Hello Lindsay,

You have a couple of options in this regard.  You can accomplish your goal
very inexpensively with self adhesive key cap covers that are available
through a variety of mail order companies.  These key cap covers are sticky
on the back and can be attached to any standard keyboard.  You can purchase
than with a white background and black lettering or a black background and
white lettering.  These seem to work very well for many people with low
vision.

You can also purchase a large print keyboard.  They tend to be very costly
and some of them do not have the standard keyboard layout.  I have found
that this can be confusing to people who are use to using a computer
keyboard.  It can also be confusing to beginners, because it looks
"different" than other keyboards.

I am the Administrator of Outreach Services and a library system in New
York.  I have been providing assistive technology demonstrations for about 9
years and I am legally blind.  I have seen the inexpensive method work
rather well.

The catalogs to check out are available from:

LS&S GROUP (800) 468-4789

ILA (INDEPENDENT LIVING AIDS) (800) 537-2118

You can call and request a catalog or they can probably give you info over
the phone.

One of the large print keyboard companies that I am familiar with is:

DATA CAL (KEYBOARD ENHANCEMENTS)
(800) 453-7937

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Valerie Lewis
Administrator of Outreach Services
Long Island Talking Book Library
Suffolk Cooperative Library System
[log in to unmask]
(631) 286-1600, x1365
-----Original Message-----
From: Library Access -- http://www.rit.edu/~easi
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Lindsay-Erin Beatty
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 9:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Large Print Keyboards


Hi everyone,

It's capital budget request time here at our library, and I was
wondering if anyone would care to comment and/or offer advice on the
best kind of large print keyboard to purchase. I am interested in
finding one that is of particular use to individuals who have contrast
issues and/or low vision.  At this point in time, our library is just
beginning to develop its services for patrons with special needs, and
any information you could provide would be very gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance.

Lindsay-Erin Beatty