While many people associate assistive technology with specialized devices that are expensive or hard to find, many mainstream technology devices have started supporting accessibility features and built-in assistive technology that can make specialty tools more financially and publicly accessible for all. I spend a large part of my day interacting with both physical and digital keyboards for writing and communicating, but also for using assistive technology and accessibility features with full keyboard access. Here are features to look for when choosing a keyboard for users with vision loss and how to make keyboards easier to see, as part of my ongoing Mainstream Technology and Low Vision post series.
Size of keyboard
The most common keyboard sizes are full size (104 keys), Tenkeyless/TKL (87 keys), and 60% (68 keys). Full keyboards feature a number pad, while the TKL keyboard does not. The 60% keyboard is common for custom keyboard layouts and does not contain the additional function keys or up/down/left/right arrow keys.
Some adaptive keyboards may come in larger sizes than the full size keyboard and have additional keys for assistive technology features. Other options for specialty keyboards can include one-handed keyboards, wearable keyboards, external keypads, and other ergonomic keyboard designs that vary in key size and layouts.
Related links
- Computer Lab Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Computers
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Tablets
- Digital Accessibility and Chronic Pain
- Computer Mice and Mouse Alternatives For Low Vision
Type of keycaps
Keycaps are small pieces of plastic, metal, or other material that cover the keyswitches of the keyboard. Keycaps come in a few diffferent profiles, including:
- Angled
- Concave with fingertip-sized indents in the top
- Rounded/convex
- Flat, straight tops
The best keycaps for low vision are a matter of personal preference, so individuals should test out out a few different keyboards and keycap styles to see which one is the most comfortable to type on. Another feature to consider is the spacing of the keycaps— this can also play a role in how comfortable it is to type on the keyboard
Wired or wireless keyboard?
Wireless keyboards use a USB receiver or Bluetooth connector to connect the keyboard to the device. Bluetooth keyboards can be connected to multiple different types of devices, including tablets, mobile phones, laptops, and similar devices, while keyboards with a wireless USB receiver can only be connected to devices that have a USB port.
Wired keyboards feature a USB connection and are plugged directly into the computer, and can’t be moved around as easily as wireless keyboards. Some environments such as school exams may require the use of a wired keyboard instead of a wireless keyboard.
Related links
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- Remote Testing Accommodations For Low Vision
- How I Receive Accessible Quizzes and Tests in the Classroom
Keyboard letters size/font size
Even though users may not need to look at the keyboard while typing, it’s still important to have a way to read the keyboard letters/font size. Some keyboards can be purchased with built-in large print keycaps, though there are also options for adding large print labels to existing keyboards. This can include:
- Add vinyl stickers with large print letters
- Use braille stickers on top of keys for dual media users
- Place bump dots or tactile dots on F and J, or on other keys to help with positioning hands
- Add additional task lighting in the area of the keyboard, such as a lamp
- Use color-coding as a landmarking tool, adding colors to keys so they are easier to identify (this may be especially helpful for people with neurological visual impairments)
- Consider enabling an on-screen keyboard for computers, which can highlight the location of keys as they are pressed on a physical keyboard
Related links
Color of keys/letters
High contrast color schemes such as black and white or black and yellow are popular choices for keyboard users with low vision, though there are several different keyboard color options available either for purchase or customization. Another popular choice for low vision users is a classroom keyboard, which features different colored rows for each section of the keyboard and is often used when learning to type.
Related links
Backlit keys/RGB keys
Backlit keys and RGB keys light up while a user is typing and can make it easier to see letters in low-light environments, providing additional illumination to make letters and characters easier to see. However, some keyboards may have flashing or strobing effects for keys, so users with light sensitivity to bright lights and/or flashing lights (photophobia or photosensitivity) will need to determine if these types of keyboards will make sense for their access needs, or customize lighting preferences within the keyboard software.
Some iPad and Mac keyboards provide options for adjusting the backlight intensity within Settings, which can be configured in Settings/System preferences under General > Keyboard > Hardware Keyboard > Keyboard Brightness
Dictation shortcut/other keyboard shortcuts
Depending on the operating system and brand, many keyboards will offer additional shortcut keys and operating system specific keys that can be used to streamline different tasks or customized/remapped for additional features. This can include:
- Dictation key for speech input
- Emoji key or gif keyboard
- Text expander
- Custom characters
- Virtual assistant (e.g. Siri)
- Shortcuts for activating screen magnification, text-to-speech, or other assistive technologies
- Invert colors/turn on dark mode
Related links
- Learning To Use Dictation As Assistive Technology With Low Vision
- How To Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows
- How I Use Espanso Text Expander With Dysgraphia
- How To Customize Icons For Windows
- Secret Microsoft Office Accessibility Features I Use Every Day
- Customize Accessibility Settings For Specific Apps
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
Use of a stand/adjustable display angle
Another thing to consider when choosing a keyboard with low vision is the position of the keyboard and ergonomics of the device. A keyboard stand can be used to create a slanted display that can be more comfortable to type on compared to having the keyboard flat against a table. Some users may prefer to add a wrist rest to their keyboard to make it easier to type for long periods as well.
Summary of features to consider when choosing a keyboard for low vision
- Size of keyboard and keyboard layout
- Types of keycaps and their spacing on the keyboard
- Connection type: Wired or wireless may be more appropriate in specific contexts
- Keyboard letters/font size: Ca the user identify the location of keys on the keyboard? Font style can also be significant for digital keyboards, this can often be customized or changed to system fonts.
- Color of keys and letters. Digital keyboards often have options for customizing this as well.
- Backlit keys/RGB keys. Keys with additional light may be easier to read or identify
- Support for a dictation shortcut and other shortcut keys, or operating system specific keys
- Use of a stand/adjustable angle for making it easier to type
Published March 7, 2023. Updated January 2025