Chromebook Accessibility

        Chromebooks are the leading device that schools use for one-to-one instruction. There are many reasons why districts choose them over other devices. Still, one of the main reasons I believe this is true is the varying accessibility features that Google offers. Google provides features to help individuals with visual, motor, auditory, and learning disabilities through the accessibility settings on the individual device or chrome extensions.

Accessibility settings:

        All the tools listed below can be easily accessed through the accessibility settings tab within the Chromebooks main settings feature. These tools are preinstalled on Chromebooks but must be enabled. They can be disabled easily if devices are shared within the environment. I have highlighted only a few of the features that can be found in this setting tab:

• Screen Magnifier: There are two options in the accessibility settings for users to magnify the screen. The first is a full screen that can magnify up to twenty times the original magnification. The mouse cursor is used in this feature to scroll and reposition the screen. The second setting is a dock magnifier. This option only magnifies the top one-third of the screen, leaving the bottom two-thirds at normal so the user can see the whole document if needed. As the user does with the full-screen magnifier, the mouse is used to access and guide the magnification. If a user is typing in the dock magnifying mode, the device automatically keeps the area centered while typing. 
• High Contrast Mode: Many users that have visual impairments struggle to see certain color combinations on print or screen documents. This feature inverts the colors to help with eye strain and make reading the text on a page more manageable. 
• On-Screen Keyboard: Typing is an issue many students struggle with, and the on-screen keyboard can realize some of that stress. Users can type using a mouse, touchpad, joystick, or head control technology. This keyboard also has a handwriting tab where students can write then the system turns it into typed text. There is also a voice-to-text feature built into this keyboard. 
• Sticky Keys: Many keyboard shortcuts or features require users to hold down two or more keys at a time, and some users might not be able to do so without assistance from someone else. When enabled to press the series of commands, the sticky keys tools allow a user to still complete that given command by pressing one key at a time.
• Screen Reader: The reader is pretty straightforward in that it will read any text opened on the screen, which helps not only students with visual impairments and reading learning disabilities. 
• Select to Speech: This is also a screen reader but will allow the user to select the part of the screen in which the reader will read the highlighted information only. 
• Mono-Audio: When playing audio on a device, there are times when the audio will only be played out of a particular side of the headphones, which can affect individuals who have limited hearing on one or both sides. This feature streamlines the audio into both ears rather than playing in the stereo format. 

    In this video, the narrator demonstrates how to access and enable the abovementioned features. 

Extensions: 

• BeeLine Reader: The reader is an eye-tracking device that color coeds the text to help the user easily transition from one line to the next. My favorite feature of this extension is the focus mode. It will blur out the surrounding text of the page and allow the user to "focus" on the area they are reading. It determines this by mouse location. (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/beeline-reader/ifjafammaookpiajfbedmacfldaiamgg?hl=en)

• Color Enhancer: The feature allows users to select the color filters placed on their screens to optimize their visual ability. This feature can help some who are color-blind or with any visual impairment to find the color scheme that works best for them. (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/color-enhancer/ipkjmjaledkapilfdigkgfmpekpfnkih?hl=en)

        As you can see, many ways to make a Chromebook work for any user with any ability level. The best feature that Chromebooks or Google offers is by turning on the syn setting within your Google account, a user can log into any Chromebook, and their accessibility settings and extension are there. They do not have to enable them again or try and remember which ones to turn on or what selections to use. This saves time, energy, and frustration because once the correct combination of settings is found for a user, the individual can log on and begin working like everyone else without worrying about their disability. 

References

Google. (n.d.). Accessibility for people with disabilities. Google Chromebooks. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.google.com/chromebook/accessibility/

Roxbury Rox Tech. (n.d.). Assistive technology & the Chromebooks. Google Sites: Sign-in.        Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://sites.google.com/roxbury.org/roxburyroxtech/assistive-       technology-the-Chromebooks