Accessibility for People with Disabilities
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 will reach end of support on April 11, 2017. To stay supported, you will need to upgrade. For more information, see Resources to help you upgrade your Office 2007 servers and clients.
Applies to: Exchange Server 2007, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP3
Microsoft is committed to making its products and services easier for everyone to use. The following sections provide information about the features, products, and services that make Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 more accessible for people with disabilities.
Accessibility Features of Exchange 2007
In addition to accessibility features and utilities in Microsoft Windows, the following features make Exchange 2007 more accessible for people with disabilities:
Keyboard shortcuts
Microsoft Outlook Web Access Light
Outlook Voice Access
Some accessibility features of Windows also provide benefit to Exchange users with disabilities. Microsoft Management Console (MMC) keyboard shortcuts provide accessibility options when using the Exchange Management Console. Windows PowerShell size and color changes provide accessibility options when using the Exchange Management Shell. For more information about using keyboard shortcuts in MMC, see Accessibility for MMC. For more information about Windows PowerShell accessibility options, see Customizing the Windows PowerShell Console.
Note
The information in this section applies only to users who license Microsoft products in the United States. If you obtained this product outside of the United States, you can use the subsidiary information card that came with your software package or visit Microsoft Accessibility for a list of telephone numbers and addresses for Microsoft support services. You can contact your subsidiary to find out whether the type of products and services described in this section are available in your area. Information about accessibility is available in other languages, including Japanese and French.
Keyboard Shortcuts
By using keyboard shortcuts in the Exchange Management Console, you can quickly accomplish the following common tasks.
| To do this | Use this keyboard shortcut |
|---|---|
Switch cursor between the console tree, elements in the result pane, the divider between the result pane and the work pane, elements in the work pane, and the action pane |
TAB |
Switch between File, Action, View, and Help menus |
ALT + underlined letter of the menu |
Select actions in the action pane and on the Action menu |
ALT + A |
Switch between elements on each page of a wizard |
TAB |
Outlook Web Access Light
Outlook Web Access Light is one of two versions of Outlook Web Access. Outlook Web Access Light supports accessibility features for users who are blind, have low vision, or need to use larger than normal fonts. It runs on most Web browsers. It provides a simplified user interface and reduced feature set compared with Outlook Web Access Premium. If you are running Outlook Web Access Light on a Windows operating system and are using at least Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5, Outlook Web Access Light is optimized for screen reader software so that a screen reader can efficiently read the elements on the screen to blind users. Outlook Web Access Light has improvements for users with low vision who view it in high contrast. Outlook Web Access Light also has an improved user interface for using very large fonts.
For more information about Outlook Web Access Light, see the following Exchange Server Team Blog articles:
Note
The content of each blog and its URL are subject to change without notice. The content within each blog is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. Use of included script samples or code is subject to the terms specified in the Microsoft Terms of Use.
Outlook Voice Access
Outlook Voice Access provides blind and low-vision users another way to access their e-mail and calendar. Outlook Voice Access allows Unified Messaging-enabled users to retrieve e-mail messages from their Exchange 2007 mailbox by using an analog, digital, or cellular telephone. They can then interact with their mailbox by using touchtone or voice commands. They can read e-mail, listen to voice messages, interact with their Microsoft Office Outlook calendar, access their personal contacts, and manage personal options, for example, configuring their Outlook Voice Access PIN or recording their voice mail recordings. For more information about using Outlook Voice Access, see Outlook Voice Access Quick Start Guide.
Accessibility Features of Exchange 2007 Help
Exchange 2007 Help includes features that make it accessible to a wider range of users, including those who have limited dexterity, low vision, or other disabilities.
In addition, Exchange 2007 Help is available on the Web at the Microsoft Exchange Server TechCenter.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Using the Help Window
By using the following keyboard shortcuts in Help, you can quickly accomplish many common tasks.
| To do this | Use this keyboard shortcut or function key |
|---|---|
Display the Help window. |
F1 |
Switch the cursor between the Help topic pane and the navigation pane (tabs such as Contents, Search, and Index). |
F6 |
Change between tabs (for example, Contents, Search, and Index) while in the navigation pane. |
ALT + underlined letter of the tab |
Select the next hidden text or hyperlink. |
TAB |
Select the previous hidden text or hyperlink. |
SHIFT+TAB |
Perform the action for the selected Show All, Hide All, hidden text, or hyperlink. |
ENTER |
Display the Options menu to access any Help toolbar command. |
ALT+O |
Hide or show the pane containing the Contents, Search, and Index tabs. |
ALT+O, and then press T |
Display the previously viewed topic. |
ALT+O, and then press B |
Display the next topic in a previously displayed sequence of topics. |
ALT+O, and then press F |
Return to the specified home page. |
ALT+O, and then press H |
Stop the Help window from opening a Help topic (useful if you want to stop a Web page from downloading). |
ALT+O, and then press S |
Open the Internet Options dialog box for Microsoft Internet Explorer, where you can change accessibility settings. |
ALT+O, and then press I |
Refresh the topic (useful if you have linked to a Web page). |
ALT+O, and then press R |
Print all topics in a book or a selected topic only. |
ALT+O, and then press P |
Close the Help window. |
ALT+F4 |
Finding Help Topics About Accessibility Features
To use the keyboard to navigate to Help topics about accessibility features
Select the Contents tab.
