Configuring Windows 2000 for people who are blind or have low vision

Using Display in Control Panel, people who have low vision or are blind can select larger fonts and icons, increase the size of screen elements by using a lower screen resolution, or change the size of windows and window borders. Using Mouse in Control Panel, you can adjust mouse properties to display larger or more visible mouse pointers and control the speed and animation of the mouse pointer.

When using Windows-based programs, you can change font sizes and colors, background color, and window size. In some programs, you can magnify the elements that are displayed in the program's window.

Using the Properties or Default dialog boxes in MS-DOS programs, you can change font types, sizes, and colors, background color, and the size of the cursor and program window.

The following tools are available with Windows 2000. See Related Topics for additional programs.

Using High Contrast

Using High Contrast, you can specify that Windows 2000 uses colors and fonts that are designed for easy reading.

Step-by-step procedure

Using Magnifier

Using Magnifier, you can magnify a portion of your screen to make it more easily readable.

Additional information

Using Narrator

Narrator is a text-to-speech program that reads aloud the text that is displayed on your screen.

Additional information

Using ToggleKeys

ToggleKeys causes tones to sound when you press CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, and SCROLL LOCK.

Step-by-step procedure

The Accessibility tools that ship with Windows 2000 are intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with special needs. Most users with disabilities will need utility programs with higher functionality for daily use. For a list of Windows-based accessibility utilities, see Microsoft Accessibility at the Microsoft Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/).