I'm looking for:

MSDN Accessibility Developer Center icon

Guide for Individuals with Dexterity and Mobility Impairments

Microsoft products include accessibility features and options that are useful, and sometimes essential, to people with dexterity and mobility impairments.

This guide describes accessibility features built into Windows 7 and Office 2010 that are available at your option to address mobility and dexterity impairments and preferences. You can also learn about the types of assistive technology products available to further assist you.

In this section:

Make Windows 7 easier to use

Make the mouse easier to use
Make the keyboard easier to use
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard
Type without using the keyboard (On-Screen Keyboard)
Use speech recognition to operate windows and programs

Make Microsoft Office programs easier to use
Move around webpages with Internet Explorer
Find assistive technology for mobility and dexterity impairments

More Information

Windows Accessibility: Keyboard and Mouse
Shop for mobility products
Shop for ergonomic products
Microsoft comfort and ergonomic keyboards and mice

Make Windows 7 easier to use

Adjust accessibility settings from the Ease of Access Center

The Ease of Access Center is a convenient, central location where you can set up all of the accessibility settings and programs available in Windows, and "get recommendations" for suggested settings to fit your individual mobility and dexterity needs and preferences.

Make the mouse easier to use

All of the Windows accessibility options most helpful for people with mobility and dexterity impairments who use the mouse are grouped in this section. You can learn how to choose the color and size of mouse pointers, turn on Mouse Keys, activate a window by hovering over it rather than clicking the mouse, and more.

Change mouse settings

You can customize your mouse in a variety of ways. For instance, you can swap the functions of your mouse buttons, make the mouse pointer more visible, and alter the scroll speed of the mouse wheel.

Use Mouse Keys to move the mouse pointer

If you have restricted arm, hand, or wrist movement you may benefit from Mouse Keys. With Mouse Keys, you can use the numeric keypad on your keyboard—instead of the mouse—to move the pointer.

Make the keyboard easier to use

Windows options helpful for people with mobility and dexterity impairments who use the keyboard are grouped in this section. You can learn how to turn on Mouse Keys, Sticky Keys, Toggle Keys, and Filter Keys, and how to select additional options.

Use Windows keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys that, when pressed, can be used to perform a task that would typically require a mouse or other pointing device. Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier to interact with your computer, saving you time and effort as you work with Windows and other programs.

Change keyboard settings

Customizing your keyboard settings can help you work more efficiently. By customizing the settings, you can select how long you need to press a key before the keyboard character starts repeating, the speed at which keyboard characters repeat, and the rate at which the cursor blinks.

Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard

If you want to use your computer without either the mouse or keyboard read this section to learn about on-screen keyboard and speech recognition.

Type without using the keyboard (On-Screen Keyboard)

On-Screen Keyboard displays a visual keyboard with all the standard keys. Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type and enter data, you can use On-Screen Keyboard to select keys using the mouse or another pointing device. On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 7 can be resized and customized to make it easier to see and use. On-Screen Keyboard now also includes text prediction in eight languages. When text prediction is enabled, as you type, On-Screen Keyboard displays a list of words that you might be typing. You can select the appropriate one.

Screenshot of On-Screen Keyboard open on screen

Use speech recognition to operate windows and programs

Speech Recognition in Windows 7 allows you to command your PC with your voice including the capability to dictate into almost any application. You can dictate documents and email and surf the Web—all by using verbal commands rather than the keyboard and mouse. An easy setup process and an interactive tutorial will familiarize you with the speech commands and train your computer to better understand you.

Screenshot of speech recognition microphone bar

Interact with your computer by touch

Using a keyboard and mouse is not always possible or desirable for many people. With Windows 7, if you've got a touch-screen monitor, you can just touch your computer screen for a more direct and natural way to work. Use your fingers to scroll, resize windows, play media, and pan and zoom.

Make Microsoft Office programs easier to use

Keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Office products make it easier for people with mobility and dexterity impairments to interact with their computers while creating Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and more.

Office Web Apps support assistive technology and speech recognition software

Office Web Apps provide support for assistive technologies such as screen readers and speech recognition software. Find more information on accessibility features and issues with Office Web Apps.

Internet Explorer accessibility features available in Web Apps

Because Office Web Apps run in the browser, you can use your web browser's features that improve the readability of pages. Find out about mobility and dexterity related accessibility features in Internet Explorer.

Move around webpages with the keyboard

If you have mobility or dexterity impairments it's sometimes difficult to access links on webpages. You can move around webpages quickly using the keyboard in Web Apps.

Move around webpages easier with Internet Explorer

Accessibility in Internet Explorer lets you select text and move around a webpage with the keyboard. Enhanced keyboard access is found in the toolbar buttons, search box items, address bar, and tabs making surfing the Web quicker and easier for people with mobility and dexterity impairments.

Ergonomic keyboards and mice are designed to be more comfortable than a standard keyboard and mouse. To improve the quality and health of your PC experience, Microsoft designers and ergonomists created industry-leading keyboard and mouse products to encourage healthier hand and wrist positions. Microsoft Natural keyboards and mice have set the industry standard for comfort, and can significantly reduce carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Microsoft keyboards and mice also have built-in zoom and magnifier options.
Joysticks can be plugged into the computer's mouse port and used to control the cursor on the screen. Joysticks benefit users who need to operate a computer with or without the use of their hands. For example, some people might operate the joystick with their feet or with the use of a cup on top of the joystick that can be manipulated with their chin.
Trackballs look like an upside down mouse with a movable ball on top of a stationary base. The ball can be rotated with a pointing device or a hand. People who have fine motor skills but lack gross motor skills can use these devices more easily and comfortably than a traditional mouse.
On-screen keyboards provide an image of a standard or modified keyboard on the computer screen. The user selects the keys with a mouse, touch screen, trackball, joystick, switch, or electronic pointing device. On-screen keyboards often have a scanning option. With the scanning capability turned on, the individual keys on the on-screen keyboard are highlighted. When a desired key is highlighted, the user is able to select it by using a switch positioned near a body part that he or she has under voluntary control. Learn about the On-Screen Keyboard features in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
Keyboard filters include typing aids, such as word prediction utilities and add-on spelling checkers. These products can often be used to reduce the number of required keystrokes. Keyboard filters enable users to quickly access the letters they need and to avoid inadvertently selecting keys they don't want.
Touch screens are devices placed on the computer monitor (or built into it) that allow direct selection or activation of the computer by touching the screen. These devices can benefit some users with mobility impairments because they present a more accessible target. It is easier for some people to select an option directly rather than through a mouse movement or keyboard. Moving the mouse or using the keyboard for some might require greater fine motor skills than simply touching the screen to make a selection. Other users might make their selections with assistive technology such as mouth sticks. With Windows 7 and a touch-screen monitor, you can just touch your computer screen for a more direct and natural way to work. Use your fingers to scroll, resize windows, play media, and pan and zoom. Learn about Touch technology in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
Alternative PC hardware and all-access workstations. In some cases, alternative PC hardware is needed. Some individuals with mobility impairments find it challenging to open the monitor of a laptop because the laptop latch isn't accessible for them. Or some students might need a laptop to be mounted on a wheelchair. Such assistive technology solutions are referred to as "all-access workstations."
Alternative input devices (including alternative keyboards, electronic pointing devices, sip-and-puff systems, wands and sticks) allow individuals to control their computers through means other than a standard keyboard or pointing device.