Using an iPad with a

Visual Impairment

Apple’s Commitment to Accessibility

  • For more than 20 years, Apple has provided new and innovative solutions for people with disabilities, allowing them to access - and enjoy using - the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad.
  • Apple includes assistive technology in its productsas standard features and at no additional cost. For example:
  • iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac OS X include screen magnification and VoiceOver, a screen-access technology, for the blind and visually impaired. To assist those with cognitive and learning disabilities
  • Every Mac includes an alternative, simplified user interface that rewards exploration and learning.
  • For those who find it difficult to use a mouse, every Mac computer includes Mouse Keys, Slow Keys, and Sticky Keys, which adapt the computer to the user’s needs and capabilities.
  • Apple has built more accessibility features into the iPad than any other Apple product. These include the ability to use an external keyboard and the touchscreen interface that is cognitively easier to use than one that is mouse driven.

The iPad

The RNIB and NFB (National Federation for the Blind) have commended Apple for the design of the iPad which allows blind and visually impaired users access as just about everything on the screen can be read aloud. The ‘Voice Over’ capability enables blind users to use the device as soon as it's taken out of the box, and proves that touchscreen devices need not be a limitation to the blind. Using VoiceOver, every action from screen dim, to screen lock is spoken along with built in hints.

VoiceOver

The VoiceOver screen reader comes as standard on iPad. It’s the world’s first gesture-based screen reader, and it allows users to enjoy the simplicity of iPad even if they can’t see the screen.

With VoiceOver, you use simple gestures to physically interact with items on the screen. Instead of memorising key commands or repeatedly pressing arrow keys to find what you’re looking for, just touch the screen to hear an item’s description, then gesture with a double tap, drag or flick to control iPad.

Because VoiceOver on iPad allows you to interact directly with objects, you can understand their location and context. When you touch the upper-left corner of the screen, you hear what’s in the upper-left corner of a web page. And as you drag your finger round the screen, you learn what’s nearby, providing an unprecedented sense of relationship and context.

VoiceOver on iPad also gives you information about your device — including battery level, network signal level and time of day. It even lets you know when the display changes to landscape or portrait orientation and when the screen is locked or unlocked.

Adjustable speaking rate

The speaking rate in VoiceOver is adjustable so you can set it to a speed that best suits you. VoiceOver uses distinctive sound effects to alert you when an application opens, when the screen is updated, when a message dialogue appears and more. And when VoiceOver is talking, the volume of background sounds and music is automatically lowered, “ducking” under the voice, so you can clearly hear what VoiceOver is telling you.

How it works

With VoiceOver enabled, you’ll use a different but simple set of gestures to control iPad. For example, instead of tapping to activate a button, tap the button to hear a description of it, double-tap to activate it and swipe up or down to adjust a slider.

When an item on the screen is selected, a black rectangle called the VoiceOver Cursor appears around it. The VoiceOver Cursor is displayed for the benefit of sighted users with whom you may be sharing your iPad. When you prefer privacy, you can activate a screen curtain to disable the imaging on your display.

In addition to touching and dragging round the screen, you can also flick left and right to move the VoiceOver Cursor to the next or previous item on the screen — no matter how big or small it is. By flicking, you can make precise choices about what you hear even if it’s difficult to place your finger on the item.

Entering text

When you’re typing text, such as an email message or a note, VoiceOver echoes each character on the keyboard as you touch it, then again to confirm your selection. You can also enable Touch Typing, which automatically enters the last character you hear when you lift your finger. You can even set VoiceOver to speak each completed word instead of — or in addition to — individual characters as you type them. Move the insertion point cursor left or right by flicking up or down within text. With VoiceOver, you can edit a word just as easily and precisely as you can type it in the first place.

To help you type more quickly and accurately, iPad offers word prediction and spelling corrections. With Speak Auto-text enabled, you’ll hear a sound effect and the suggested word spoken automatically. Keep typing to ignore the word or press the Space key to have iPad type it for you.

