There are several helpful tools within each window's system that helps students with disabilities to have technology make their work easier. Three of the tools that I researched included, Onscreen Keyboard, Magnifier, and blocking of background images.
The Onscreen Keyboard is an interesting tool that allows for a student who may not have all the movement within their fingers to use their mouse and type what they want to say into the keyboard shown on their screen. This tool could be extremely helpful for students with physical disabilities that may not be able to push buttons or move all of their fingers. I believe that this tool would also be useful within my classroom because I plan on teaching very young children who may not understand or know how to type yet. Those students that may not be as strong with their typing skills, by using this tool will still be able to participate in typing activities without being left behind. This being said it is also important to teach those children how to type, but this allows them to finish projects quicker and remain on course with the rest of the class.
The ability to block the backgrounds on a screen would be extremely helpful for students with ADD or ADHD. These students have difficulties concentrating on one task at a time. This tool will allow for students to limit the amount of visual stimuli the encounter while on the computer. By limiting the amount of information that distracts them they will concentrate more on the tasks they are assigned and less on their backgrounds. I would also use this within my classroom as a means to make my entire class concentrate. Young children usually cannot sit still as long as older children and they get distracted easier. This will help me control the amount of distractions my students encounter on their computers.
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