Digital Student Accessibility
01
Language Access
Language access interventions “include translation of written materials and provision of interpreters for oral communication” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016, p. 12).
02
Vision Support
Accommodations and services (amplification, interpretation, instruction adjustment) for students with hearing impairment. According to IDEA, a hearing impairment adversely affecting a child’s educational performance qualifies for hearing support services (IDEA, as cited in Special Education Guide, n.d.).
03
Hearing Support
Hearing support refers to a range of accommodations—such as early identification, aural rehabilitation, assistive hearing technologies, and inclusive teaching practices—that enable students with hearing loss to fully participate in and benefit from educational settings. Early intervention is essential to minimize academic delays associated with hearing loss (Bess et al., 1999), and aural rehabilitation remains a cornerstone in facilitating functional communication (Wikipedia, 2024).
04
Cognitive/Attention
Cognitive or academic support involves instructional strategies and supplemental interventions—such as explicit cognitive strategy instruction, scaffolding, and metacognitive training—that aim to enhance students’ cognitive processes (e.g., working memory, executive function) associated with learning and academic achievement.Academic achievement and cognitive ability mutually reinforce one another, with instruction playing a key role in both (Peng & Kievit, 2020). Cognitive load theory underscores the importance of designing instruction that aligns with memory constraints to optimize learning (Sweller, van Merriënboer, & Paas, 1998; Educational Psychology, 2025).
Resources…
Bilingual Resources
Chromebook: How-to-Access:
On- Screen Keyboard w/h Multi-Language Input
Add Languages and Keyboard Layouts
Keyboard and Language Settings
Chromebook and Keyboard and Language Settings
Dictation:
Vision Support
Students can access vision accommodations via their Chromebook.
Vision:
General overview of accessibility features:
- Making Chromebooks accessible for people with disabilities”: This Google resource page includes videos and information on various Chromebook accessibility features.
- “Chromebook Basics for Students with Low Vision”
- Turn on Chromebook accessibility features – Google Help”: This Google Help page provides step-by-step instructions and likely includes videos or links to videos on turning on accessibility features.
Vision Support Continued….
Specific vision features:
Screen Magnifier (Full Screen and Docked): How to Turn On or Turn Off Screen Magnifier on Chromebook”: Demonstrates how to enable/disable the screen magnifier.
“Vision Supports on a Chromebook | Accessibility Tools”: This video also includes a demonstration of using the screen magnifier.
- “Chromebook’s Low Vision Accessibility Features Demonstration”: Shows the docked magnifier in action.
- “1 Zoom and Magnification – Chromebook Accessibility 2025”: Illustrates different ways to use the full-screen magnifier.
- “Screen Magnifier on a Chromebook”: Details different options for customizing the screen magnifier.
ChromeVox (Screen Reader):
“Using ChromeVox on your Chromebook: Fundamentals”: Explains how to turn ChromeVox on/off and covers basic usage.
“Chromevox Made Easy”: Offers a simplified explanation of ChromeVox navigation.
“ChromeVox: From Basics to Mastery in 6 weeks!”: A comprehensive course on using ChromeVox.
High Contrast Mode:
“How to Use High Contrast Mode on a Chromebook”: Demonstrates the high contrast mode and its effects.
- “High-Contrast mode in Gmail and Chromebook”: Shows how to enable high contrast mode and adjust related settings.
- “Chrome – High Contrast Video”: A brief video illustrating the high contrast feature.
Dictation (Voice Typing):
“How To Use Voice Typing On A Chromebook 2024”: Explains how to enable and use dictation.
Other features: You can find videos demonstrating other features like the on-screen keyboard, cursor settings, and font size adjustment by using specific search terms (e.g., “Chromebook on-screen keyboard tutorial”).
Still seeking further clarification?
Struggling to find the solutions you’re seeking? Let’s engage in a conversation.
Support Hearing
General accessibility features:
“Making Chromebooks accessible for people with disabilities”
“Turn on Chromebook accessibility features”
“Use accessibility features in Chromebook – Google Help”
Specific hearing features:
Customizing caption styles: “Use captions on your Chromebook – Google Help”
Enabling Live Caption: “How to use Live Caption”, “Enable Live Caption in Google Chrome”
Turning on Mono Audio: “How to use Mono Audio – YouTube”, “How To Turn Mono Audio On/Off On Chromebook – YouTube”, “Turn on Mono Audio Chromebook”
Adjusting volume and managing audio devices: “1-Minute Tech Tip- Chromebook Audio Settings”, “How to Adjust Audio Settings on a Chromebook – Tiger Tech …”, “Chromebook Tips: Adjusting Audio – GCA Student & Family Help Center”
Connecting Bluetooth devices (e.g., headphones, hearing aids): “How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to Chromebook”, “Pairing Phonak Sky M hearing aids to a Chromebook”, “Connect Chromebook to Bluetooth devices – Google Help”
Connecting Bluetooth devices (e.g., headphones, hearing aids): “How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to Chromebook”, “Pairing Phonak Sky M hearing aids to a Chromebook”, “Connect Chromebook to Bluetooth devices – Google Help”
The Intent…..
The summer of 2025 a survey was sent to nine teachers to gain feedback on what they used in the classroom and what accessibility tools they were knowledgeable about. You may click to look at the responses of survey. I received 2 responses. Based on responses teachers needed more access to resources for students that are multiple language learners. Teachers were not knowledgeable regarding all tools that they could access without IT assistance. The last issue that I noticed is they were only two resources used the most for students with disabilities and many times we are not knowledgeable enough to inform IT what tools need to be implemented for some of the population of students with disabilities. On this site teachers have how to guides and videos to help students with multiple languages access accommodations via their Chromebook. Teachers now can look up tools for students with disabilities such as vision or hearing impairment and make sure students have the right accessibility tools. Teachers now can educate themselves on the different tools. It is my recommendation for the school to have a one spot hub with information regarding different tools teachers can access without IT help. A streamline process to have students with disabilities have access at the beginning of school year that needs IT help. most times teachers just receive modifications and accommodations but not necessarily specific to technology use.
Join us in gathering information regarding accessibility in the classroom.
Source: SafeSitter
Digital Spot © 2025 by Rachel Wilson is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
