Keyboards Galore and More!

Another way to adapt the computer for easy accessibility would be through the use Adaptive  of Adaptive Keyboards. There are many different types of Adaptive Keyboards:

Expanded Keyboards which are over-sized and have more surface area than your typical QWERTY keyboard. These keyboards are typically used for students who need fine motor supports, such as students who have Cerebral Palsy,

Mini-Keyboards are much smaller than the typical keyboard and are used for students who have a limited range of motion or can only use one hand for typing. These keyboards also look like the typical QWERTY keyboard, therefore don't look different than their typical peers. 

One-handed Keyboards are for students who only have a good range of motion and dexterity in one hand. It looks just like a standard keyboard and can be used for both right and left handed users. Students using this type of keyboard would have good targeting skills and would also have a limited range of motion.

On-screen Keyboards emulate a keyboard on the computer screen monitor. Students who cannot operate a traditional keyboard, or physical keyboard of  any kind would benefit from this type. Also students who struggle to refocus their attention from keyboard to screen, are able to be more efficient since they don't have to divert their attention from the screen. 


Below is a table that describes the attributes for all of the different types of Adaptive Keyboards mentioned above.

 

Reference:

Dell, A., Newton, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive Technology in the Classroom. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.