Using the Ease of Access Center

The new Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista provides a centralized location where you can get quick access to adjust accessibility settings and manage assistive technology programs.

The Ease of Access Center includes:

Quick access to common tools. Start Magnifier, Narrator, On-Screen Keyboard, and High Contrast and they will remain on until you log off. Also, the Quick access section is read aloud while it is highlighted allowing you to select a tool by pressing the SPACEBAR when the tool name is either read or highlighted.
Get recommendations. This questionnaire asks about routine tasks and provides a personalized recommendation of the accessibility settings and programs that are likely to improve your ability to see, hear, and use your computer. *
Explore all settings. The Ease of Access Center also lets you explore seven categories of accessibility tools and options. When you select these tools and options, they will automatically start each time you log on.

Using the Ease of Access Center

Mouse actions

Keyboard actions

Open the Ease of Access Center, by selecting:

Start.
Control Panel.
Ease of Access.
Ease of Access Center.

Open the Ease of Access Center, by pressing:

Windows logo key +U.

Under Quick access to common tools, select to start:

The tools you select will remain on until you log off.

Under Quick access to common tools, select to start any of these tools by pressing ENTER when the tool you want to start is highlighted or read aloud:

The tools you select will remain on until you log off.

Under Not sure where to start?, select:

Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use.

Under Not sure where to start?, select:

Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use by pressing TAB, then ENTER.

Under Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use:

Insert check marks in the check boxes next to any statements that apply to you.
Select Next to move to the next screen.
Repeat steps above until you reach the final screen.
Select Done.

Under Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use:

Insert check marks in the check boxes next to any statements that apply to you, by pressing TAB, then SPACEBAR.
Select Next to move to the next screen, by pressing ALT+N.
Repeat steps above until you reach the final screen.
Select Done, by pressing ALT+O.

Under Recommended settings:

Select the options you want to turn on.
Select Save.

Under Recommended settings:

Select the options you want to turn on by using TAB, SPACEBAR, and the arrow keys.
Select Save, by pressing TAB, then ENTER.

If you want to look at settings by category, select one of these topics under Explore all settings.

Use the computer without a display.
Make the computer easier to see.
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard.
Make the mouse easier to use.
Make the keyboard easier to use.
Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.
Make it easier to focus on tasks.

Tutorials are available for each of the settings listed.

If you want to look at settings by category, select one of these topics under Explore all settings by pressing TAB, then ENTER when the category you want is highlighted.

Use the computer without a display.
Make the computer easier to see.
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard.
Make the mouse easier to use.
Make the keyboard easier to use.
Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.
Make it easier to focus on tasks.

Tutorials are available for each of the settings listed.

* This questionnaire replaced the Accessibility Wizard found in previous versions of Windows.