Accessibility Options

In my former life I was a Certified Assistive Technology Specialist (as well as a speech & language specialist). What that means, is that I modified computers, hardware & software for students with special needs so that they could access their curriculum.
It has made me more aware of how much that we, the temporarily able-bodied, have become more in need of the types of accommodations that I specialized in for the alternatively-abled. Most all of us will become alternatively-abled at some point in our lives. The fastest growing demographic is those attaining and surpassing the age of 100. What this means is that we will all need some accommodations along the way in order to access INFORMATION as we know it now and as it may be presented in the future.
There are tricks that we can do with our computer (Windows OS) that can make it more accessible without the aid of a professional (whether IT geek or an AT specialist).

To aid in the viewing of text; hold the control key down and use your scroll wheel on your mouse to increase the text size in any webpage or document (temporary fix). To adjust the size of the icons or text on your desktop and any window that pops up; right click on your desktop (anywhere, but not on an icon), select Properties, and use the pop up window to make adjustments to your Display Properties - Appearance. Changing your Screen Resolution will permanently adjust the size of the text and windows on your screen. The smaller the number (800x600) the larger everything will be on your screen. Once you hit Apply it will change and you may be prompted (depending on your OS version) to accept the change. So you have a chance to change it back if you don't like it. Nothing is set in stone if you hit OK and determine later that you don't like it or the someone you share your computer with, doesn't like it. Just go through the steps again and change the resolution to something more acceptable to both of you. Changing the size of text can be accomplished in the same pop window, under Settings. Use the drop down menu called Font Size and select whether you want normal, large or extra large. Be forewarned that if you have a lot of desktop icons (shortcuts) then they will be crowded and maybe even overlapping if you select the extra large. Select Apply and OK and your changes will be saved.

There are many other things that can be done along these lines to make life a little easier without spending money on special glasses for the computer or to have someone make the changes for you. There will be links to both Apple's and Microsoft's web page area that deals with the changes you can make for your specific challenge (visual or physical).

An example of one my favorite accommodations (that no one else in my family likes, in fact they dislike it intensely), is to change the need for double clicking everything to open files and etc. The first click becomes a hover...it highlights the icon when you hover or dwell on the item...the second click is when you actually activate the mouse click ONCE. Here is how you change this:
Open up My Computer from your Start Menu (taskbar) and select Tools and Folder Options (menu bar). Under the General Tab, at the bottom of the window will be a few options under Click Items as Follows; click the radial button Single Click to Open an Item (point to select). Select Apply and OK to save your changes. Then get used to the fact that you don't have to double click. For awhile you will be opening multiples of things but you'll get used to it eventually. For those who have trouble keeping our hands steady while pointing to an icon/link and then clicking twice without moving the mouse around, this is a wonderful modification. On some web pages the links are so tiny that it is difficult to just get the cursor to change to a selection cursor and it is even more difficult to then double click on it. Using the Control Key + Scroll on your mouse will enlarge those links and make it easier.

The links I promised:

Windows OS; This is a wonderful site that sorts the accessibility options for Windows OS by disability or by function. Some of the things that can be changed are filters (to ignore multiple keystrokes), Sticky Keys (helps with multiple key selection for shortcuts - such as control + x or c or v, to cut, copy or paste an item quickly), Sound Sentry (gives visual warnings to alert that a warning sound has been given by the computer), Show Sounds (gives captions for speech and sound warning issued by the computer), and High Contrast (allows you to select color of background/text so there is more contrast for visual challenges).

Apple OS I am not as familiar with Apple Accessibility options anymore (not in education any longer) and so can not advise how helpful this page is today. Many of the on board options that Apple used to supply have become Apps (for iphones and etc) and may not be free any longer. When I tried to access Apple's accessibility page, my browser crashed? Hopefully, this is a temporary problem. I did notice that there were videos supplied and I assume these instruct you on how to make OS changes.