In Mac OS X, if I have disabilities, what options are available to make my computer easier to use?

If you have disabilities or have difficulty seeing, hearing, or controlling your computer, you can use the Universal Access preferences in Mac OS X to set custom preferences that may make your computer easier to use.

To get to the Universal Access preferences, from the Apple menu, select System Preferences... . In System Preferences, from the View menu, select Universal Access.

Items you can change include the following:

• Switch the screen to black and white, or make other contrast enhancements.
  
  
• Choose to make the screen flash when an alert sound occurs.
  
  
• Zoom in on the screen image to make it appear larger.
  
  
• Make the computer read aloud the text on the screen when you move the pointer over an item in the Finder, Dock, or application toolbar.
  
  
• Make the mouse functions available through the keyboard.
  
  
• Turn on Sticky Keys or Slow Keys to help you control the keyboard.
  
  
• Turn on Mouse Keys to control the pointer using your numeric keypad.

In addition, you can find settings in the Displays, Sound, General, and Speech panes of System Preferences that may help you use your computer.

For more information about Universal Access, search Mac Help. With the Finder active, from the Help menu, select Mac Help.

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