Types of assistive technologies and who uses them

Common assistive technologies (AT) that disabled people use to access, navigate, interact with and understand web content.

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Braille displays and notetakers

Braille displays and notetakers are electronic devices that allow someone to consume and interact with content in Braille, a tactile system for reading text with the fingers.

Refreshable Braille displays

A refreshable Braille display usually connects to a computer, including mobile phones and tablets. To access the information that’s displayed on the computer screen, it needs screen reader software. As the screen reader processes the content, it sends it to the Braille display instead of (or in addition to) announcing it out loud.

As the Braille display receives the content, it dynamically raises and lowers different combinations of pins (dots) in a row of Braille cells. Users read the row of cells with their fingers from left to right. Once they reach the end of the row, it’s refreshed with the next set of Braille text in the sequence.

Braille displays regularly have Braille keyboards, a set of buttons for writing Braille. Many displays also support Secure Digital (SD) cards, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, and can be used to perform simple activities, like reading or writing documents without connecting to a computer.

Braille notetakers

A Braille notetaker is a standalone computer with a Braille keyboard, and usually with a refreshable Braille display. It may or may not have a screen, and can be used to do email, create office documents, browse the web, play music, read books and run other common types of software.

Who uses Braille displays and notetakers

Braille devices are used by people who:

Eye trackers

An eye (or gaze) tracker is a combination of hardware and software that allows a user to:

Eye trackers enable people to do everything that can be done with a keyboard or mouse.

Different Kinds of Eye Tracking Devices — Bitbrain

Who uses eye trackers

Eye trackers are used by people with very limited mobility — this may be caused by:

Keyboards

A standard keyboard is an essential assistive technology for digital accessibility because:

There are also adaptive keyboards that have larger or smaller than standard keys, illuminated keys, alternative key configurations and keyboards for use with one hand.

Who uses keyboards

Keyboards are commonly relied on to navigate and interact with web content by people who:

See more on how people use a keyboard only:

Pointers (mouse alternatives)

The mouse is a pointing device that translates physical hand gestures into relative movements on the screen using a visual indicator. That indicator is often an arrow and is called a pointer or mouse cursor. Buttons on the mouse enable the user to interact with a user interface component that is visually located under the pointer.

Some people are unable to use a conventional mouse in a reliable or pain-free way. But they are able to use alternative pointing devices, such as a:

Read more about mouse alternatives:

Who uses mouse alternatives

Alternative pointing systems are used by people with mobility impairments that make holding or moving a conventional mouse too difficult or impossible.

Screen magnifiers

A screen magnifier is software that enlarges the content displayed on a screen. The tool can work as a virtual magnifying glass, allowing the user to move a lens around the screen under which the content is enlarged. It can also enlarge all of the content on the screen and the users scrolls around as needed to reach all parts of it.

Screen magnifiers typically include a range of features, such as the ability to:

Some screen magnification software also includes a screen reader.

Windows and macOS, as well as iOS and Android, all come with built-in screen magnification software. There are also third-party screen magnifiers available, such as:

Read more about screen magnifiers:

Who uses screen magnifiers

Screen magnifiers are used by people with low or partial vision.

Screen readers

A screen reader is software that translates digital content into speech or Braille. It includes a text-to-speech (TTS) system for processing text into synthesised speech.

A refreshable Braille display is required to receive and render the content as Braille.

A screen reader does more than just read out the text on a web page. It assesses different aspects of the content before determining how to interpret and present it to the user.

If web content is properly designed and developed, a screen reader can provide information about the content, its structure and functionality by identifying things like:

Screen reader software also enables people to explore and interact with web content in specific ways using the keyboard. Different commands make navigating and operating content much easier, for example:

For a good introduction to screen readers, with lots of videos explaining how they work and showing them in action, see:

For insights into the preferences of real screen reader users, see:

Common screen readers

These are 5 of the most common screen readers for the different operating systems:

Support for te reo Māori

Screen readers can read content with the correct pronunciation for the language used, but only if:

  • the screen reader includes a speech synthesizer that supports that language
  • the developer has programmatically declared the content to be in that language.

NVDA is currently the only screen reader that reads content in te reo Māori. It comes with the eSpeak NG synthesiser (among others), which includes support for te reo Māori pronunciation.

Who uses screen readers

Screen readers are used by people who:

Speech recognition

Speech recognition systems are a combination of microphone and speech-to-text or voice input software. The software converts the user’s speech into digital text or commands for controlling a computer, enabling them to navigate and interact with web content.

The words a person speaks might be typed into a form field in a web page or interpreted as a command to move to a different section on the page or to activate a user interface component, such as clicking on a link or button.

Users can also map voice commands to mouse and keyboard actions, making it easier to accomplish various tasks.

Windows and Mac computers as well as Android and iOS smartphones, have speech recognition built into the system.

However, the most commonly used speech recognition software remains Nuance’s Dragon software.

Read more about speech recognition:

Who uses speech recognition

Speech-to-text systems are used by people who:

Some people use speech recognition software in combination with other AT, such as switches.

Switches

A switch is a device that works together with software to enable users to control the cursor on a screen and interact with a computer. Switches respond to simple physical movements, such as:

This makes switches very effective, as they can be operated by any part of the body with which a user can make a regular, intentional movement.

Examples of switches

For more about switches, including videos of people using switches and how to design switch-friendly interfaces, see Assistive Technologies — The Switch — Axess Lab.

For some design considerations related to switches, see YouTube video: Assistive Tech: Switch Device — A11ycasts — Google Chrome Developers.

Switch scanning

A common feature in switch software is called scanning, where the different items on the screen are sequentially highlighted. When the item of interest is highlighted, the user activates the switch to select or act on the item.

For more information, see Switch access scanning — Wikipedia.

Switches in mobile phones

A switch does not even need to be a separate device. Today, switch support is built right into Android and iOS devices. This means a user can choose to connect a separate switch device to the phone or just use the phone’s screen, buttons, or camera as a switch.

Who uses switches

Switch devices are used by people with severe mobility or intellectual impairments.

Wands and sticks

Wands and sticks are worn on the head, held in the mouth or strapped to the chin. They are manipulated with the neck or jaw muscles to press keys on the keyboard, tap or gesture on a touch interface, or control another input device.

Examples of wands and sticks

For a video of someone using a head wand, see Head pointer device — Assistive technology demonstrations — Vision Australia.

Who uses wands and sticks

Wands and sticks are used by people who find it difficult or prefer not to use their hands.