Library Subject Guides
This page looks at inbuilt systems features and university-supported digital tools to broaden your access options. Some of these features make small changes, but these can make a big difference to your digital experience.
There are inbuilt accessibility features available at operating system level, at digital workspace level and within specific apps, such as browsers. These can make a big difference in making use of specific app or working on your device as a whole, more accessible to you. But a word of warning! If you enable the same type of tool at multiple levels, it can sometimes cause problems, as the tools "fight". If you have similar tools enabled at systems level and within an app and experience problems, try switching on one of those settings off to see if that resolves the issue.
We've collected some useful links for guides to system, workspace and browser accessibility features below:
These tools are available on all managed university pcs and versions of these are available for all members of the university to download for use on their personal device as well.
This page focuses on digital tools supported by the university and features built into systems - essentially things that we're happy to recommend in terms of both cybersecurity and accessibility. There are huge numbers of other digital tools available, many of them marketed as accessibility tools. But we haven't checked them all and can't support them all. When considering whether to download a digital tool, always look at the privacy statement, look at reviews and ask yourself questions - does this seem safe to you? Does the data collection seem reasonable? If they aren't charging for this app, how are they making money? Approach this critically and make informed decisions about what you decide to use. If it is your personal device, then it's up to you what you choose to use, but be aware of security and privacy issues, as well as the fact that if it isn't university supported software, we may not be able to offer any help if you have any problems with it.
Different systems and apps refer to their accessibility features by different names. As well as being under an obvious name such as "Accessibility", you might also find these features under Ease of Access. Visual display settings also often contain many adjustments which can help with some disabilities.
If you see a white star jump figure in a blue circle icon, this is also used to denote accessibility. There are some variations on the design, but it is usually very similar to the one shown below.
Rather than struggle with a file in an unfamiliar format (or one you simply don't like working with), it can be easier to download the information and convert to your preferred file type. Depending on what documents you are using and where they are hosted, there are different ways you can do this.
Most file types can be exported as PDFs, which you can use offline and with your preferred PDF reader. We also have tools which can enable you to convert PDFs into other file types, if needed - you can find more on PDF tools at the university in our Working with PDFs guide.
If you are using content on the VLE, there is a built in file conversion tool, Blackboard Ally, which enables you to download materials in various file types.
Not sure which file format would work best for you? This Best File Formats tutorial takes you through the properties of major file types, to help you make informed choices about what format you might want to use.
