Remote Learning and Non-Visual #A11Y

Screenshot showing a set of commands on a braille display

With many students with visual impairments learning remotely, the PRCVI outreach team has created a number of resource guides for teachers of students with visual impairments (TSVIs) to support students relying on non-visual access to online communication and collaboration platforms. Each guide is organized below by platform, operating system, and screen reading software. This page is updated as new guides are developed.

General Resources

Copyright Considerations for TSVIs

  • While students are learning remotely the provisions of the Copyright Act remain in effect. This page contains important information and links related to the fair use of copyright protected learning materials.

VoiceOver for iOS

Using the Caption Panel with VoiceOver

  • Parents and other family members are often asked to help the student with a visual impairment while using screen reading software. This guide looks at the steps to enable and use the Caption Panel with VoiceOver so that what is read also appears on the screen.

VoiceOver Rotor Overview and Customization

  • These guides introduce the use of the rotor - a feature that allows for rapid navigation around the screen, rather than having to move through every on-screen item searching for the needed content. Each guide appears in two versions - one that assumes touch screen gestures and an other that assumes access via a refreshable braille display. 

Screen Sharing in Microsoft Teams with VoiceOver 

  • This guide outlines the steps to sharing one's screen using touch screen gestures and VoiceOver on an iPad.

Navigating Microsoft Teams with VoiceOver with Gestures

  • This introductory guide takes users and educators through the Teams interface and its main features.

Navigating Microsoft Teams with VoiceOver and a Keyboard

  • This guide follows the same features of the user interface in Teams as above but assumes keyboard access.

Navigating Microsoft Teams with VoiceOver and a Refreshable Braille Display

  • This guide follows the same features of the user interface in Teams as above but assumes access via a refreshable braille display.

Setting up Screen Sharing Using VoiceOver in Zoom

  • Step-by-step guide to enabling and managing screen sharing while in a Zoom call using VoiceOver.

NVDA and JAWS for Windows

NVDA Language Settings

  • This guide provides step-by-step instructions for setting up NVDA to read foreign languages such as French.

Configuring Microsoft Teams using NVDA or JAWS in Windows with a Keyboard

  • This guide contains some of the basic keyboard commands for getting started with Microsoft Teams using NVDA or JAWS

Navigating Microsoft Teams using NVDA or JAWS in Windows with a Keyboard

  • A follow-up to the configuration guide linked above, this guide looks at the keyboard commands for navigating in Microsoft Teams

Navigating Microsoft Teams Using NVDA or JAWS with a Refreshable Braille Display

  • This guide covers navigation in Microsoft Teams using a 40-cell refreshable braille display and NVDA or JAWS.

BrailleNote Touch Plus

Using Microsoft Teams with the BrailleNote Touch Plus

  • This guide contains information and commands for navigating the Microsoft Teams Android app on the BrailleNote Touch Plus.

Microsoft Word

Using Track Changes in Microsoft Word with NVDA

  • This document provides a comprehensive guide to using the Track Changes and Comments features in Microsoft Word with NVDA.

Using Track Changes in Microsoft Word with JAWS

  • This document provides a comprehensive guide to using the Track Changes and Comments features in Microsoft Word with JAWS.

 

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