Basic 8 · Computing · Technology in the Community
Technology for Computer Accessibility
In this topic you will identify categories of special needs, discuss assistive technologies that help people with disabilities use computers, and explore accessibility features in Windows and mobile devices.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Identify categories of special needs
- Describe assistive technologies for each category
- Explore built-in accessibility features in computers and phones
What you already know
- Input and output devices
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Introduction To Computing
- Sub-strand
- Technology in the Community
- Indicator
- B8.1.2.1.1 – Discuss technologies that help to improve computer accessibility
Introduction
Computers can open doors for everyone, including people with disabilities. To design inclusive technology, we must first understand the different needs people have.
1. What Is Accessibility?
Accessibility: The design of products, devices and services so that people with disabilities can use them.
About one in every seven people in the world has some form of disability. Accessibility in computing means making sure that these people can see, hear, understand and control computers as easily as others. Ghana's Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) supports the rights of persons with disabilities to education and access to services.
2. Categories of Special Needs
| Category | Description | Challenges with computers |
|---|---|---|
| visual impairment | blindness or low vision, colour blindness | reading screens and text |
| hearing impairment | deafness or partial hearing loss | hearing audio, alerts and videos |
| physical (mobility) impairment | difficulty moving hands, arms or body | using a keyboard, mouse or touchscreen |
| cognitive and learning difficulties | dyslexia, attention difficulties, memory problems | reading, concentrating, following steps |
| speech impairment | difficulty speaking clearly | using voice commands |
3. Barriers and Solutions
People with disabilities often face barriers, not because of their condition alone but because technology is not designed with them in mind. Small text, poor colour contrast, videos without captions and buttons that are too small create barriers. Inclusive design removes these barriers so everyone can participate.
4. Respect and Inclusion
Learners with special needs have the same right to education as everyone else. Treat them with respect, offer help politely without taking over, and speak directly to the person, not only to their helper. Using correct and respectful language, such as "a person with a visual impairment", shows respect.
5. Universal Design
Universal design means creating products that everyone can use without special changes. Ramps help wheelchair users, parents with prams and people carrying loads. Captions help deaf viewers, people in noisy places and those learning a language. In computing, clear layouts, large buttons and good contrast benefit all users, not only people with disabilities.
New words
- accessibility
- Designing technology so people with disabilities can use it.
- visual impairment
- Blindness or low vision.
- hearing impairment
- Deafness or partial hearing loss.
- inclusive design
- Designing for people of all abilities.
Summary
- Accessibility means designing technology that people with disabilities can use.
- Categories of special needs include visual, hearing, physical, cognitive and speech impairments.
- Inclusive design removes barriers, and people with special needs deserve respect and inclusion.
Class activity: Barrier Spotting
- Look at a website, app or classroom computer.
- Identify features that would be barriers for people in each category.
- Suggest a solution for each barrier.
You need: Keyboard, Headphones, Printed photograph of an accessible workstation
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Blindness is an example of…
- A. visual impairment
- B. hearing impairment
- C. speech impairment
- D. physical impairment
Show answer
Answer: visual impairmentSight.2. Ghana's law on the rights of persons with disability is Act…
- A. 715
- B. 917
- C. 843
- D. 1038
Show answer
Answer: 7152006.3. Videos without captions can be a barrier to deaf users.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueHearing.4. Designing technology for people of all abilities is ______ design.
Show answer
Answer: inclusiveFor everyone.5. Name four categories of special needs.
Show answer
Answer: Visual, hearing, physical, cognitive (or speech) impairments.Any four.6. Explain why poor colour contrast is a barrier.
Show answer
Answer: People with low vision or colour blindness may not be able to read text that does not stand out from the background.Visual barrier.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Introduction To Computing
- Sub-strand
- Technology in the Community
- Indicator
- B8.1.2.1.1 – Discuss technologies that help to improve computer accessibility
Introduction
A blind student can listen to a textbook through a screen reader, a deaf learner can read captions on a video and a learner who cannot use their hands can control a computer by voice. These are assistive technologies.
1. What Is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology: Any device or software that helps a person with a disability to perform tasks they would otherwise find difficult or impossible.
2. Assistive Technologies by Need
| Need | Technology | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| blindness | screen reader (such as NVDA, JAWS, Narrator, TalkBack) | reads screen text aloud |
| blindness | Braille display and Braille embosser | shows or prints text in Braille |
| low vision | screen magnifier, large-print keyboards, high-contrast themes | enlarges and clarifies content |
| deafness | captions, subtitles, visual alerts, sign-language videos | shows sound as text or light |
| physical impairment | speech recognition, on-screen keyboard, switch devices, eye-tracking, trackballs | controls the computer without standard keyboard or mouse |
| dyslexia and learning difficulties | text-to-speech, dyslexia-friendly fonts, reading guides | makes reading easier |
| speech impairment | text-to-speech communication apps | speaks typed words aloud |
3. Built-In Accessibility Features
Windows includes accessibility features in Settings under "Accessibility" (or "Ease of Access" in older versions): Narrator (screen reader), Magnifier, high-contrast themes, text size, live captions, on-screen keyboard, voice access, Sticky Keys (press one key at a time for shortcuts) and Filter Keys (ignore repeated keystrokes). Phones have similar features, such as TalkBack on Android and VoiceOver on iPhone.
4. Trying the Features
- Open Settings and go to Accessibility.
- Turn on Magnifier and zoom in on a document.
- Turn on Narrator for a moment and listen to it read the screen.
- Increase text size and try a high-contrast theme.
- Open the on-screen keyboard and type your name with the mouse.
- Turn off each feature after trying it.
5. Accessibility in Ghana
Schools such as the Akropong School for the Blind and the Demonstration School for the Deaf in Mampong use assistive technologies to support learners. Free screen readers such as NVDA make computers more affordable for blind users. Making websites and school materials accessible helps everyone learn.
New words
- assistive technology
- Devices or software that help people with disabilities.
- screen reader
- Software that reads screen content aloud.
- Magnifier
- A tool that enlarges part of the screen.
- Sticky Keys
- A feature that allows shortcuts by pressing one key at a time.
Summary
- Assistive technologies help people with disabilities use computers.
- Examples include screen readers, Braille displays, magnifiers, captions, speech recognition and switch devices.
- Windows and phones have built-in accessibility features, and Ghanaian special schools use them to support learners.
Class activity: Accessibility Features Tour
- Explore Magnifier, Narrator, high contrast and the on-screen keyboard.
- Record how each helps a person with a specific need.
- Present one feature to the class.
You need: Keyboard, Headphones, Printed photograph of an accessible workstation
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Software that reads screen text aloud is a…
- A. screen reader
- B. spreadsheet
- C. firewall
- D. browser
Show answer
Answer: screen readere.g. Narrator.2. Sticky Keys helps people who…
- A. find it hard to press several keys at once
- B. are deaf
- C. are colour blind
- D. have dyslexia only
Show answer
Answer: find it hard to press several keys at oncePhysical need.3. Captions help deaf users understand videos.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueText of sound.4. A tool that enlarges part of the screen is the ______.
Show answer
Answer: MagnifierLow vision.5. Name three assistive technologies and the need each serves.
Show answer
Answer: Screen reader: blindness; captions: deafness; speech recognition: physical impairment.Any three.6. Explain how assistive technology promotes inclusive education.
Show answer
Answer: It allows learners with disabilities to read, write and communicate independently, so they can learn alongside others.Inclusion.
Homework
- Explore the accessibility settings on a phone and describe two features.