Web Design for the Disabled
Devices to help disabled users accomplish tasks
Adaptive keyboard
Adaptive keyboards have lowered keys. This makes it easier to place the finger on the right key before pressing it. Users with unreliable muscle control and spastic movements benefit from this type of keyboard.
In addition special software for word completion can be used to reduce the number of keystrokes because typing long texts can get very tiring.
Image of apadpitve keyboard and large trackball
Eye tracking
Eye tracking devices follow the eye movement to allow the user to navigate a whole computer system only with the movement of the eye. Special software is needed to make typing and moving the cursor possible. Because of the high price compared to head wands and mouth sticks such devices are not very common.
Image of man using eye tracking
Head wand
A head wand is a stick strapped around the head. Like eye tracking, users suffering from quadriplegia can profit from such devices. By moving the head the wand can be used to type and navigate. They are not very expensive and are easy to use, but can be tiring to use when a lot of keystrokes are needed. Another disadvantage is that it is literally impossible to press more that one key at once.
Mouth stick
Mouth sticks are very often used devices, due to the low cost. The usage is similar to the head wand, except that it is a stick placed in the mouth instead of strapped to the head.
One handed keyboard
This type of keyboards can be used with one hand. There are different types,
some with many buttons and some with just five button (one for each finger), where
more than one key is used for one character. Individuals with motor disabilities on
one side of their body, for instance hemiplegia, can use these for typing. Advanced
users can work at a very high speed.
During research one blind programmer using a one handed keyboard was interviewed.
This programmer uses his left hand for reading braille on a refreshable keyboard
and simultaneously types with his right hand. Both hands are totally healthy.
Image of a one handed keyboard
Over sized trackball mouse
Trackball mice are used by many people, not only disabled. it is easier to press the mouse button without moving the cursor, so people with motor disabilities can profit from such devices. Using a head wand or mouth stick it is much harder to move a normal mouses pointer than it is to manipulate a trackball. Over sized trackballs can even be used with a foot.
Image of apadpitve keyboard and large trackball
Refreshable braille
Refreshable braille devices can interpret the text that would normally be displayed on a screen and translate it to braille. Little pins pop up and produce braille writing that can be read by blind people who understand braille. It is important to remember that not all blind people know braille!
Screen magnifier
Screen magnifiers do just what the name says: They magnify what is on the screen. Obviously this can be very helpful for people with limited eye sight.
Image of a screen magnifier (hardware)
Image of a screen magnifier (software)
Screen reader, audio browser
Audio browsers read web sites to the user and give options to navigate through the web. It is important that users can adjust the speed of the reader. When reading silently the speed of reading is much faster than when reading aloud, especially when reading to someone else. People using screen readers usually do not want to listen to the web at a very slow pace because it is not as efficient as it could be. When blind people get used to the voice of their speed reader they increase the speed so that it is hardly understandable for people without any experience with this software. JAWS is a well known screen reader for Windows.
Image of person using screeanreader and other accessibility equipment
Text browser
Users with visual impairments, inability to use a mouse and users with slow or expensive Internet connections use text browsers. These do not display images and other multimedia files. It is just plain text in the colors preferred by the user himself. Some mobile devices use text browsers when the connection rates are paid per kilobyte.
Voice recognition
People with motor disabilities can find it impossible or tiring to use a keyboard or mouse. Voice recognition programs enable controlling a complete computer system by speaking voice commands into a microphone.
It takes a lot of time to get used to this method before a computer system can be used efficiently. This requires a clear voice and needs practice, but it can open a whole new world of possibilities for disabled users.
