Microsoft Accessibility: Built-in Features to Support Diverse Needs 

Summary 

Windows systems and applications are designed to be versatile and easy to use for everyone. Microsoft aims to support users with disabilities, different working styles, or personal preferences by offering a wide range of built-in accessibility features across its products — all free to use. 

 
This article provides a brief overview of these tools and includes helpful links to Microsoft’s official resources, where you can explore each feature in more detail. 

Windows Accessibility  

For the purposes of this article, features are grouped into the six categories below. While these tools are designed to support specific needs, they may also be helpful to anyone looking to make their experience more comfortable and efficient. 

Each section includes a link to Microsoft's official support page with a full list of features and additional guidance. 

Features designed to support users who are blind, have low vision, or experience visual disabilities such as colour blindness. 

Tools to assist users who are deaf or hard of hearing, including visual cues and captioning support. 

Tools designed to support users with cognitive differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or other neurodiverse conditions. These features help make content more accessible and engaging. 

Features aimed at improving focus, comprehension, reading, and writing. These tools support users who benefit from assistance with learning tasks. 

Supportive tools for users with limited reach, strength, or mobility. These features are designed to improve ease of use for those with physical disabilities or dexterity challenges. 

Accessibility tools that can help support focus, reading, and attention for users with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder. 

Additional Resources 

See links to additional resources below: 

Discover Windows accessibility features - Microsoft Support – an overview of accessibility features. 

Disability Answer Desk Support | Microsoft Accessibility – where customers can get support and information directly from Microsoft about their products, including teams, Microsoft 365 and more.  

https://www.youtube.com/user/MSFTEnable - Microsoft accessibility videos on YouTube (in case text isn’t your thing) 

FAQ’S 

Q: Do I need to download anything to use these features? 

A: Most accessibility tools are already built into Windows and Microsoft 365. You can access them through your system settings without needing to install anything extra. 

Q: Where can I find Accessibility settings on my PC? 

A: Go to Start > Settings > Accessibility (or type "Accessibility" in the Start menu search bar). From there, you can explore and turn on the tools that best suit your needs. 

Q: Can these tools be used by people without a disability? 

A: Absolutely. Many tools, like Focus Assist or Read Aloud, can help with concentration, comfort, and productivity, no diagnosis needed. 

Q: Are these features available on older versions of Windows? 

A: Some features may be available on earlier versions like Windows 10, but the full accessibility experience is optimized in Windows 11. 

Revision History 


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