Assistive Technology Computer Keyboards

“Assistive technology that facilitates computer access for students with disabilities exists on a continuum from low tech to high tech.  Low-tech solutions include keyboard labels, selecting/pointing devices, keyguards, and moisture guards” (Dell, Newton, & Petroff, 2012, p. 204).  Mid-tech to high-tech use alternate keyboards, touch screens, eye-gaze systems, etc.

The significance of the assistive technology continuum is that using low-tech assistive technology should begin.  Only if low-tech assistive technology does not meet the needs of the student should mid-tech and high-tech solutions be considered.

There are many different types of mid-tech to high-tech options for the computer.  I will only discuss the alternative keyboards that are available for students with special needs (mid-tech to high-tech).  The major categories of alternative keyboards are:

·       expanded keyboards – (also known as enlarged/oversized keyboards) these keyboards would be appropriate for “students with poor fine motor control who need a large target area to execute an accurate keystroke whether they are using their hand, foot, or typing aid” (Dell, Newton, & Petroff, 2012, p.185)

 

Expanded Keyboard (http://www.gateway2at.org/images/altkeyboard3.jpg, 2014)

 

·       mini-keyboards – these keyboards are good for “students with motor impairments that (1) restrict their range of motion, making it difficult or impossible to access all the keys on the standard keyboard and (2) have good accuracy within a narrow range of motion” (Dell, Newton, & Petroff, 2012, p. 186)

 

·       one-handed keyboards – these keyboards are appropriate for students that only have one strong/usable hand.  There are two types of keyboards in this category: the Half-QWERTY keyboard and the Dvorak keyboard layout.



Half-QWERTY Keyboard (http://www.onehandedkeyboard.com/imagesfolder/halfkeyboard.jpg, 2014)

Dvorak Keyboard (http://www.dvorak-keyboard.com/images/dvorak.gif, 2014)

 

·       on-screen keyboards – this type of keyboard is appropriate for “students who do not have the motor skills necessary to use the keyboard but can control a mouse or mouse emulator such as a joystick, trackball, or a head-controlled mouse” (Dell, Newton, & Petroff, 2012, p. 189)

Computer Use for Students with Disabilities

There are many universal design features that are accessible on computers for students with disabilities.  Students that have physical disabilities, vision impairments or blindness, and hearing impairments or deafness are able to have adaptions to computers used to help accommodate their individual disabilities.

For students that have physical disabilities there are different keyboard modifications and mouse control options that can be used:

·       Stickykeys

·       Slow Keys

·       Mousekeys

For students that are hard of hearing or are deaf there are:

·       Beeps, tones, and voice messages that can be replaced with visual signals, icons, or captions.

For students that have visual impairments or are blind there are:

·       High-contrast color scheme

·       Screen magnification

 

 

·       Enlarge the mouse pointer

·       Voiced feedback – reading everything on the screen