Monitor Assistance

• People with visual impairments require additional assistance to view the monitor properly. Specialized software can translate the text on the screen to audio, essentially reading the screen out loud for folks who are blind or have very low vision. For those with some visual ability, screen magnifiers can enlarge items on the screen for easier viewing. Hearing impaired individuals typically have no trouble working a computer, but software is available for translating audible sounds to on-screen notifications, such as a flashing light.
  
  

Keyboard Assistance

• Individuals with visual impairments can either use keyboards with oversized letters printed on the keys for easier identification or a braille keyboard or input device for data entry. Those with physical impairments that limit detailed movement can use specialized keyboards and keypads that combine common commands into a single keystroke or offer oversized keys for easier selection. Software is also available that allows people with disabilities to control the computer through voice recognition by speaking commands.
  
  

Navigational Assistance

• Screen readers can help visually impaired individuals navigate the various menus and links offered, but those with more limited physical capabilities require additional help. Various navigational alternatives are available for controlling the on-screen cursor, including touch screens, mice with large trackballs and even eye-movement tracking software. For individuals with extremely limited movement, special switches operated with the hand, foot or head can allow for computer navigation and control.
  
  

Furniture Accessories

• Those with physical disabilities may require specialized furniture designs to allow access to the machine, such as a taller desk or a mounting attachment for those in wheelchairs. The tower of a desktop computer may also need to be raised to allow access to the power button and disk drives for a person with limited mobility .