Accessibility

PebblePad offers a customisable interface which aims to suit the individual needs of all users. Features include customisable text size, font style, background colours, as well as logical tab ordering, alternative text for all images, and keyboard navigation, which is available throughout the system.

In addition to these elements, a self voicing feature is now available, which uses the latest in Text-To-Speech technology. Information about this and other accessibility features in PebblePad is available in a document entitled 'Accessible PebblePad' and from the Pebble Learning website at: http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/accessibility.asp

To initiate use of the self voicing feature in PebblePad go to 'my settings' in the tools menu and select the preferences tab. At the bottom of the general preferences list you will find an option for 'avatar self voicing'. Selecting the radio button beside this will turn this feature on.

Self voicing avatar

The avatar will read out the text in all of the Flash components of PebblePad, including text inputted by the user. Non-Flash components (e.g. web forms and written help) are read out by the user's own screen reading software. A number of voices are programmed into the inbuilt screen reader to suit individual preferences. The avatar works in conjunction with Jaws version 8.2 and Windows Eyes version 6.1 and to ensure complete compatibility between the inbuilt screen reader avatar and Jaws or Windows Eyes, it is recommended that Internet Explorer 7 is the browser to use.

Further details on how to use these features, including key functions shortcuts, is available in the online help within PebblePad: http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/help/2.1.0/Accessibility.htm