Accessibility

Thanks so much to Jessica Grauds, Apple Initiatives: Accessibility & Learning ANZ & South Asia for sharing her gem list!!
Tutorial on built in accessibility options: http://www.imore.com  
How to turn on setting Larger Text Type

Main Accessibility Features
1) VoiceOver - With VoiceOver, immediate access to a full-featured screen reader is provided from the moment you turn on your computer, iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. This allows visually impaired people the opportunity to use technology on their own in a way that is comparable to their sighted counterparts, driving self-confidence, empowerment, and access to digital learning. http://www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/voiceover/

2) Speak Selection and Speak Screen - If you have a hard time reading the text on your iOS device, use Speak Screen to read your email, iMessages, web pages, and books to you. Turn on Speak Screen and swipe down from the top with two fingers, or just tell Siri to Speak Screen and have all the content of the page read back to you. You can adjust the voice’s dialect and speaking rate, and have words highlighted as they’re being read: Settings/ General/ Accessibility/ Speech

3) Dictation - Dictation lets you talk where you would type. So you can reply to an email, search the web, or write a report using just your voice. Navigate to any text field, activate Dictation, then say what you want to write. Dictation converts your words into text. For iOS, dictation can only occur when connected to the internet.  On the Mac, you can also have Enhanced Dictation, which is offline dictation. Dictation is great for individuals with print disabilities. 

4) Zoom - Zoom is a built-in magnifier that works wherever you are in iOS, from Mail and Safari to the Home and Lock screens. And it works with all apps from the App Store. Turn Zoom on for full screen or picture in picture mode, allowing you to see the zoomed area in a separate window while keeping the rest of the screen at its native size. You can adjust the magnification between 100 and 1,500 percent and access multiple filter options in either mode. While you’re zoomed in, you can still use all of the familiar gestures to navigate your device. And Zoom works with VoiceOver, so you can better see — and hear — what’s happening on your screen.

5) Large Text - In iOS,  you can activate Larger Dynamic Type, and the text inside Calendar, Contacts, Mail, Messages, Notes, and even some third party apps, is converted to a larger, easier-to-read size. And you can choose bold text to make the text heavier across a range of built-in applications. 

6) Invert Colours - If a higher contrast helps you better see what’s on your display, iOS lets you invert the colors onscreen. Once you set your colors, the settings apply systemwide, even to video, so you get the same view no matter what you’re seeing. Don’t forget toggle option available with Triple Click Home. 

7) Closed Captions - Watch movies, TV shows, and podcasts with closed captions. Captions appear onscreen in easy-to-read white type on a black background. Just look for the CC icon to buy or rent captioned movies from the iTunes Store or find captioned podcasts in iTunes U. Download straight to your iOS device to watch on the go. iOS also supports open captions and subtitles. Supporting document on finding closed caption movies on the iTunes store. A must watch video when learning how to quickly caption your movies is Luis Perez's video 'Adding closed captioned video in iBooks Author.' It is part of the iTunes U course on 'Creating Inclusive Learning Environments."
Software Required
Synchrimedia's MovieCaptioner http://www.synchrimedia.com
Compressor to attach Closed Captions to your movie.

8) Mono Audio - When you’re using headphones, you may miss some audio if you’re deaf or hard of hearing in one ear. That’s because stereo recordings usually have distinct left- and right-channel audio tracks. iOS can help by playing both audio channels in both ears, and letting you adjust the balance for greater volume in either ear, so you won’t miss a single note of a concerto or word of an audiobook.

9) AssistiveTouch - iOS devices are remarkably intuitive and easy to use. And AssistiveTouch lets you adapt the Multi-Touch screen of your iOS device to your unique physical needs. So if you have difficulty with some gestures, like pinch, you can make them accessible with just a tap of a finger. Or create a custom gesture. And if you have trouble pressing the Home button, you can activate it with an onscreen tap. Gestures like rotate and shake are available even when your iOS device is mounted on a wheelchair. And iOS devices also support a number of third-party assistive devices that help you interact with your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The following is a video tutorial taking you through AssistiveTouch in iOS 6. Soon to be updated to include new additions in iOS 7 and 8, but a good fundamental overview.

10) Guided Access - Guided Access helps people with autism or other attention and sensory challenges stay focused on the task (or app) at hand. With Guided Access, a parent, teacher, or therapist can limit an iOS device to stay on one app by disabling the Home button, and even restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen. So wandering taps and gestures won’t distract from learning. Guided Access also has a timer, so that a time limit can be set for use of the device or time in a particular app. Great for exam conditions or setting expectations on time use. 

