What can I check if my computer, tablet or phone is harder to use than it needs to be?
People may buy extra software or struggle with default settings without realising that mainstream devices already include accessibility options for reading, attention, memory, dexterity and other access needs.
Current understanding
AbilityNet's My Computer My Way is a current free guide in the ND Oracle catalogue for finding accessibility settings built into common computers, tablets and smartphones. It covers cognitive, motor, vision and hearing access areas. Which settings are useful depends on the device and the person, so this is a practical route to inspect rather than a claim that one configuration will solve an access problem.
Related things to inspect
Related questions
- Exams or timed assessments create disability-related barriers. What can I ask my school, college or university about?
- Listening, processing and taking notes at the same time is too much. What study-access options can I inspect?
- What should I look at if I need reasonable adjustments at work in Great Britain?
- Where can I look for disability-related study support in higher education in England?
- Where can I look for disability-related study support in higher education in Northern Ireland?
What evidence is still needed
- Current checks as operating systems and accessibility settings change.
- More reviewed assistive-technology and built-in-feature resources covering specific reading, writing, communication and motor-access needs.
Where people may disagree
- Some people need specialist software, hardware, assessment or human support rather than built-in settings alone.
When this answer should be revisited
- AbilityNet substantially changes or retires My Computer My Way.
- Major operating-system accessibility changes make the recorded route outdated.
- Additional reviewed device-access resources are added.
Question provenance and review state
Practical discovery question assembled from the reviewed AbilityNet My Computer My Way Resource and related Concepts. It identifies built-in accessibility settings as a route to inspect without claiming that they resolve a person's access needs.