How can I make my laptop more accessible for me?(self.Blind)
submitted by DesthBySpaghetti
I have just been registered as severely sight impaired, so this is all brand new to me.
I will be applying for a grant to get a laptop or desktop computer to help with my writing and that, but for now, I am stuck with using my own laptop. I have changed my cursor so it is easy to see when using word and other stuff, but is there a way I can make it more accessible, like bolder writing on google pages so I can see the writing clearer? I am just trying to make my life easier at the moment as I would like to use my laptop more, but for now, I am stuck on my Ipad and phone for my writing, which isn't always good for that.
OldManOnFire6 points1y ago
I can tell you some of what's possible but I can't tell you how to do it - my computer literacy skills are not too good.
* Your computer's resolution can be changed to make desktop icons bigger or smaller. * Browsers can be zoomed in. * The size and colors of your online text can be changed. * If you prefer white text on a black background you can opt for dark mode. * Screen reading software such as NVDA can read text aloud to you.
There is probably more you could do that I'm not aware of - hopefully someone with more experience than me will answer your question. How you go about making these changes probably depends on what operating system you have. If you have a specific configuration you want you can probably find step by step instructions on how to do it online with a Google search. If you can't figure something specific out just reply here with the details and I'll try to help.
B-dub314 points1y ago
Windows has a ton of accessibility features like increased font sizes, color inversion, text to speech. Click start and search for accessibility. If you're using Mac, search for accesdibility in the finder.
jfm21433 points1y ago
I use a screen inverter it helps a ton. I use a program called negative screen. It's free and way better than windows default color inverter.
bongunk2 points1y ago
There's a browser add in called Dark Reader that also works very well, but obviously only for browser content
DesthBySpaghetti [OP]2 points1y ago
I’ve been using the windows colour inverter as I’ve just found out how to do it (thanks Google!) and it works for the time being, also been using the windows magnifier which has been a great help.
TechnicalPragmatist2 points1y ago
What about zoomtext I notice no one brought that one up. What about something like that or fusion? Or even Jaws or nvda and learn to use a screen reader?
Also get other training because of vision loss like ILS and cane training.
bpox2 points1y ago
Assuming you are using Windows, right click on your desktop. Select display settings, then scale and layout. Increase and see what point helps. Eventually it's kind of too much magnification percentage to work well. If that is the case, search "Windows Magnifier." Select full screen mode. You may want to figure out the hot keys for Windows Magnifier anyhow for when you need just occasional help. For me that is windows key plus the plus or minus key. I hope this helps you get more comfortable more quickly.
rkarl77772 points1y ago
Consider getting a large 2nd monitor for your laptop. As long as you have an extra USB port to plug it in, it's easy to set up. That, plus all of the suggestions other people have made, should help quite a bit.
LID9192 points1y ago
One little thing that helps me with mouse pointers is to enable the setting "show moose position when pressing control key".
I'll often lose track of where the pointer is. With that setting on, windows animates rings around the pointer location to make it easier to spot whenever you tap the control key.
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