Master Windows 10 Accessibilty settings for the disabled - part 1

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Edited from Pixabay

People with disabilities should not be excluded in technology designs and use. Although the type and level of disability may limit what such persons are able to do, they should not be entirely cut off from technology. Over the years, windows operating system continue to maintain features designed to assist people with various levels of disability to use their computer.

In this presentation, I will explain one of the tools that can help the disabled use computer to accomplish tasks. That tool is called Narrator. It is designed for those with the following disabilities:

  • Partially blind
  • Completely blind
  • Color blind

Now lets look at narrator and how to set it up for the computer.

What is Narrator?

Narrator is a text-to-speech tool designed by Microsoft to make the computer read whatever text that is on the screen. This tool allows a blind person to type text and still understand what they are typing as the Narrator reads out the text to the user's hearing. Not just typed text, the Narrator is able to read out any information in text format such as notifications from email and websites, text written in apps on the computer, and other places. The Narrator reads it audibly.

So with this narrator, the blind, color blind or partially blind computer user will be able to hear clearly what text is displayed on screen. This tool has been so helpful as many users with visual impairments are able to stay productive and use their computer to accomplish tasks. To control the Narrator, the blind person can use mouse, keyboard or even touch screen if their device screen was made to work in that way. Now let is see how to set up Narrator in Windows 10.

Setting up Narrator

Note that someone that sees well should be able to assist the blind person to make these Narrator settings so that the blind or visually challenged person can use the computer.

Step 1: On the search bar, Type Settings. Click the settings app to pen it. Check image below

Step 2: On the new window, click Ease of Access.

Step 3: From the Ease of Access menu, click on Narrator.

Step 4: Click the toggle button to turn Narrator on as shown below.


Customizing Narrator further

Now that you have turned on Narrator, you should be able to hear it read out the text on screen. But there are other settings you could apply to make Narrator work the way you want it. They include the following:


The Start-up options allow you to make settings that will take effect when once you put on your computer. Those settings include:

  • Narrator short-cut control: This is the first option after start-up which enables you to switch narrator on or off using keyboard shorts. So to switch narrator on or off, you can use this key combination - WIN + Ctrl + Enter. You have to check this first box in order to activate this setting.

  • Start Narrator before or after Sign In: If your computer is password enabled, you can decide when to activate Narrator. The next two boxes as you see above allows you to put on the Narrator before you Sign in or after. Check the boxes or leave them unchecked for appropriate settings.

There are many other settings after the Start-up options. For example, you could choose the Narrator voice, voice speed, pitch and volume. If you have speakers attached to your computer, you might want to set up narrator to connect to that external speaker so the voice will be more audible.

Other tons of settings for the narrator include keyboard settings, how Narrator pronounces capital letters, the narrator cursor and so on. You can even decide to turn on braille. These and many other settings help you personalize narrator.

Final words

Narrator is such a useful tool for anyone with visually disabilities. It helps to change text to speech so the blind person can interact with their computer and work without big challenges. You can check out this tool and the settings above. Maybe you or someone you know will need them someday.

Note: All Images are screenshots from my PC, except the thumbnail.

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12 comments
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This another wonderful way to help the disabled to feel belonging. No one should be left out in this computer age. Help, help them to learn and use it .
!Alive

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Sure. Technology should be all-inclusive. Windows have made it possible for people with sight problems to use the computer taking advantage of tool like this Narrator.

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I can see it to be a very good tool for them

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Oh my goodness. I haven't heard of such thing as the Narrator. This is my first time hearing it. So with the Narrator the disabled can also interested with the computer, this is wonderful

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Sure it is a very useful too. Even someone with no sight problems can still use it. For example, Narrator can read for you if you are too tired to read a long text. Very useful!

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Years ago, when I had no or little knowledge about computer, there is this blind man I met, whenever he's pressing his computer, the computer will be narrating whatever he's typing. I thought it's a special computer for blind people. Now I understand the fact. It's all about setting!!! Thanks to narrator. The disabled are not left out. Thanks for the information

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Yes, the blind could use computer with this tool. Happy you have learnt this. Its super useful

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Thanks for carrying us along. Your posts are always useful. Keep it up

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Thanks for your contribution to the STEMsocial community. Feel free to join us on discord to get to know the rest of us!

Please consider delegating to the @stemsocial account (85% of the curation rewards are returned).

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