Apple's Mac computers are well-known for their user-friendly design, and part of that appeal is the robust set of accessibility features they offer. These features are designed to make the Mac experience more inclusive and assist users with various needs. This guide will walk you through the main accessibility settings on a Mac and how to use them to make your experience of Shift more accessible!

Accessing Accessibility Settings

To access the accessibility settings on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple Menu, located in the top-left corner of your screen
2. Select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions): This will open the main settings panel
3. Choose "Accessibility": You’ll find this option in the sidebar, marked by an icon of a human figure inside a circle

Once inside the Accessibility panel, you'll find various categories designed to support users with vision, hearing, mobility, and speech needs.

Vision

MacOS includes accessibility features that make seeing what’s on the screen easier. You can also have your Mac speak what’s on the screen. Here’s how to access the Voice accessibility features:

VoiceOver: This screen reader reads aloud text on the screen and provides spoken descriptions of what is happening. To enable VoiceOver:

1.    Open Accessibility settings
2.    Select "VoiceOver"
3.    Check the box to enable it, or press Command + F5 to turn it on/off

Learn more about VoiceOver. 

Zoom: This feature magnifies the screen to see more detail. You can zoom in on the entire screen or a specific area.

1. Go to the "Zoom" section
2. Toggle "Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom" or "Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom"
3. Customize the zoom style and other settings according to your preferences

Learn more about Zoom features.

Display: Adjust your display settings to make content easier to read.

1. Under "Display," you can increase the contrast, reduce motion, or invert colours
2. You can also use "Colour Filters" for specific visual needs, like colour blindness

Learn more about Display.

Speak Selection: This feature reads the selected text aloud when triggered.

1. Go to "Spoken Content" under Vision
2. Toggle on "Speak selection" and adjust the voice, speaking rate, and other settings

Learn more about Spoken Content features.

Hearing

MacOS includes accessibility features to show and customize captions on the screen, make and receive Real-Time Text (RTT) calls, and more. Here’s how to access the Hearing accessibility features:

Audio: Customize audio settings for users with hearing impairments.

1. Go to the "Audio" section
2. Combining both stereo channels, you can enable "Mono Audio" if hearing is better in one ear
3. Flash the screen when an alert sound occurs by enabling "Flash the screen"

Learn more about Audio settings.

Captions: Enable and customize captions for media playback.

1. Select "Captions"
2. You can turn on closed captions and subtitles and adjust their appearance to suit your needs

Learn more about Captions.

Mobility

MacOS includes accessibility features that let you navigate and interact with your Mac using spoken commands, an onscreen keyboard, assistive devices, and other alternative methods for controlling the pointer. You can also set options so it’s easier to use a mouse or trackpad. Here’s how to access the Mobility accessibility features:

Keyboard: Adjust the keyboard settings to make typing easier.

1. Under "Keyboard," you can enable "Sticky Keys" to press keys sequentially instead of simultaneously
2. Use "Slow Keys" to adjust the time between when a key is pressed and activated

Learn more about Keyboard settings for accessibility.

Pointer Control: Customize the mouse and trackpad settings for ease of use.

1. Go to "Pointer Control"
2. Adjust the pointer speed, enable Mouse Keys to control the pointer using the keyboard, and fine-tune the double-click speed

Learn more about the Pointer Control feature.

Switch Control: This feature allows users to navigate the Mac using one or more switches.

1. Go to "Switch Control"
2. Enable the feature and customize the panel editor to fit your needs

Learn more about Switch Control.

Hopefully, you find the right combination of settings to enhance your experience of Shift! Don't hesitate to contact our Customer Support team if you have questions or feedback about accessibility and Shift.