Shop for Visual Impairment Instructional Resources and Gifts

ECC Instructional Resources

Shop

Braille Jewelry

Shop

VI Shirts

Shop

Braille Greeting Cards

Shop

VI Drinkware

Shop

White Cane Tags/Zipper Pulls/Keyrings

Shop

Vision Bags & Totes

Shop

Recorded Presentations

Shop

Job Posting Service

Shop

Making the iOS Device Accessible

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com

iOS devices are wonderful tools for allowing students to access information, music, videos, books and more. For universal accessibility in the iPod, iPod Touch (32GB & 64GB); iPhone 4S (16GB, 32GB, 64GB); iPad2 (3G service 16GB, 32GB, 64GB) turn on the following features by going to "Settings", then selecting "General", and "Accessibility":

Access Information on the Screen

Display & Text Size Options

There are many ways to adjust the display options on iOS devices to meet your unique visual needs and more comfortably access your iOS devices. Visit the Apple Support page on Display and Text Size Options for information accessibility options that allow users to make text bold, increase text size, increase contrast, reduce transparency, invert colors, apply filters, change the brightness and more. 

Magnifier

Turn your iOS device into a magnifier with the built in magnifier. Visit Apple Support page for details on how to use magnifier ​on your iOS device.

Zoom

Zoom is a built-in magnifier that works wherever you are in iOS, from Mail and Safari to the Home and Lock screens. It also works with all apps from the App Store. Turn Zoom on for full screen or picture in picture mode, allowing you to see the zoomed area in a separate window while keeping the rest of the screen at its native size. You can adjust the magnification between 100 and 1,500 percent and access multiple filter options in either mode. Double tapping with three fingers zooms in 200%, and you can adjust the magnification between 100% and 500%. This creates 20pt to 56pt text. While you’re zoomed in, you can still use all of the familiar gestures to navigate your device. Additionally, Zoom works with VoiceOver, allowing the user to see and hear what’s happening on the screen. Visit Apple's Zoom page for more information on the using Zoom feature.

VoiceOver

VoiceOver is a gesture-based screen reader that allows the user to navigate the iOS device even if you don’t see the screen. It gives audible descriptions of what’s on the screen including the battery level, who is calling, and which app your finger is on. You can adjust the speaking rate and the pitch to personal preference. Learn more about VoiceOver on this page. 

Spoken Content Options

Even if VoiceOver is turned off, you can have iPhone speak selected text or the entire screen. iPhone can also provide feedback and speak text corrections and suggestions as you type. Learn more about​ the different options within Spoken Content that includes changing voices and speaking rate on the Apple Support Spoken Content page.

Speak Screen

Instantly turn on Speak Screen by swiping down from the top of the screen with two fingers, and have all the content of the page read back to you. You can also have words highlighted as they’re being read, so you can follow along. Even the voice’s dialect and speaking rate can be adjusted to suit your needs.
Apple Accessibility offers information on the accessibility features built into Apple products. Areas include vision, hearing, physical & motor skills, and learning & literacy.

Input Information

Basic Multitasking Gestures

  • Press the home button once when an app is open in order to return to the home screen. This will not close the app, but will "minimize" it.
  • Swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar. This is also known as the App Switcher.
  • Swipe left or right to move between open apps.

AssistiveTouch

iOS devices are remarkably intuitive and easy to use. And AssistiveTouch lets you adapt the Multi-Touch screen of your iOS device to your unique physical needs. So if you have difficulty with some gestures, like pinch, you can make them accessible with just a tap of a finger. Or create a custom gesture. And if you have trouble pressing the Home button, you can activate it with an onscreen tap. Gestures like rotate and shake are available even when your iOS device is mounted on a wheelchair. And iOS devices also support a number of third‑party assistive devices that help you interact with your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Dictation

Dictation lets you talk where you would type. Tap the microphone button on the keyboard, say what you want to write, and your iOS device converts your words (and numbers and characters) into text making it easy to type an email, note, or URL — without typing at all.

Siri

Siri is Apple’s intelligent assistant. It helps you complete everyday tasks. Hold the home button and when prompted ask a question or request help. Siri can send messages, place phone calls, schedule meetings, and even turn on and off VoiceOver, Guided Access and Invert Colors. And because Siri is integrated with VoiceOver, you can ask where the nearest gas station, restaurant, or other location is and hear the answer read out loud.

