Chrome Accessibility

In an age where almost everything can be accomplished online, from paying bills to refilling medications, optimal browser functionality is in high demand. Several bells and whistles have been created as add-ons and extensions for Chrome to add even more usability to an extremely functional tool.

The use of the internet is present in our everyday lives and necessary to accomplish even the most mundane of tasks. Because internet browsing needs to be accessible to everyone, The Chrome browser supports screen readers and magnifiers and offers people with low vision full-page zoom and high-contrast color, as well as keyboard functions in place of click functions. These settings help provide an accessible user experience for those living with disabilities.

How to find and add accessibility extensions

There are several accessibility extensions for the Chrome browser. To find specific extensions that will make Chrome more accessible for a given disability or impairment, the Chrome Web Store can be explored by searching for “accessibility.”

When the desired extension is found, it can easily be added to the Chrome browser by taking the following steps:

• In the Web Store, select the desired extension

  • At the top right of the screen, click the “Add to Chrome” button

    • When prompted, confirm the download by clicking “Add extension”

      • Once the extension has been successfully added, an icon for the extension will appear on the top right of the address bar in the browser. 

Speechify

One example of a Chrome extension to assist with accessibility issues is the Speechify extension. Speechify is the #1 rated text-to-speech app that will read any text including web page content, PDFs, textbooks, and much more. 

Text-to-speech softwares, such as Speechify, can assist with screen reading which is a helpful tool for those with visual impairments, ADHD, or dyslexia. Speechify is compatible with Apple iOS, Chrome, and Android. Turn all online reading materials into speech with a TTS extension, such as Speechify.

To use the Speechify extension for Chrome, simply select the desired text and play it back in the Speechify extension. This functionality helps browse web content or social media, screenreading on web pages, or even proofread google docs or drafted emails before sending.

How to use Google’s accessibility extensions

Roughly 15% of the global population has some type of disability or impairment. Because of its large market base, google has taken big strides to make Chrome Browser and Chrome OS the top model of web accessibility. 

Navigate with your keyboard with Caret Browsing

Caret browsing allows the user to navigate web pages, select text, and click links with your keyboard instead of your mouse.

To turn on caret browsing in your Chrome browser, take the following steps:

• Open the Chrome browser on the computer

• Select the three vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the browser, below the close icon

• Select Settings

• Towards the bottom of the Settings list, click Accessibility.

• Turn on/off Navigate pages with a text cursor.

Adjust webpage colors with Color Enhancer

The Color Enhancer feature allows the user to adjust the color on webpages, such as removing specific colors to allow for ease of readability. 

To use the Color Enhancer extension, take the following steps:

• If the extension has not already been added to Chrome, do so using the Chrome Web Store.

  • Once the extension has been successfully added, an icon for the extension will appear on the top right of the address bar in the browser.

    • To turn on the extension, to the right of the address bar, click Color Enhancer.

      • Click Setup.

        • Choose the row of color combinations with the greatest level of color confusion.

          • Drag the slider to adjust the color picker and select the setting that allows the user to see as many stars as possible with the least amount of color distortion.

            • When the desired settings have been achieved, click OK.

Change or remove colors with High Contrast

The High Contrast extension allows the user to make reading text or seeing image details easier. The extension offers filters to adjust the color contrast on the page, invert black and white, or remove all colors. Settings may also be customized per website.

However, the most recent version of Chrome for Windows OS will adjust Chrome’s color settings automatically based on the settings of the computer. In addition, some pages cannot be adjusted such as the Chrome Web Store, New Tab page, and Chrome settings page.

To use the High Contrast extension, take the following steps:

• If the extension has not already been added to Chrome, do so using the Chrome Web Store.

  • Once the extension has been successfully added, an icon for the extension will appear on the top right of the address bar in the browser.

    • To turn on the extension, to the right of the address bar, click High Contrast.

      • To adjust the desired images and text on the page, click the High Contrast extension icon. Under “Color scheme for [site],” select the color scheme you want.

        • To turn off the extension, click High Contrast and then Disable.

