Welcome to our Accessibility Toolbar! Committed to inclusivity, our team at Educational Networks
designed this
feature specifically to enhance the user experience on school and school district websites. Whether
you're
looking to change text attributes for better readability, adjust the screen's contrast and saturation
for
clearer visuals, or want an audio narration of content blocks, our toolbar is here to ensure a seamless
and
accessible experience for all users. We understand that everyone interacts with web content in their own
unique
way, and with this toolbar, we aim to cater to a diverse range of needs.
Activating the Accessibility Toolbar
Starting Up: Initially, the toolbar is in a disabled state. To enable it, simply click on the
small
"accessibility toolbar" icon situated at the bottom right of the screen. Upon clicking, a control panel
will
slide in from the bottom, offering you a series of user-friendly options.
Stealth Mode: Enable the "Stealth Mode" for a more unobtrusive view, by clicking the small button
with a down arrow. The control panel will slide down and disappear, and the accessibility toolbar icon
will appear with a green checkmark to indicate that the toolbar's functionality is still active and
can be accessed using keyboard shortcuts.
Turning Off the Toolbar: To completely deactivate the toolbar, click on the small button with an "x"
within the control panel. The control panel will slide away and the green checkmark on the accessibility
toolbar icon will be removed, indicating that the toolbar is fully deactivated.
Reactivating the Toolbar: Even after turning off, you can reactivate the toolbar at any point by
simply
clicking the "accessibility toolbar" icon. This brings back the control panel, allowing you to customize
your
experience once more.
Font Customizations
Font Size: Adjust the text size to your liking. Use the keyboard shortcut "F" to swiftly toggle
between
different font sizes.
Visual Adjustments
Our toolbar allows you to personalize your visual experience by adjusting contrast and saturation
levels. These
adjustments are designed to cater to a wide range of visual preferences:
Contrast Adjustments: Enhance or decrease the difference between text and background colors. This
can be
particularly helpful for users with visual impairments like low vision, color blindness, age-related
macular
degeneration, or cataracts, as the difference between text and its background becomes more
pronounced.
Saturation Modifications: Adjust the intensity of colors on the webpage. Modifying saturation can
significantly benefit individuals with color vision deficiencies or color blindness, as it can make
certain hues
more discernible or reduce confusion between colors. This feature also supports those who experience
visual
discomfort from overly vibrant colors.
By tweaking these settings, you can ensure that the content presentation matches your visual comfort,
making the
browsing experience both accessible and enjoyable.
Reading Bar
Click the "reading mask" to introduce the "reading bar." This feature
emphasizes an area spanning the full width of the browser window, covering just a few lines of text,
with shaded
areas above and below to reduce distractions. The reading bar is particularly beneficial for individuals
with
challenges such as dyslexia, visual processing issues, or ADHD, as it helps isolate text and reduce
visual
stress, making navigation of large text blocks more manageable.
Audio Narration
Engage with content through two effective auditory methods:
Direct Text Highlighting: Highlight the specific text you're interested in and press "r". The
system will
promptly read the selected text aloud.
Block Reader Feature: Activate the "Block Reader" by clicking its designated button. Once
enabled,
the system will visually emphasize content blocks by drawing a rectangle around them as you hover. This
gives a
clear indication of the content block currently selected. To hear the content within this block, press
"r". If
you wish to halt the narration at any point, simply click the Escape button.
Enhanced Menu Navigation
To offer users an alternative, simplified navigation experience, our toolbar provides the "Enhanced Menu
Navigation" feature. You can activate this feature either by clicking its dedicated button in the
control panel
or simply by pressing "m" on your keyboard.
Once activated:
Dialog Box Display: A dialog box emerges over the website content, showcasing menu items in an
enlarged
format. For quick navigation, each menu item is paired with a unique number.
Audio Assistance: For those who benefit from auditory cues, pressing "r" allows the system to
read out
the menu items and their associated numbers aloud.
Intuitive Navigation: By inputting the number of a menu item via the keyboard, users can
seamlessly
explore deeper into submenus. Items are displayed in the same user-friendly manner, and if a chosen item
is
linked, the system immediately directs users to the relevant URL.
This feature serves as an alternative method to traverse the website, catering specifically to users who
might
find this format more comfortable or efficient based on their individual preferences or needs.
Keyboard-Only Operability
Recognizing the importance of an unobtrusive browsing experience, our Accessibility Toolbar has been
meticulously designed to function without the need for the on-screen control panel. By mastering the
keyboard
shortcuts, users can seamlessly engage with all the toolbar's features, allowing them to enjoy the
original
website design and content with minimal visual disruptions. This approach ensures that everyone can
access the
enhanced features while preserving the intended aesthetic of the website.
Click here for the complete list of keyboard shortcuts.
Thank you for using our Accessibility Toolbar. We hope this guide assists you in navigating our website
effortlessly. Should you have any feedback or require further assistance, please reach out to our
support team.
Your feedback helps us improve and cater to the needs of all our users better. Enjoy your browsing
experience!
