User Profile Options

In our last article we discussed the set up of different User Profiles on our computers. By setting up a User Profile for you and a seperate one for your child you are able to set the different options that Windows provides for each user. These options are called Accessibility Options.

These options were originally designed for folks with disabilities. Like wheelchair ramps in public buildings also provide easy access for baby strollers, these options may provide your child with a little more personal success in using the computer. Although I do caution you that setting some of these options may indeed become prohibitive later on. I also advise you to think carefully before you do set up any of these accessibility options. I think the most useful for younger children is the StickyKeys options. That is what this article is focused on.

In order to get to the Accessibility Options you will need to go to Start and click Settings on the pop up menu. In the next menu choose Control Panel. You will find Accessibility Options on this page. Click on it. Once your Accessibiltiy Properties panel comes up you will see options for Keyboard, Sound, Display, Mouse and General.

Windows is set up so that at times you have to press two keys at the same time. This can be difficult for young children. In the Accessibility Properties you can set it up so that these keys can be pressed sequentially instead of simultaneously. All you have to do is click on the Keyboard option, check Use StickyKeys and then click on Settings.

Once the Settings for StickyKeys panel opens you have more choices to make. You can set it so that you can hit the Shift key five times quickly to activate the sticky keys. You can also turn off the StickyKeys by hitting any two keys at once if you choose that option, however younger children often do hit two keys at once so you might want to think about this choice. If you set up the StickyKeys you should indeed choose to have the Notification Sounds turned on from the Settings for StickyKeys panel.

These are really the only options that I would encourage you to use for your child unless they do have some type of disability. If that is the case then you can follow through the Accessibility Properties tabs and look at the different options.

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