Visually Impaired Adaptations

[OllieC]

Hi everyone,

 

Got two VI (visually impaired) students starting in September. Had a meeting with the VI support team from the LEA at the end of term and we discussed some adaptations that they'd like to be available for the students. I'm pondering the best way to go about it... some of them are very easily done via group policy, some are not. With regards to IT rooms we'll have two dedicated computers per room where hardware adaptations can be applied but I'd like them to be able to log on anywhere in the school and still be able to use the computer so needing software modificationst to follow....

 

Requested adaptations are:

• Large icons - looks like it can be done via group policy registry wizardry but seems fiddly, might not work
  
• 24 size font for Windows - easy with group policy (reg)
  
• Large mouse curser - easy with group policy (reg)
  
• Microsoft Mouse - function button activating zoom - will keep this just to the specifically adapted PCs as we don't have the same mice everywhere
  
• Mouse sonar enabled - seems an absolute dog to manipulate in the registry!
  
• Shortcut to magnifier - easy group policy shortcut
  

 

It's looking like it won't be entirely possible with group policy; I was considering creating a mandatory profile for these two users however I've not touched profiles for years! We just use default profiles on our system... can you even use mandatory profiles with Windows 10 anymore like you used to be able to?

 

Or! Is there something more modern like UE-V?

 

Any kind of input would be useful - people already applying adaptations, even if not the same.. how are you going about it etc etc.

 

Cheers!

Ollie

Edited August 27, 2018 by OllieC

[synaesthesia]

We have supplied a laptop for ours, partially/fully funded by local authority (despite being an academy). 15" robust Dell refurb laptop with a Packed Pizels addon display. Originally they asked for a 17" laptop, however one of the requirements was that the machine was to be carried by the student to all their standard lessons (so in your case I'd ask how they are catering for those students when not in an IT suite?). Work to be emailed/shared via Office365 and can be displayed on the second screen whilst worked on with the first. A very cost effective solution. It's a domain machine however set up with a separate GPO to simply allow more customisation for font sizes, accessibily options etc with obvious shortcuts to magnifier, narrator et al on desktop.

[OllieC]

This would be the ideal for me absolutely however LEA are providing iPads.

 

There's been a lot of emphasis from the VI team about them not wanting to "stand out" in lessons. One perk of the ipads is teachers can airserver PPT to their ipads when presenting in lessons which is far more convenient than a laptop in non-computer lessons being as both students are going to be using pen and paper in most lessons.

 

I'm thinking GPO is going to be the most sensible option, might fall short of one or two of the requests though; don't want to look like the school isn't providing adequately for them. I believe they'll have a TA with them so I think anyone will kick off over missing mouse sonar to be honest!

[GiggleKitteh]

Have you considered specialist software? We have ZoomText screen magnifier, Jaws and ClaroRead screen readers installed on all machines with icons on the desktop.

[mavhc]

https://gist.github.com/TheDeibo/c8defd14dbbdf6195c12660e11c34a05