Computer Needs of a student with a visual impairment

This page is not all inclusive, but will give a parent an idea of basic requirements when buying a computer for their child.

Processor: Pentium (III, IV, or V), 1000 MHZ

Memory: 128MB, 133 MHz SDRAM that is expandable

Monitor: Visually impaired students have greater enjoyment when the monitor is at least 17", so they can pick out more detail on the screen.

Hard Drive: minimum 20 GB

Operating System: Microsoft windows (98 standard)

Application software: Microsoft Suite (WORD is the child's major tool for writing documents)

This is not an endorsement for Microsoft. These programs are the most compatible with JAWS talking software and compatible with the keystrokes the child is learning in school.

Other needed equipment: modem (for e-mail and research on the Internet), keyboard, mouse, anti-virus protection , sound blaster card, disk drive, CD ROM, printer, (later on an embosser), expansion slots.

Hot-Key Commands (Keystrokes instead of the mouse)

Ctrl- C = copy    Ctrl-V = paste    Ctrl-a = select all    Ctrl-Z = undo    Ctrl-N = new doc    Ctrl-O = open doc    Ctrl-S = save    F7= spell check    shift-F7 = Thesaurus    Ctrl-P = print     Crtl-F4 = close window     Alt-F4=close window    Ctrl right or left arrow will move you 1 word at a time          Shift home, end, page up or down will highlight a section of text, shift-ctrl arrow will select one word at a time    Ctrl-L - left align    Ctrl-R = right align    Ctrl-E = center    Ctrl-D =Fonts

If you see an underlined letter, in any menu, such as the letter F in File if you combine that with Alt, Alt-F, the File menu will open