Hi Dan and Jeanette, Dan, I think Jeanette wrote earlier that she was working with low vision students. But I agree that since Microsoft Word is not accessible for blind VO users under OS X 10.4 it would be a good thing to configure TextEdit with preferences for large default fonts in both plain text and rich text mode. In fact, you could save a sample formatted rich text document as a style format, with predefined font types and sizes, justification, and line spacing that students could use.
A couple of other options: For the Macbook used by low vision students you might also get some screen magnification by changing resolution of the display, e.g., to 800 by 500, in the displays option under systems preferences. This magnifies icons and images as well as text, but at non-native screen resolution. It's probably preferable to use the Universal Access zoom functions, but you have the option of changing display resolution and showing the displays icon in the menu bar for quick changing. There are also some accessibility options in the advanced preference menu of Safari, including a minimum font size to use, however, web page design usually doesn't render well like this. You might also want to set font sizes in the terminal window via preferences. Cheers, Esther On Tuesday, September 18, 2007, at 07:37PM, "Dan" wrote: >Hello, >One thing I'd like to mention is this. Microsoft Word at this time is >not at all accessible for blind VO users under OS X 4. So unless you're >running it under windows with Fusion, and a windows screen reader, blind >student's will not be able to usit at all. >Dan >On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:01:19 +1000, Jeanette Davies wrote: > > >>Hi all >> >>I'm after your expertise... >> >>I'm putting together a document for teachers who find themselves with >>a student in their class with a visual impairment - in other words no >>special training in teaching students with a visual impairment, but >>they can help these students by making the student's MacBook more >>accessible (without purchasing any software, just what comes with it >>(includes Microsoft Word as a school rollout) >> >>I will be typing this up with full details including screenshots, but >>will just put the bare minimum hints here. If anyone can add any >>more, that would be awesome. >> >>Finder: >>View > Show View Options, then Change icon size, change Text size (by >>the way, anyone know if this can be increased past 16?) >>Desktop background: keep plain >>Remove unnecessary items from dock so the icons can be large >> >>Word: >>Enable speech toolbar >>Increase font size >> >>iTunes: >>Preferences > General: change source text and song text to large >> >>iPhoto: >>Preferences > Appearance: change source text to large >> >>Safari: >>Explain inbuilt zoom >> >>and of course the options in Universal Access >> >>Thanks, JD >> >>-------------------------------------------------------- >>Jeanette Davies >>ICLT [Libraries / Inclusive Technologies] >>Catholic Education Office, Wollongong >>http://www.ceo.woll.catholic.edu.au/home/jdavies >> >>Ph: 0419994045 >>Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> >> >> >> >> > > >
