Individuals with disabilities can access Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) using assistive technology. This term refers to any item, piece of equipment or system used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Some examples of assistive technology follow.
Text-to-speech applications
Text-to-speech applications, generally referred to as screen readers, process digital content like documents and web pages into the spoken word. Text is read aloud through computers or mobile devices. Text formatted appropriately can indicate document structure like headings, lists, and tables.
Benefit: Text-to-speech applications provide alternatives or enhancements for visual and cognitive abilities and assist anyone needing to reduce eye strain.
Braille displays
Refreshable Braille displays are hardware with customized keyboards which allow users to navigate through digital content like documents and web pages using specific commands. Users feel pegs in Braille cells moving up and down in the display which create characters, words, and sentences.
Benefit: Refreshable Braille displays provide an alternative to visual abilities.
Transcripts
Transcripts are textual alternatives for audio only, like podcasts, and for the audio portion of multimedia content, like movies, streaming videos, and television broadcasts. Text-based transcripts include the dialogue and relevant sounds presented in those formats.
Benefit: Transcripts provide alternatives or enhancements for auditory, visual, and cognitive abilities.
Captions and subtitles
Captions are a special type of transcript synchronized to video content. The spoken word is displayed as text on a screen. Like transcripts, captions can include names of those speaking, as well as relevant sounds. Subtitles refers to any captions presented in a language other than the one being spoken within a video.
Benefit: Captions provide alternatives or enhancements for auditory and cognitive abilities, and they are helpful for understanding different languages and accents.
Closed vs. open captions
Closed captions can be turned on and off by users, while open captions are always visible on the display or screen.
- Use of closed captions is preferred, since it allows users a choice of viewing captions or not. The on or off functionality is not available for open captions, which are “burned into” the video.
- Open captions can be distracting to those with cognitive disabilities, since they may obscure what is happening within the video.
- If videos are blurry, open captions can be difficult to read due to poor video quality.
Open captions are acceptable if they are the only means available for captioning, however closed captions are always best.
Voice recognition applications
Voice recognition applications allow people to use computer devices without a mouse or keyboard through dictation. This technology made assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri possible. A variety of uses include hands-free driving directions and the ability to control power to appliances or lights, to name a few.
Benefit: Voice recognition software provides alternatives or enhancements for visual and cognitive abilities, along with motor skills.
Screen magnifiers
Screen magnifiers are applications which enlarge digital documents, web pages, and any window on a computing device. Using a keyboard to shift up, down, left, and right to view information; individuals can see larger text and graphics on digital device screens.
Benefit: Screen magnifiers provide alternatives or enhancements for visual and cognitive abilities.
Alternate input devices
Alternate input devices allow operation of a computer by means other than a standard keyboard or mouse. Some examples include cameras to track eye movement and sip-and-puff devices which enable commands by blowing through a straw.
Benefit: Alternate input devices are non-traditional ways to access computers and other devices. They provide alternatives or enhancements for motor skills.
Color modes
Multiple color modes or themes are available on computer devices to aid people in viewing content. Some are used to reduce the blue light that harms vision or causes headaches. There are dark, night, grayscale, and high contrast modes. Use of each is based on individual preferences or needs.
Benefit: Color modes provide alternatives or enhancements for visual and cognitive abilities. They are helpful in reducing eye strain and even preventing seizures for some.