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Because of their ability to provide a variety of alternate formats
for learning, computers hold great potential for blind students.
Keyboard Alternatives
Students with disabilities often learn keyboarding skills early,
because the computer offers an accessible way for both writing and
reading. Typing tutorials are available for this purpose. Alternate
keyboards are sometimes sought due to multiple disabilities or efficiency
of use.
One alternative for blind students is IntelliKeys, which uses standard
and customized overlays for software control. Resources that create
Braille overlays are available, as well as kits
to make any overlay accessible to blind users.
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IntelliTactiles™
Standard Overlay Companions (APH)
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IntelliTactiles™ make the IntelliTools Standard Overlays
accessible to Braille readers. These durable clear-plastic
tactile overlays slip under the ledges of the IntelliKeys
keyboard on top of the visual overlays. The tactile overlays
feature Braille markings and special tactile point symbols.
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Washington
State School for the Blind
This school creates downloadable Brailled IntelliKeys overlays for
several popular software programs (Access Programs) and other activities.
The overlays are for MS Windows products only. Macintosh versions
of this software are available at the Special
Education Technology in British Columbia site.
Hints to Using IntelliKeys with Blind Students
Problem: Students using Braille need to touch
key areas to determine their label. They don't want the computer
to interpret this exploration as a key selection.
Solution: Use the IntelliKeys set-up overlay
and DELAY the Response Rate. This adjusts the time required to
press on a key before it is activated. There is a scale from 1-15,
with 15 being the fastest rate. SLOW the rate to 1 so that the
student has time to explore, and then press. She will need to
hold her selection a little longer. As she becomes familiar with
the key layout, the rate can be increased.
Make sure the auditory feedback is ON!
Problem: Using Braille overlays with a beginning reader
(The following solutions are from Alida
P Ryerson.)
Solution: When working with a beginning Brailler
on IntelliKeys, I put the Braille in a non-responding
(send nothing) box so she can read it without activating anything.
When she makes her choice, she drops to a second box below it,
which sends the message. Putting tactile borders on the send boxes
prevents a lot of unintended messages and gives her the freedom
to explore the Braille words before making a choice.
Problem: Creating e-mail overlays
Solution: With IntelliKeys, you can place a
series of commands under a single key. We identified select key
commands on an overlay to open Netscape, open mail, receive, send
and write emails, and delete or save them. We also used a screen
reader program so that additional commands (select all,
read all, etc.) could also be managed with one key. When
we started, we entered generic greeting messages, "Hello,
How are you doing," "Hello, I am in school," "See
you when I get home." You can't imagine the excitement
when we helped Amy send her mother an email.
Amy had to listen to the sports announcements in the morning,
and then decide to which coach to send a message. The "Morning
Activity" overlay had the e-mail addresses of the High School,
Junior High and the boys and girls soccer and basketball coaches.
She had to select the right coach and then select the appropriate
message, either
We used symbols and photos on the keys to help her select the
right keys. Sometimes the coach would post her message on the
team bulletin board!!!
Mouse Alternatives
Using Keyboard Commands
The most popular way of interacting with computer software is by
using a mouse to point and click on pictures and menus. This is
impossible for blind users. Many people are unaware that you can
navigate the computer's graphic interface by keyboard commands alone.
Students who are totally blind can access the computer by screen
reader software and/or refreshable Braille displays and by keyboard
commands. With this access, students can independently use the computer
to read, write, send and receive e-mail and do research.
Did you know that:
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The "Windows" key does the same thing as pointing
and clicking on the 
button?
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The "Shortcut Menu" key does the same thing as
clicking the right mouse button?
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The "ALT" key places the focus in the Menu Bar
to provide keyboard access to the pull-down menus?
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The "TAB" key moves the focus from area to area
in a dialog box?
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Looking for Keyboard Commands?
Check out individual software programs for a list of keyboard
shortcuts. Here are some lists for operating systems:
Windows
Keyboard Commands
Internet
Browser Commands (General)
Macintosh
Keyboard Commands
Common
Keyboard Commands: Mac + Windows
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