Information for IT Professionals

Announcement (July 2019)

The assistive technologies JAWS 2019 and ZoomText 2019 for students with visual impairments and blindness have a new license server hosted by the Webstore. Student computing labs with JAWS and ZoomText need to update the Windows configuration to use the new license server.

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft 365 products now have some accessibility features that are very useful. The University of Illinois System has documented some tips for creating accessible Word documents as well as accessible PowerPoint presentations.

The following assistive technology software should be available on Microsoft Windows computers available to students in instructional and library computing labs. Keyboard shortcuts keys should be available in the Start menu for students to easily start the applications.

Windows Software:

  • JAWS Screen Reader
  • Kurzweil 3000 (Web License Version)
  • Mouse Keys & Sticky Keys
  • OpenBook (On library computers to scan print materials)
  • ZoomText Magnifier

Windows Software Installation Information

JAWS Screen Reader

  • Install JAWS using the downloaded file.
  • Set system environment variable: LSHOST set to “jaws.webstore.illinois.edu”
    • Contact your system administrator on how to best set the system environment variable.
    • NOTE: Mistakenly setting the user variable will only allow the current user to access JAWS.
    • NOTE: If LSFORCEHOST is set in either the system or the user environment variables from a previous configuration, you must remove it.
  • For library and instructional computers labs, you will want to change the preferences for JAWS to not start automatically or at the login screen.
  • Assign the Windows 10 keyboard shortcut “Control+Alt+J” to start JAWS.

Kurzweil 3000 and “Read The Web” Chrome Extension

Login with your Microsoft credentials (NetID@illinois.edu plus password).

Mouse Keys & Sticky Keys

Check your setup to make sure that these Ease of Access options are enabled for use. Create a shortcut in your accessibility group folder to the location to turn these features on and off.

  1. From the Windows search bar, begin typing “Control Panel“.
  2. Select Control Panel from the search results.
  3. Select Ease of Access Center.
  4. Select Make the keyboard easier to use.
  5. Check the box(s) next to Turn on Mouse Keys and/or Turn on Sticky Keys.

OpenBook

  • Install OpenBook form the downloaded installation file.
  • Set environment variable: LSHOST set to: jaws.webstore.illinois.edu (see instructions for JAWS configuration)
  • Start OpenBook and check to make sure it is using the license server.

ZoomText Screen Magnifier

  • Install ZoomText from the downloaded file.
  • Set the system environment variable: LSHOST set to “jaws.webstore.illinois.edu”
    • No need to set again if you have already done this for JAWS (see above)
    • Contact your system administrator on how to best set the system environment variable.
    • NOTE: Mistakenly setting the user variable will only allow the current user to access ZoomText.
    • NOTE: If LSFORCEHOST is set in either the system or the user environment variables from a previous configuration, you must remove it.
  • Start ZoomText, and check in the About dialog box to verify it is using the license server.
  • For library and instructional computer labs, you will want to change the preferences for ZoomText to not start automatically.
  • Assign the Windows 10 keyboard shortcut “Control+Alt+Z” to start ZoomText.

macOS Built-in Assistive Technologies

The following software should be available on macOS computers for students. They should be accessible from shortcuts keys in the Start menu so students do not need to search around to locate items.

macOS Software:

  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Mouse Keys
  • Sticky Keys
  • VoiceOver
  • Zoom

Keyboard Shortcuts

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. Click Keyboard to displays its preferences.
  3. Click Keyboard Shortcuts.
  4. Select the action in the Description list that you want to change.
  5. Double-click the characters in the Shortcut column, and press the new key combination that you want to use.
    • You cannot use each type of key (for example, a letter key) more than once in a key combination.
  6. Quit and restart any applications you’re using for the new keyboard shortcut to take effect.

Mouse Keys

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. Click Universal Access to displays its preferences.
  3. Select Mouse (Also called Mouse & Trackpad on some computers), then select the “Press the Option key five times to turn Mouse Keys on or off” checkbox.

Sticky Keys

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. Click Universal Access to displays its preferences.
  3. Select Keyboard, then select the “Press the Shift key five times to turn Sticky Keys on or off” checkbox.

VoiceOver

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. Click Universal Access to displays its preferences.
  3. Click the Seeing tab, then select the On radio button below VoiceOver to enable it.
    • Click the Open VoiceOver Utility button to customize VoiceOver

Zoom

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. Click Universal Access to displays its preferences.
  3. Click the Seeing tab, then select the On radio button below Zoom to enable it.