Barriers to physical access:

fine motor skills

joint pain and fatigue

hand size and/or anatomical differences

eye hand coordination 

strength / endurance

bilateral coordination

muscle tone

motor planning

AT tools to overcome these barriers include but are not limited to: 

• Low tech items:

  • • adapted styli (thicker, smaller, T bar, lockline, etc.)

    • alternative paper styles (thick lines, raised lines, alternative colors, enlarged, etc.)

    • alternative pencils 

    • alternative scissors (spring loaded, table top)

    • page fluffers (creating space between pages to allow for access to turn pages, ex: sponge, foam, glue dots, etc.)

    • page turners

    • pencil grips

    • universal cuffs

    • physical adaptations to writing tools (larger, smaller, erasable, weighted, etc.)

    • Wikki stix to isolate areas within a touch screen

• Assistive Technology tools available from the IRC:

  • • Environmental Control tools (Powerlink will allow a student to control any item that can be plugged into the wall via switch access, ex: blender, lights, fan, etc.)

    • alternate scissors (switch adapted)

    • switch adapted customizable spinner

    • switch adapted tools for specific purposes (pouring cup, stirring cup, egg beater, flour sifter, mixer, paint spinner, marker doodle creator, board games, musical instruments, sports equipment, speakers)

    • switch adapted toys that can used within thematic play or units

Barriers with using a typical mouse: 

fine motor (ability to physically control the mouse to perform functions)

motor planning

joint pain and fatigue

hand size and/or anatomical differences

eye hand coordination 

difficulty transferring visual attention from mouse to screen

student's cognitive understanding of mouse functions 

AT tools to overcome these barriers include: 

• Mouse/Trackpad accessibility features:

  • • alternative cursor size, color, or shape

    • cursor acceleration and speed

    • customized left and right click

    • highlight cursor while moving

    • automatic click

    • click lock

    • mouse keys

    • tap to click

• Assistive Technology alternative mice options from the IRC:

  • • joystick

    • single button mouse

    • trackball

    • mouse with color-coded buttons

    • foot mouse

• Voice control/voice access (available within OS accessibility features)

• The following are available as a result of a team consultation with the AT Facilitator:

  • • stylus 

    • head tracking

    • eye gaze

    • mouse emulation setup with switches

    • touch screen built into device (partner district provided or available via consultation with AT Facilitator)

Barriers with using a typical keyboard:

motor planning

bilateral coordination

hand size and/or anatomical differences

ability to physically target and hit keys without mis-hits

ability to apply enough pressure to depress standard keys

difficulty transferring visual attention from keyboard to screen

ability to see standard size letters and numbers on keyboard or need for higher contrast

AT tools to overcome these barriers include: 

• Keyboard Accessibility Features (especially helpful for mis-hits, difficulty selecting multiple keys at once, or accidental repeated key activation)

  • • Sticky keys

    • Filter keys

    • Onscreen keyboard (can be used in conjunction with touch / mouse / switch access)

• Large print / high contrast / color coded keyboard keys or stickers

• Keyboards of different sizes (larger / smaller)

• Keyguards

• One-handed keyboarding techniques

• Keyboard layout (ABC order vs. QWERTY)

• Voice Typing

• Assistive Technology keyboard options available from the IRC:

  • • One-handed keyboards

    • Color-coded keyboards

    • Larger / smaller keyboards

    • High contrast / low vision keyboards

    • Keyguards and moisture protectors