Weekend - Accessibility Options Videos

I watched the Chromebook video the other day. Here is what I posted on my blog that day: I wanted to watch the Chromebooks one especially because that’s what our school is mainly using now (I may have to steer everyone back towards iPads?!?). We do have 1 class set of iPads, but most of our funding these past 16 months has gone into purchasing more Chromebooks. 

At first I thought the video  would go through a bunch of Apps, and I was a little disappointed when it didn’t; however, then I realized that some of the setting changes are actually quite helpful for students that have some special needs. For example, they showed how they enlarge the mouse cursor. This could help someone who has a hard time seeing the small one. Even the “spoken feedback” function: I had no idea all of that stuff existed AND IT’S FREE! There is a colourblind accessibility extension…WOW! I do use “Speak It” sometimes.

Android:

I actually just texted my dad and told him how to increase the font size. Did I see a "block offensive words" option? Amazing!

High contrast text is also a nice feature to have.

iPad iOS9:

Holy Moly, I had to keep stopping the videos, so I could keep up finding all those options on my device.

Hearing -  I had to look up what Mono Audio meant.

Physical Access - I like how gestures can be adjusted to fit user. The touch accommodation, especially how long you have to hold it for, are great features to have for kids with abrupt movements. I, personally, like the "shake to undo" option.

Siri - When watching the video, all I could think of was my grade 6 students asking Siri over and over again if she could beatbox for them. Try it...it is pretty funny....just not when you have to listen to it several times in one lesson *lol*   

The speech to text option is definitely very useful. I' m trying to figure out the German option.

Zoom - I have to use  zoom on my devices all the time. I hadn't seen that window zoom option yet.

Mac - very similar options to some of the other devices we have looked at: zoom, colour, captions,  voice over etc.

PC - great options for visual and hearing...had to look up what toggle keys meant

I like how one can get recommendations to make the PC easier to use based on some reasons you selected (or someone for you selected). 

I also really like Screencastify. I will have to try that out.

I think accessibility options are going to become better and better with new devices coming out. I think those companies are all learning from each other. The only downfall is that not many people know all those options are there. I think all teachers should get some training on this.