The rotor

VoiceOver features an innovative virtual control called a rotor. Turn the rotor on by rotating two fingers on the screen as if you were turning an actual dial. This gesture changes the way VoiceOver moves through a document based on a setting you choose. For example, a flick up or down might move the cursor through text word by word. But when the character setting is selected, the same gesture will move the cursor through the text character by character — perfect when you’re proofreading or editing text.

You can also use the rotor to navigate web pages.When you’re on a web page, the rotor contains the names of common items, such as headers, links, form elements, images and more. You select a setting, then flick up and down to move to the previous or next occurrence of that item on the page, skipping over items in between.

Applications

VoiceOver works with all the built-in applications that come on iPad — Safari, Mail, App Store, iTunes, iPod, Calendar, Notes and others. So you can surf the web, email your friends, manage your calendar, download new apps, read books and more. Apple is also working with iPad software developers to make even more applications VoiceOver compatible.

iBooks

With the iBooks app (available as a free download), you can download, organise and read ebooks on your iPad. iBooks is fully compatible with VoiceOver, so you can have books read aloud in any of 21 languages. And you can tailor iBooks to suit the way you read. Read in either portrait or landscape orientation. Choose larger font sizes or different fonts. It also works with the white-on-black text setting. When you want to add new books, visit the iBookstore directly from your iPad and take advantage of VoiceOver to browse the store.

Wireless braille displays

iPad includes built-in support for refreshable Braille displays that use Bluetooth wireless technology. You can use them to read VoiceOver output in contracted and non-contracted Braille. In addition, Braille displays with input keys and other controls can be used to control iPad when VoiceOver is turned on.

Zoom

While many iPad applications let you zoom in and out of specific elements such as images in Mail or web page columns in Safari, Zoom lets you magnify the entire screen of any application you’re using to help you see what’s on the display. Zoom can be enabled on iPad using iTunes when you’re setting up iPad for yourself or someone else, or later, using the Accessibility menu in the Settings application.

Zoom works everywhere — including the Home, Unlock and Spotlight screens — and in applications that you purchase from the App Store.

How it works

Double-tap with three fingers to instantly zoom in and out 200 per cent. Or double-tap and drag three fingers to dynamically adjust the screen’s magnification between 100 per cent and 500 per cent. Even when zoomed in, you can continue using all the iPad gestures you’re familiar with — flick, pinch, tap — to run favourite applications. Zoom also works with the White on Black and Speak Auto-text features.

Other Accessibility Features

White on Black

If you prefer higher contrast, you can change the display on your iPad to white on black. This reverse-video effect works in all applications and on the Home, Unlock and Spotlight screens, and it can be used with Zoom and VoiceOver.

Speak Auto-text

iPad suggests words before you finish typing them and automatically corrects words you might have misspelled. Speak Auto-text voices these suggestions so you can hear them when they’re presented. You can hear and accept suggestions without interrupting your typing. Speak Auto-text can be enabled even when you’re not using VoiceOver or Zoom.

Tactile Buttons

iPad includes a few, easily-discernible physical buttons: the Sleep/Wake button, located on the top edge; the screen rotation lock switch and volume-control buttons, located on the upper-right edge; and the Home button, centred below the display.

Audible Alerts

iPad lets you activate audio alerts for incoming and outgoing mail and calendar event requests. iPad also offers an audio option for confirming keyboard actions.

To turn accessibility features on or off

In iTunes

  1. Connect iPad to your computer.
  2. In iTunes, select iPad under Devices.
  3. In the Summary pane, click Configure Universal Access in the Options section.
  1. Select the accessibility features that you want to use and click OK.

On the device:

Tap Settings > General > Accessibility.

Note: You can have Zoom or VoiceOver on, but not both at the same time. Zoom and VoiceOver use the same gestures to perform different actions.