Expand Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Expand Getting Started. Select Accessibility for People with Disabilities.
Changing the Appearance of Help Topics
To change the appearance of a Help topic
To customize the colors, font styles, and font sizes used in Help, open the Help window.
Click Options, and then click Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Accessibility. Select Ignore colors specified on Web pages, Ignore font styles specified on Web pages, and Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages. You also can choose to use the settings specified in your own style sheet.
To change the color of the background or text in Help
Open the Help window.
Click Options, and then click Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Accessibility. Then select Ignore colors specified on Web pages. You also can choose to use the settings specified in your own style sheet.
To customize the colors used in Help, on the General tab, click Colors. Clear the Use Windows Colors check box, and then select the font and background colors that you want to use.
Note
If you change the background color of the Help topics in the Help window, the change also affects the background color when you view a Web page in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
To change the font in Help
Open the Help window.
Click Options, and then click Internet Options.
On the General tab, click Accessibility. To use the same settings as those used in your instance of Microsoft Internet Explorer, select Ignore font styles specified on Web pages and Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages. You also can choose to use the settings specified in your own style sheet.
To customize the font style used in Help, on the General tab, click Fonts, and then click the font style you want.
Note
If you change the font of the Help topics in the Help window, the change also affects the font when you view a Web page in Internet Explorer.
Alternate Text for Figures
Every figure in Exchange 2007 Help, including screenshots, diagrams, flow charts, and other figures, has associate alternate text. Users who have difficulty viewing figures can pause the cursor on the figure to read the alternate text. The alternate text describes what is illustrated in the figure.
Accessibility Products and Services from Microsoft
The following sections provide information about the features, products, and services that make Microsoft Windows more accessible for people with disabilities.
Note
The information in this section may apply only to users who license Microsoft products in the United States. If you obtained this product outside of the United States, you can use the subsidiary information card that came with your software package or visit Microsoft Accessibility for a list of Microsoft support service telephone numbers and addresses. You can contact your subsidiary to find out whether the type of products and services described in this section are available in your area. Information about accessibility is available in other languages, including Japanese and French.
Accessibility Features of Windows
The Windows operating system has many built-in accessibility features that are useful for individuals who have difficulty typing or using a mouse, are blind or have low vision, or who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The features are installed during Setup. For more information about these features, see Help in Windows and Microsoft Accessibility.
Free Step-by-Step Tutorials
Microsoft offers a series of step-by-step tutorials that provide detailed procedures for adjusting the accessibility options and settings on your computer. This information is presented in a side-by-side format so that you can learn how to use the mouse, the keyboard, or a combination of both.
To find step-by-step tutorials for Microsoft products, see Microsoft Accessibility.
Assistive Technology Products for Windows
A wide variety of assistive technology products are available to make computers easier to use for people with disabilities. You can search a catalog of assistive technology products that run on Windows at Microsoft Accessibility.
If you use assistive technology, be sure to contact your assistive technology vendor before you upgrade your software or hardware to check for possible compatibility issues.
Documentation in Alternative Formats
If you have difficulty reading or handling printed materials, you can obtain the documentation for many Microsoft products in more accessible formats. You can obtain an index of accessible product documentation at Microsoft Accessibility.
In addition, you can obtain additional Microsoft publications from Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, Inc (RFB&D). RFB&D distributes these documents to registered, eligible members of their distribution service. For information about the availability of Microsoft product documentation and books from Microsoft Press, contact the following business.
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, Inc. 20 Roszel Road Princeton, NJ 08540 Telephone number from within the United States: (800) 221-4792 Telephone number from outside the United States and Canada: (609) 452-0606 Fax: (609) 987-8116 Web site: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic Note The third-party Web site information in this topic is provided to help you find the technical information you need. The URLs are subject to change without notice. |
Customer Service for People with Hearing Impairments
If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, complete access to Microsoft product and customer services is available through a text telephone (TTY/TDD) service:
For customer service, contact Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 892-5234 between 6:30 A.M. and 5:30 P.M. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
For technical assistance in the United States, contact Microsoft Product Support Services at (800) 892-5234 between 6:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. In Canada, dial (905) 568-9641 between 8:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Microsoft Support Services are subject to the prices, terms, and conditions in place at the time the service is used.
For More Information
For more information about how accessible technology for computers helps to improve the lives of people with disabilities, see Microsoft Accessibility.