This article discusses some of the issues surrounding alternative technology available to improve access to computers and electronic information for individuals with various difficulties or disabilities.

As in most walks of life, adapting products or services to cater for users with special requirements can often enhance that product or service for the majority of all users.

For example, making text larger and clearer on screen may specifically help individuals with a visual impairment, but it also helps a significant proportion of the population who simply find it easier to read larger, clearer typefaces.

Although special hardware and software may need to be purchased, numerous simple and free adjustments are often all that is required to significantly improve access for many individuals.

In general terms, having information in electronic format is a great starting point as it can be presented to the user in their preferred style; text can be presented in different font typefaces, sizes and colours.

	Electronic text can be read aloud using synthesised speech

It can also be double spaced at the press of a few keys. Electronic text can also be read aloud using synthesised speech, even using a highlight to move through the words of the text as it is spoken aloud.

Using a scanner and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software can be a cheap and effective way for users with literacy difficulties to gain access to printed material by scanning in pages from a book or article and having the text read back to them.

New user induction

In a public access IT environment, one of the biggest challenges for staff is to match users' needs with the wide variety of technology available that might benefit them.

Having a carefully structured induction process for new users would help to signpost staff to alternative technology or settings that might be of benefit.

Even existing users might benefit from an appraisal of their needs and in doing so may promote the alternative products and services available to friends and family.

Many of the settings listed below are fairly easy and quick to adjust, but to combine several settings and try different solutions with a new user might take a considerable time.

There is also the issue of recording and setting up any specific adjustments each time that learner returns to the centre.

One approach to this problem is to introduce a special set of predefined user profiles that pull in a broad set of changes or set up access to specific programs for specific users.

For example, basic computer font sizes and typefaces can be adjusted, as can screen colours. Creating a small set of 'vision' profiles using different font sizes and contrasting colours (white text on black) may cater for the majority of users with a mild level of visual impairment.