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Accessibility in Microsoft Products / More Microsoft Products

AccessDOS

Making it easier for people with disabilities to access their personal computer

Overview

Microsoft is committed to making all of our products easier to use for everyone, from PC professionals to average users, including those users with disabilities. To meet this goal, Microsoft provides AccessDOS. AccessDOS is a software utility that make it easier for users with motion related disabilities to use the keyboard and mouse. Users that desire visual feedback rather than sounds will also find AccessDOS valuable. A PC with AccessDOS installed is ideal for settings where computers are used by multiple people, such as public or workgroup machines. Machines with AccessDOS can easily be used by both those individuals that require its additional features and those that do not.

AccessDOS was developed by the Trace R&D Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with support from IBM and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Features

AccessDOS contains the following features that make the MS-DOS operating system more accessible for those with motion and hearing-related disabilities.

• StickyKeys. Many software programs require the user to press two or three keys at one time. For people who type with a headstick or mouthstick, that just isn't possible. StickyKeys allows users to press one key at a time and instructs the application to respond as if they had been pressed simultaneously.
  
  
• SlowKeys. For some individuals, the sensitivity of the keyboard can be a major problem, especially if they hit keys accidentally. SlowKeys causes applications to disregard keystrokes that are not held down for a certain period of time.
  
  
• RepeatKeys. Most keyboards allow users to repeat a key just by holding it down. For people, who can't lift their fingers off the keyboard quickly enough, this convenience can be a major annoyance. RepeatKeys lets users adjust the repeat rate or disable it altogether to best customize their environment.
  
  
• BounceKeys. For users that "bounce" keys, resulting in double strokes of the same key or other similar errors, BounceKeys causes applications to ignore unintended keystrokes.
  
  
• MouseKeys. This feature lets individuals control the mouse from the keyboard. Users can enjoy the flexibility of moving a mouse around the screen, selecting menus and other convenient mouse functions from the keyboard. MouseKeys can also help give users finer control than can be achieved with a standard mouse.
  
  
• ToggleKeys. ToggleKeys provide audio cues, high and low beeps, to tell the user whether a toggle key is active or inactive. It applies to the Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock Keys.
  
  
• SerialKeys. This feature, in conjunction with a communications aid interface device, allows the user to control the computer using alternative input devices as if they were using a standard keyboard and mouse.
  
  
• SoundSentry. Many applications beep when they want to signal the user, but this is not useful for users with a hearing impairment or who work in a noisy environment. SoundSentry allows the user to choose a visual cue, such as a flashing symbol or screen flash in addition to a beep. The user can then see the message that may not have been heard.
  
  
• TimeOut. TimeOut turns off AccessDOS's functionality after the system has been idle for a certain period of time. It returns the system to its default configuration. This feature is useful on machines shared by multiple users.

The above features can be used alone or in combination to best suit a user's needs and environment. The features can also be customized to create a personalized desktop that allows individuals to be their most productive. In addition, once the AccessDOS has been installed, an individual requiring a feature can access it without special assistance. When all features are turned off an individual who does not require the functionality should not notice that AccessDOS is installed.

AccessDOS and Government Regulations

With AccessDOS and third-party products that make the system accessible to people with visual impairments and Microsoft's documentation in electronic form, Microsoft MS-DOS meets recommendations in the Government Services Administration guidelines relating to software accessibility. These guidelines were developed in response to section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This law was written to ensure accessibility for government employees with disabilities. AccessDOS can also help employers accommodate individuals with disabilities, as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

AccessDOS Specifications

AccessDOS is of a memory-resident software utility which also provides an integrated user interface for controlling and customizing AccessDOS functions.

In addition, it includes:

• Complete on-line documentation in formatted text file format
  
  
• On-line help
  
  
• A memory-resident utility to enable AccessDOS's mouse features on PS/2 machines without physical mice

System Requirements

The AccessDOS is fully compatible with most systems running MS-DOS 3.3 or higher.

In order to use the mouse emulation features you must have a Microsoft or IBM serial or PS/2 style mouse. AccessDOS does not support the Microsoft BallPoint Mouse at this time. On an IBM PS/2 you can also use these features with no mouse attached.

AccessDOS will require 11KB of conventional memory (25KB if the SerialKeys feature is required).

Ordering Information

Customers within the United States who do not have a modem can obtain disks by calling the Microsoft Sales Information Center (800) 426-9400. Customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call the text telephone (TT or TDD) number at (800) 892-5234. Customers outside of the United States should contact the Microsoft subsidiary in their country.