I use dictation as assistive technology frequently when I am using mainstream technology devices such as my computer, phone, and tablet. Also known as speech-to-text, dictation tools take spoken words, numbers, punctuation, and other formatting information as input, and transcribes the audio as text that…

Google, Apple, and Microsoft have partnered with educators and technology trainers to develop educational technology certification programs for educators, including K-12 teachers, college professors, IT specialists, and more. One of the most underrepresented groups of people that can benefit from these certification programs are “techie…

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…

As I type this post, I currently have six different computer mice and mouse alternatives within a five foot radius of my desk that can be used to access information on my computer and/or tablet. These are a mix of mainstream technology devices, specialty devices…

How I use Quizlet, a free study app that supports large print and screen readers.

I received an email from a Teacher of the Visually Impaired who was wondering how to make text cursors easier to see in Windows 10. While they knew all about the large mouse pointers available in Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices, they had no…

As part of my work as the Microsoft Content Specialist for AIM-VA and as a Microsoft Certified Educator, I had the opportunity to present a short talk as part of the AT Lab at the I’m Determined Summit, a virtual conference for students with disabilities…

Earlier today, I tagged one of my friends on Twitter to share some of their favorite features about their computer, and one of the features they mentioned was the availability of system-wide dark mode for low vision users. While dark mode is easier on my…

I received a question from a technology teacher about typing apps that could be used to help students learn keyboarding skills. One of the apps that I recommended is the Typer web-app from the American Printing House for the Blind, and today I will be…

In recent times, many of my friends have been asking me for tips on attending live video lectures and attending classes remotely with video chat. I’ve attended many of my college classes via video chat in the past, and have also given guest lectures over…

One of the questions I am frequently asked by students and teachers alike is about what laptop is best for college, and how to choose a laptop that will last through college. While it’s no secret that I love my Surface Pro and my HP…

A few weeks ago, my friend had noticed that I was using a large turquoise green mouse pointer on my Windows 10 computer, and asked me a few questions about mouse pointers and low vision. They were curious to know how I had customized my…

In one of the data science computer labs on my college campus, the default operating system is CentOS, a well-known Linux distribution. While a lot of my professors know the ins and outs of the operating system, they weren’t as knowledgeable about configuring CentOS accessibility…

As a student with fluctuating low vision, one of the most valuable skills I have developed is how I document accessibility preferences with low vision. My low vision is not static, and can change multiple times throughout the day. Alternatively, I might need to have…

Sometimes when I am working with software in the Microsoft Office suite, I run into a bug or software glitch related to accessibility or assistive technology. Since I know how to use the feedback tool in Microsoft Office, I can easily report issues to Microsoft,…