        • You can also browse in Dark theme or Dark mode.

See long descriptions with Long Descriptions in Context Menu

With the Long Descriptions in Context Menu extension, an item can be added to the context menu. Once added, the user may right-click any element on the page and open its long description. The extension uses the “longdesc” and “aria-describedat” attributes in HTML, which are used by some assistive technologies.

To use the Long Descriptions in Context Menu extension, take the following steps:

• If the extension has not already been added to Chrome, do so using the Chrome Web Store.

  • Once the extension has been successfully added, an icon for the extension will appear on the top right of the address bar in the browser.

  • Right-click on any element on the page, and open its long description.

  • To help identify images that have a long description, add a color border:

    • To the right of the address bar, click Long Descriptions.

      • Click Options.

        • Next to “Add border to elements with aria-describedat or longdesc attributes,” check the box. Changes will automatically save.

          • Close the “Options” tab.

PEOPLE ALSO ASK

How do I enable Accessibility in Chrome?

To enable Accessibility settings in Chrome, take the following steps:

• Open the System menu ( the three vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the browser, below the close icon)

  • Click on the Settings button.

    • Select the Accessibility settings

      • Toggle on/off the desired settings

How to enable the Accessibility shortcut in Chrome OS

To enable the accessibility shortcut in Chrome OS, take the following steps:

• Open the System menu ( the three vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the browser, below the close icon)

  • Click on the Settings button.

    • Select the Accessibility settings.

      • Enable the Accessibility shortcut.

        • Use the accessibility shortcut.

          • Turn accessibility features on and off.

How do I turn off Accessibility in Chrome?

To turn off Accessibility settings in Chrome, take the following steps:

• Open the System menu ( the three vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the browser, below the close icon)

  • Click on the Settings button.

    • Select the Accessibility settings

      • Toggle on/off the desired settings

How do I disable the on-screen keyboard for Chromebook?

To disable the on-screen keyboard for ChromeBook, take the following steps:

• Click the Chrome settings menu (three dots in the upper right corner)

  • Click on settings.

    • Search for “accessibility” from the settings menu.

      • Open up the accessibility settings and look for “on-screen keyboard”

        • Slide the switch to disable the on-screen keyboard for Google Chrome.

How do I use Google Accessibility?

To enable Accessibility settings in Chrome, take the following steps:

• Open the System menu headings ( the three vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the browser, below the close icon)

  • Click on the Settings button.

    • Select the Accessibility settings

      • Toggle on/off the desired settings

What is the shortcut to take a screenshot on a Chromebook?

The good news is that taking a screenshot on a Chromebook is very easy. There are two main methods. The first is to press the “Ctrl” and “Window Switch” keys at the same time. This will take a screenshot of the entire screen and save it to your clipboard. The second method is to press the “Ctrl” and “Shift” keys at the same time, then press the “Window Switch” key. This will take a screenshot of just the active window and save it to your clipboard. Whichever method you choose, you can then paste the screenshot into an image editor or document.

Where is the Accessibility section on a Chromebook?

At the bottom right of the screen, select the time or use the keyboard shortcut Alt + Shift + s.

• Select Settings

  • Select Advanced

    • In the “Accessibility” section, select Manage accessibility features.

Does Chrome have a built-in screen reader?

The Chromebook has a screen reader called ChromeVox that can be accessed by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z. The Chrome browser extension for PC does not come with a screen reader but one, such as Speechify, can easily be downloaded from the Chrome Web Store. 

How do I open the Chrome screen reader?

The Chromebook has a screen reader called ChromeVox that can be accessed by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z.

To access a screen reader Chrome browser extension, select it from the top right of the browser bar.

What is the difference between a screen reader and a screen magnifier?

A screen reader will read the text found on the screen aloud to the user. A screen magnifier will magnify a certain part or the entire screen to allow for easier readability and enlarged details. 

What is a text equivalent?

A text equivalent, also known as alternative text or alt text, is a phrase or sentence that is written to associate with a particular image. The text usually describes the image’s visual appearance.

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