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Curtin University

Accessibility

Accessibility tips for the curtin.edu.au website

Curtin University is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for our students, staff and visitors with a disability. This page provides information about accessing information on the Curtin website by using assistive technologies inbuilt into the browser or operating system you are using, or available for download or purchase.

The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan details Curtin's strategies to equitable access to our programs, services and facilities.

sample image of website

Using your browser

Magnify using keyboard commands

  • Windows XP: Control+ (plus key)
  • Apple OSX: Command+ (plus key)

Invert screen colours using keyboard commands

  • Windows XP: Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen
  • Apple OSX: Control + Option + Command + 8

Using a screen reader

Activate a screen reader built into your computer's operating system

  • Windows XP - Narrator (built into accessories).
    To turn on: Start menu / programs / accessories / accessibility / narrator OR Windows key + U

  • Apple OSX - Voiceover (built into utilities). Note: Voiceover works on Safari only. Global dropdown submenus don't read.
    To turn on: Command(Apple key) + F5
    To set preferences: System Preferences / Universal Access

Using Browsealoud

The Curtin website has been enabled for use with Browsealoud. Browsealoud is a free program that provides a wide range of features to make browsing the Curtin website easier.

Visit http://www.browsealoud.com/ to download the Browsealoud toolbar for Windows and Mac (works on Safari only).

Note: Browsealoud version 6 supports Adobe Acrobat Reader 9 and above for reading PDF files. Download the latest version of adobe reader from the Adobe website

Other assistive technologies

The Assistive Technology Room on Level 3 of the Curtin library is available to registered students referred by Curtin's Disability Counsellor.
Contact details for the Assistive Technology room are available from the Curtin library website

Screenreaders to assist people with disabilities browsing the Internet on their home computer, are available from various software developers. Whatever the disability there are a wide range of alternative approaches other than traditional mouse-and-screen-based browsers. Some of the more popular options are listed below.

Assistive technology examples

Jaws Screenreader Jaws screen raeder

(PC based) from Freedom Scientific (http://www.freedomscientific.com)
The most popular screen reader worldwide, JAWS® for Windows works with your PC to provide access to today's software applications and the Internet.

textHelp Screenreader texthelp

(PC based) from Texthelp (http://www.texthelp.com)
ScreenReader is a user-friendly tool bar that allows your PC to read text in any Windows-based application. You can have your email, Web pages, or documents read aloud to you, even listen to confirm numbers being typed into a spreadsheet. The full version of the program includes many voices.

OutSPOKENOutspoken

(PC and Macintosh systems supported) from Alva Access Group (http://www.aagi.com)
The recipient of the prestigious Smithsonian award, OSM allows blind and visually impaired people to use both PCs and the Macintosh computer (Mac OS 9.2).

March

Window-Eyes | Brail Sense |Small-Talk Ultra | Portable Senseviewwindow eyes

(PC based) from GWMicro (http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes)
Since 1990, GW Micro has listened to screen-reader users and incorporated many of their suggestions into one powerful product: Window-Eyes. The result? A wide variety of speech features and the flexibility needed for running many of today's most advanced Windows applications.

Further links can be found on Vision Australia’s website