What Is Active Accessibility?

[This is preliminary documentation and subject to change.]

Accessibility for people with disabilities (or, simply, "accessibility") refers to software features that enable these users to efficiently use computer applications. Typically, helper applications (called "accessibility aids") or the Microsoft® Windows® operating system provide these features.

Accessibility aids generally perform the following main tasks.

• Screen reading. These tools for the blind provide audio interpretations of text and other visual elements on the screen.
• Screen magnification. These tools allow people with low vision to adequately see on-screen information.
• Input enhancement. These hardware and software tools support users with limited dexterity, enabling them to use different keyboard driver software or different input devices altogether.

Active Accessibility is the umbrella name for the architecture and interface standards that support the integration of accessibility tools with accessibility-aware applications. This subject is quite broad, because there are many forms of disability and many possible application tools intended to assist users with those disabilities.

Active Accessibility provides the fundamental accessibility infrastructure and defines integration standards providing the most value with the least impact on supporting applications.

This technology targets mainstream software developers, accessibility aid vendors, and other interested persons. This document assumes a moderate to high level of knowledge in Microsoft Windows software development. For more information, see Where to Find More Information.