To help provide some context for how a student may use assistive technology, Kim Russell, a legally blind adult student at SUNY Empire State College, has demonstrated how she uses different magnification and screen reading technologies in her studies and professional life in the following videos. Specifically, she is using the magnifying software ZoomText (4:20) and a handheld CCTV (2:33).

In addition to the screen magnifiers discussed in the videos, many PCs and Macs come with built-in accessibility tools.

On PCs with Windows 7 and higher there is an Ease of Access Center containing a number accessibility tools including a screen magnifier called Magnifier. Follow these steps listed below to locate the Ease of Access center on your PC and enable Magnifier.

Click the Start button
Click Control Panel
Click Ease of Access
Click Ease of Access Center
Click Start Magnifier
Customize the magnification, view, and settings using the Magnifier window. Note: Closing the Magnifier window disables Magnifier.

Microsoft’s Ease of Access Center website

Mac OS X also offers a number of built-in accessibility tools, including a screen magnifier called Zoom. To enable Zoom:

Click on the Launch pad icon
Click on the System Preferences icon
Click on Accessibility
Click on Zoom
Customize settings. For example, Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom, Show Accessibility status in menu bar etc.
Click on More Options to select options associated with rapid zoom, etc. and click OK
Close Accessibility

For more information visit Apple’s Accessibility website.

While not as widely used as Mac OS and Windows OS, the Chrome OS also provides some built-in accessibility tools. To learn more visit the Chrome OS Accessibility website.

Estimated time: 12 minutes