Control panel accessibilities options

Use Accessibility Options in Control Panel to customize the way your keyboard, display, or mouse functions. Many of these features are useful to people without disabilities.

The accessibility tools available in Accessibility Options in Control Panel perform various functions.

StickyKeys enables simultaneous keystrokes while pressing one key at a time.
FilterKeys adjusts the response of your keyboard.
ToggleKeys emits sounds when certain locking keys are pressed.
SoundSentry provides visual warnings for system sounds.
ShowSounds instructs programs to display captions for program speech and sounds.
High Contrast improves screen contrast with alternative colors and font sizes.
MouseKeys enables the keyboard to perform mouse functions.
SerialKeys allows the use of alternative input devices instead of a keyboard and mouse.

Notes

To open Accessibility Options, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Accessibility Options.
For information on other accessibility options, click Related Topics.

Accessibilities options overview

You can adjust the appearance and behavior of Windows to enhance accessibility for some vision-impaired, hearing-impaired, or mobility-impaired users without requiring additional software or hardware.

Windows includes the following programs to enhance accessibility:

Magnifier enlarges a portion of the screen for easier viewing.
Narrator uses text-to-speech technology to read the contents of the screen aloud. This is useful for people who are blind or are vision impaired.
On-Screen Keyboard provides users with limited mobility the ability to type on-screen using a pointing device.
Utility Manager enables users to check an Accessibility program's status and start or stop an Accessibility program. Users with administrator-level access can designate to have the program start when Utility Manager starts. Users can also start Accessibility programs before logging on to the computer on by pressing the Windows logo key () + U at the Welcome logon screen.

Using the accessibility tools available in Accessibility Options in Control Panel, you can easily set your keyboard, display, and mouse functions. For more information, click Related Topics.

You can use the Accessibility Wizard to help you set up the options and programs for your individual needs. For more information, click Related Topics.

A wide variety of hardware and software products are available to make personal computers easier to use for people with disabilities. Among the different types of products available for MS-DOS and the Microsoft Windows operating systems are:

Programs that enlarge or alter the color of information on the screen for people with visual impairments.
Programs that describe information on the screen in Braille or synthesized speech for people who are blind or have difficulty reading.
Hardware and software utilities that modify the behavior of the mouse and keyboard.
Programs that enable the user to type using a mouse or his or her voice.
Word or phrase prediction software, which allows users to type more quickly and with fewer keystrokes.
Alternate input devices, such as single switch or puff and sip devices, for people who cannot use a mouse or a keyboard.

The accessibility tools that ship with Windows are intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with special needs. Most users with disabilities will need utility programs with more advanced functionality for daily use.

Press

Right SHIFT for eight seconds

Switch FilterKeys on and off.

Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN

Switch High Contrast on and off.

Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK

Switch MouseKeys on and off.

SHIFT five times

Switch StickyKeys on and off.

NUM LOCK for five seconds

Switch ToggleKeys on and off.

windows + U

Open Utility Manager

To Turn on Sound Sentry

SoundSentry is designed for people who have difficulty hearing system sounds generated by the computer. SoundSentry allows you to change settings to generate visual warnings, such as a blinking title bar or a flashing border, whenever the computer generates a sound.

Open Accessibilities options.
On the Sound tab, under SoundSentry, select the Use SoundSentry check box.
To turn off SoundSentry, select the Use SoundSentry check box to clear the check box.

Note

To open Accessibility Options, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Accessibility Options.