VoiceOver

If VoiceOver is on and you want to turn it off from the device instead of from iTunes, remember that a double-tap acts like a single tap and you need to use three fingers to scroll when VoiceOver is on:

  • Press Home.
  • Tap Settings. Then double-tap Settings.
  • Tap General. Then double-tap General.
  • Use three fingers on the screen to scroll to Accessibility.
  • Tap Accessibility. Then double-tap Accessibility.
  • Tap VoiceOver. Then double-tap VoiceOver.
  • Tap "On" next to VoiceOver. Then double-tap "On" to turn it off.

You can configure the device to display options for VoiceOver, Zoom, or White on Black when you triple-click the Home button. This feature is off by default; to enable it, tap Settings > General > Accessibility> Triple-click Home > Ask.

If VoiceOver is on and the screen is black, but you can still use the device by pressing volume up and volume down, you may have screen curtain on. Try triple-tapping using three fingers on the device display to turn off screen curtain. Or connect the device to iTunes (see above).

If Zoom is on and you want to zoom out or in, double-tap using three fingers.

When VoiceOver is on,you can practice VoiceOver gestures by tapping Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Practice VoiceOver Gestures. This feature provides audio feedback describing the gestures you are performing, and what action they perform on the device.

Popular ebook reader apps on the ipad

ibooks / Kindle software / Stanza
Change font size / Yes – 11 sizes / Yes – 6 sizes / Yes – 27 sizes (largest font not as large as other readers)
Change font colour / no / Yes – white, black / Yes – black, white. Themes allow many different colours
Change background colour / Yes- sepia / Yes – white, black, sepia / Yes – black white. Themes allow many different colours
Change font style / Yes – 6 styles / no / Yes – ‘themes’
Change brightness / Yes / Yes / Yes – with vertical swipe on screen
Books available from: / ibookstore (direct from app) / Amazon only (direct from app or sent from Amazon) / Download form many different sources direct or through itunes
Free books / Yes / Yes / Yes
Search text / Yes / Yes / Yes
Search on google/Wikipedia/
dictionary / Google
Wikipedia
Dictionary / Google
Wikipedia
Dictionary (need to download dictionary) / Dictionary (online dictionary only)
Make notes/bookmarks/
highlights / notes
Highlight text
bookmarks / notes
Highlight text / notes
Highlight text
bookmarks
Navigate through book / Yes – chapters, bookmarks / Yes – beginning/specific location / Yes – chapters, bookmarks, notes
Other / - synchronise location with same book on Kindle reader, smartphone Kindle app, PC software / Can change line spacing, margins, alignment, paragraph spacing/indent, lock book rotation. Can have standard and ‘night theme’ which allows easy swap between two.

My favourite Apps

for very special learners

Flo Longhorn

1 January 2011

Introduction

You will need an ipod touch ( no need to have the telephone component) or a splendid

ipad.

The apps for very special learners I have listed are all free or very cheaply.

To find an app:

  • Go to the Itunes store and click on 'apps' ( at top of the screen) and then type in the title you wish to view or purchase. You need to have an account with itunes so when you buy an app it is paid for through the account, without hassle :

Handy hints for the uninitiated

  • You need to be online to go to the itunes store.
  • itunes store should be listed in the left hand column on the screen of your device.
  • Click on and then look along the top of the page to find applications.
  • Always play with the apps and find out what they can do ( or ask a child to do this
  • whilst you watch!)they do so much more than you think.
  • Make sure that if it is a free app, it does not pop up with free offers or annoying
  • adverts every time you use it. Not worth the trouble. Delete.

Here is a list of 50 of my favourite apps to use for creative and engaging encounters

of the active kind,and , in no order, but all very sensory and loads of fascinating fun for everybody! Enjoy! This is my first attempt at doing a web page so feed back appreciated! I am busy putting together a dvd of a hundred more apps but they will be grouped together for curriculum, assessment, age related, rudeness etc and will have video clips included of the apps in action-watch this space!

Flo Longhorn

Pocket Guitar

Sensory play

Toy story read along