11) Keyboard Shortcuts - If there’s a word or phrase you frequently use, create a customised shortcut — and iOS will type it out for you. For example, “appt” can expand to “appointment” or “cyl” to “Call you later”. Keyboard shortcuts make it easier and faster to type your name, email address, home address or any other text that you commonly type.

12) Switch Control - Built directly into iOS, Switch Control is a powerful new accessibility technology for anyone with impaired physical and motor skills. Switch Control allows you to navigate sequentially through onscreen items and perform specific actions using a variety of Bluetooth-enabled switch hardware. Point Scanning in SwitchControl allows access to apps that were previously inaccessible to students who are physically impaired.

13) Siri - Siri, Apple’s intelligent assistant on iOS, helps you do the things you do every day. All you have to do is ask. Say something like “Tell Jay I’m running late” or “Set an alarm for 30 minutes.” Siri can send messages, place phone calls, schedule meetings, and even turn on and off VoiceOver, Guided Access and Invert Colors. And because Siri is integrated with VoiceOver, you can ask what time it is and have the answer said out loud. If the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is plugged in to a power supply, you can say “Hey Siri” and active listening will respond to your query, all without touching the device. For more information on Siri and some of the commands: 

Luis Perez, Apple Distinguished Educator and Inclusive Technologies Consultant's website with videos and content on the use of Apple technology with an Accessibility focus. Highly recommended  blog on the iOS8 additions: http://luisperezonline.com. Luis has produced great video tutorials on YouTube covering many of the accessibility features. Guided Access allows you to lock the iPad or iPhone to one app only and set a time limit - Guided Access in iOS 8. SpeakScreen will have the device speak any content on the screen with a gesture -  SpeakScreen in iOS 8. Zoom allows magnification of the whole screen or selective parts of the screen - Zoom in iOS 8 

Christopher Hills, Accessibility Ambassador, has cerebral palsy and uses a switch to access his Apple products: http://www.youtube.com/user/icdhills/videos and Inclusion Inspires Innovation.

Jeanette Davies, Apple Distinguished Educator and Accessibility Ambassador: iPad Tips and Tricks, with a focus on accessibility and Dyslexia iBooks is a great reference books covering how to support diverse learners, with information on the supporting content ecosystem. 

VoiceOver
David Woodbridge, Vision Australia’s Senior Adaptive Technology Consultant, and an Accessibility Ambassador has created the iSee - Apple Products from a Blind Perspective resource designed to help blind and low vision users activate and maximise the assistive technologies built into iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod and Apple TV. [Dropbox Link for iSee in Word format for those who may not have iBooks. David Woodbridge also creates comprehensive audio tutorials on the use of Apple technology from a blind perspective: Podcasts - http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com Podcasts on iTunes.
YouTube Channel Twitter: @dwoodbridge 

Autism and Learning Difficulties
Craig Smith, Coordinator and Aspect Practice Specialist, Aspect Autism Australia, an Apple Distinguished Educator and Accessibility Ambassador has created: Reaching All Learners: Utilising Student Interests to Empower Accessibility, The Digital Organic - Using iPad in the Garden and the iPad Model Classroom https://itun.es/au/1hle5.n; Podcast - Autism Pedagogy; Website -  http://autismpedagogy.squarespace.com; Twitter: @wrenasmir

Inclusive Learning Environments
Creating Inclusive Learning Environments - iTunes U course created by Apple Distinguished Educator's, this course covers how to access Apple's built in accessibility features and leverage the Apple ecosystem to create truly inclusive environments for all.

Hearing

Hearing Accessibility on iOS: If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can communicate in a variety of  ways with iOS features like FaceTime video calling and unlimited texting. And assistive technologies such as closed captions and mono audio help you enjoy your content.

Use Made for iPhone hearing aids - explains how to pair hearing aids and provides an overview on the features available.

Support articles that provide additional information on Made for iPhone hearing aids, and how to troubleshoot connection issues - If your Made for iPhone hearing aid doesn't connect.
Use Live Listen with Made for iPhone hearing aids - provides in depth information on how Live Listen works and troubleshooting if you do not have the Live Listen option available. 
Also, the HAC article has been updated for iOS 8 and the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: About Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) requirements for iPhone

Quicktime Screen Recording in Yosemite
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