Braille Input with Refreshable Braille Display 

Wireless, refreshable braille devices with braille input keyboards can be paired easily with iOS devices. The user can use the device with chording commands to navigate the iOS device.

QWERTY Bluetooth Keyboard

An external bluetooth QWERTY keyboard can easily be paired with the iPad for writing tasks when the user has difficulty using the onscreen keyboard. This is a more proficient means of typing longer passages.

Navigation Solutions

Guided Access

Guided Access helps people with autism or other attention and sensory challenges stay focused on the task (or app) at hand. With Guided Access, a parent, teacher, or therapist can limit an iOS device to stay on one app by disabling the Home button and limit the amount of time spent in an app. You can even restrict access to the keyboard or touch input on certain areas of the screen. So wandering taps and gestures won’t distract from learning.

Assistive Technology Forms

Sign up for free membership to access the FREE VI AT forms and references on the Free VIAT Printables page. Simply click on the Log In | Register link in the navigation bar. If you haven't joined yet, you will be prompted to create a password. ​Below are just a few examples of the free VI AT Printables.

Selecting the Right AT for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired Recorded Presentation

$25.00

Are you overwhelmed by the process of selecting assistive technology for your students? This presentation will encompass the process and steps of selecting the right assistive technology for students who are blind or visually impaired using the SETT framework. Key points covered in this presentation include identification of the current problem; consideration of current skills; understanding unique visual and learning needs; awareness of AT for VI; AT equipment considerations; the process of building a toolkit; instructional strategies; and next steps. 


Objectives:


  • Identify required steps in conducting an AT evaluation for students with visual impairments.
  • Analyze student’s current skills and unique needs to make appropriate AT recommendations
  • Develop strategies for selecting low, mid and high tech Assistive Technology  


Includes:


  • Recorded PowerPoint Show
  • Transcript
  • Presentation handout
  • Printables & Links to Resources discussed in presentation


Request a Certificate of Completion

To receive a certificate of completion for 1 contact hour, complete the short "Selecting the Right AT" quiz on Google Forms and receive a score of at least 80%. Don't worry. If you don't pass, you can re-watch the presentation and retake the test! If you have any accessibility issues with the form, please don't hesitate to let me know and we can make other arrangements.  ​


System Requirements:

Presentations are recorded PowerPoint presentations. You must be able to access PowerPoint to view the PowerPoint presentation. Please note that the presentation pages are closed member pages available to individuals who have purchase access to the presentation. 


*Please contact me if you need to purchase using a purchase order. I am happy to help guide you in the process of adding Teaching Students with Visual Impairments as an approved vendor for your school or program or you can visit the product support page for information on using a PO.
Shop
History of vi
Visual Impairments
Vi organizations & Agencies
VI book resources
VI Professionals
Professionalism
Instructional Planning
Professional Publications
Educational Programming
Individual Learning Differences
referrals
Medical vision exams
fvlma
additional evaluations
service planning
writing goals
compensatory skills
Guiding Principles
​Functional Skills
Community Based Experiences  ​
​​Concepts to Teach 

​Access to Instruction​
Organization & Study Skills ​​
Time Management  ​​
​​​​Virtual Instruction
​Movies & Assemblies
Lectures & Instruction
Board Work (Chalk, White, etc.)
​​Daily Schedule 
Morning Meeting 
Weather Check 
Dramatic Play 
Blocks 
Numbers & Counting
Cranmer Abacus Instruction
Algebra
Geometry & Spatial Sense
Measurement & Data ​
Early Literacy Experiences  ​
​Create Tactual Books
Reading Instruction
​Reading Efficiency ​​
Science Adaptations 
Social Studies Adaptations

Communication Modes
​Accessible Educational Materials
​​Individual Schedules & Communication Cards
Adjust Lighting  
Large Print
Optical Devices for Near 
Optical Devices for Distance 
Optical Device Use ​​
​Photocopying
Font Legibility
Increase Contrast
Pictures & Worksheets 
Keyboarding ​Instruction
Word Processing and Shortcuts
​Navigate Computer w/o a Mouse
Braille Code
Braille Instruction 
​Braille Instruction Materials
Writing Braille  
​Summer Reading (braille)
Signature & Handwriting ​​
Nemeth Braille Code
​Tactile Graphics Guidelines
Creating Tactile Graphics
​Tactile Graphics Instruction
​Teacher Made Materials 
​Labeling System
assistive technology
sensory efficiency
independent living
orientation & Mobility
career education
social skills
recreation & Leisure
self determination