson
Saturday, March 13, 2004

I was going to suggest the 2nd monitor/laptop.

In fact, a laptop would be better, as there are zoom options within Windows that the student can use to observe things closely (and clearer). It costs money to set up, but once one is set up, I'm sure you can have that student take the technology to other classes.

-T.J.

T.J.
Sunday, March 14, 2004

Thanks Robert - I will have to ask the university computing folks about that.

TJ:
Laptop sounds like a good idea.

Prakash S
Tuesday, March 16, 2004