As a student with low vision who spends a lot of time in computer labs, I’ve worked with several teachers to create a list of options on implementing computer lab accommodations for low vision students. Whether students are taking virtual classes, completing in-class activities, or otherwise using a computer that isn’t their own personal device, it’s important to ensure that they have consistent access to the accessibility settings and assistive technology tools that they use. Here is a list of computer lab accommodations for low vision students that I have personally used or that I have implemented for students/clients as an assistive technology consultant.
Create portable copies of software on USB dongles
ZoomText, JAWS, NVDA, Fusion, Kurzweil 3000, and several other popular assistive technology software options can be downloaded as a portable copy onto a USB drive and connected to any computer so that users can access the tools they need without having to reconfigure settings manually. This is especially helpful for college students who frequently use library computers or lab computers. I recommend researching information about how to create a portable copy for specific software programs online, or reaching out to an assistive technology specialist for more information.
Related links
- Creating a Portable Copy: NVDA
- Activating portable copy for Freedom Scientific products
- What To Know About College Assistive Technology Specialists
Connect accessible keyboard or mouse
When I shadowed a teacher in a computer lab setting, I would frequently set up a USB large print keyboard and/or adapted mouse for students with disabilities who had difficulty accessing the standard size keyboard or mouse. In college, I sometimes bring my own keyboard and/or mouse to a computer lab if I know I’ll be using a keyboard that’s otherwise difficult to type on, though for younger students the keyboard/mouse is typically stored in the computer lab and set up for the student in advance.
Related links
Enable accessibility settings
To make it easier to access lab computers in the data science major, my professors let me configure a computer with various low vision accessibility settings that was reserved for me, though I later learned that another student with low vision also used this computer in other classes and was extremely appreciative of the accessibility settings being pre-configured. In elementary school and high school, I also had a “reserved” computer that had been configured with accessibility settings, either by me or with assistance from a teacher.
Examples of accessibility settings I have pre-configured for myself or other students include:
- Large mouse pointer or custom pointer color
- Increased font sizes and/or display scaling
- Keyboard shortcuts for accessing applications
- High contrast mode or screen inversion keyboard shortcuts
- Dark mode for reducing glare
- Large icons on desktop
Another example of settings that can be configured in advance for students is the use of headphones, as some students may find it easier to use a different style of headphones than the ones that are connected to the computer by default. Ensuring that headphones can be connected seamlessly is important so that students can focus on learning, not on troubleshooting technology.
Related links
- Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Windows 10 and 11
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Headphones
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
- How To Use High Contrast in Windows 10 and Windows 11
- How To Customize Icons For Windows
- How To Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows
Display information on a larger screen
When I was working with a group of students, I discovered that having multiple people crouching around a single monitor made it a lot more difficult to see what was on the screen. One easy workaround is to connect a second monitor that has a mirrored display or to connect a larger screen as a primary monitor to make it easier to read text, which is also helpful for making sure everyone can see what is on a screen.
For presentations or demonstrations, another option for making the screen easier to see is to use screen mirroring tools or screen sharing applications to duplicate the display onto a student’s screen, so they can magnify it or view it more easily compared to straining their eyes to view information at a distance.
Related links
- Tips For Screensharing With Low Vision
- How I Set Up My Tech Internship Desk: PM Intern With Low Vision
- Ways I Use My Google Chromecast For Virtual Learning
Enable screen magnification tools
In elementary school, one of the first accessibility tools I remember using is Windows Magnifier, which made it easier for me to locate icons in the toolbar for classroom activities. I still use Windows Magnifier frequently in computer labs for quickly enlarging text or display interfaces, because I don’t have to download anything and can open it with a keyboard shortcut. Windows Magnifier was also approved as a testing accommodation for remote exams and for my virtual classes in high school and college.
Related links
- Windows Magnifier and Low Vision
- Zoom Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
Activate a simplified reading display for text
Simplified reading displays are my all-time favorite way to read text in large print, because they apply a consistent font size, style, and background color to text while getting rid of visual clutter or complex interfaces. I frequently use the Microsoft Immersive Reader in computer labs because it is available on so many applications, but I’ve also used Google Reading Mode, Reading View, and other built-in reading tools for accessing large print.
Related links
- How I Use Microsoft Immersive Reader With Low Vision
- Google Reader Mode and Low Vision
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
Reduce eye strain with a blue light filter
There are several strategies for reducing eye strain with technology settings, including enabling a blue light filter and adding a screen tint to make it easier to look at screens. I use many of these settings in computer labs, along with strategies for vision breaks to rest my eyes, which can include enabling a blue light filter on the monitor, using a system “night light”, and making sure that I am in a well-lit environment and that my screen isn’t the brightest thing in the room. I have also found high contrast mode useful for reducing eye strain, but don’t use it all the time.
For younger students, sometimes I will place a stuffed animal or other non-backlit item near their screen so that they will look at something else every few minutes and take appropriate vision breaks to avoid eye strain. Teaching about tools for nonvisual access like text-to-speech is also valuable, but since a lot of students dislike wearing headphones in their computer lab this isn’t a skill they use often.
Related links
- Ten Ways To Reduce Eye Strain From Screens With Technology
- Activity Ideas For Vision Breaks
- Disability Accommodations For Fluctuating Eyesight
- Five Common Technology Behaviors That Hurt My Brain
Are desktop computers or laptop computers better for students with low vision?
It depends on the student’s technology preferences and the technical specifications of their device. Laptop computers can be connected to peripheral accessories like external monitors, keyboards, and mice to make them easier to use with low vision and mimic the desktop computer experience if desired. I use both desktop computers and laptop computers, and encourage students to be comfortable with using both.
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Computers
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Desktop Computer For College
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Laptop For College
More ideas on computer lab accommodations for low vision students
- While not technically a computer setting, extended time accommodations can be helpful for students with visual impairments who are using assistive technology. Learn more in All About Extended Time Accommodations
- Computer lab accommodations may vary in testing environments— learn more about how I take tests in Remote Testing Accommodations For Low Vision and How I Receive Accessible Quizzes and Tests in the Classroom
- Wondering how I keep track of my computer accommodations? Read How I Document Accessibility Preferences With Low Vision
Published December 2, 2018. Updated December 2024