Mobility

"I like e-mail and Instant Message! They are great ways to keep in touch with people and easy to use with my assistive technology. All you have to do to send them is CTRL and Enter."
Vanessa Coveau is a student at Vista College in Berkeley California. Vanessa uses DeltaTalker and has been using the AOL service since the mid 90's.

For some, using a standard keyboard is difficult, for others it is impossible and some never learn to type. Others may just prefer to use shortcuts rather than the keyboard. You or a friend may have difficulty responding quickly or pressing buttons due to aging, arthritis or injury. Some people may use a headstick, mouthstick or artificial limb. The following sections may provide helpful tips on using the AOL service:

General Tips
Text Styling Toolbar
Buddy List
Chat
Instant Message
Preferences

General Tips

This section provides tips specifically to help AOL members who use Assistive Technology to give the computer commands, who want to press as few keystrokes as possible or who want to avoid using the mouse. However any member may find the tips helpful. Please be sure to read the information on keywords and shortcuts, it will help make the AOL service easier to use.

Keyboard Shortcuts
For members who navigate without using a mouse or who want to get around the service quickly, AOL has a long list of Keyboard Shortcuts. For a full list of Shortcuts, visit AOL Keyword: Shortcuts.

AOL Keywords
AOL Keywords make it possible for you to jump around quickly online, without having to remember exactly how you got to a certain area. As you explore America Online, notice many areas have an AOL Keyword. When you want to return to that area, you can use the AOL Keyword feature to go there directly.

Use the following tips to get started:

Tip: In the AOL service, Use CTRL + K to bring up a AOL Keyword entry box, then type the keyword for the area you want to go to into the text entry box on the toolbar. Click Go. In some places the AOL Keyword is underlined in blue, so you can activate it with a Click and Go.

For more information on AOL Keywords, visit AOL Keyword: Keyword.

Tip: If you use the TAB key, the cursor blinks when it is in a text box and when you TAB to a button, AOL outlines the inside edges of the button with a thin line.

Text Styling Toolbar

The Text Styling Toolbar is located in three places: the E-mail message screen, the Instant Message screen and the Chat screen. It is located just above the box where you type your message. This Toolbar contains a number of formatting features, from text color to centering to bolding. The changes you make using the Toolbar will only apply to that message.

If you want to make the Font, Text and Graphics changes permanent in all your E-mails, Instant Messages, and Chat sessions, visit AOL Keyword: Preferences. In the second of three columns, which is titled Communications, look for Font, Text & Graphics.

Tip: Use the following shortcuts for accessing the Text Styling Toolbar while in the text box, the area in which you will type your E-mail message, Instant Message or Chat message:

CTRL + B = Bold
CTRL + T = Italics
CTRL + U = Underline

Tip: Once the cursor is in the portion of the window where the text of the message is typed, pressing TAB will insert a tab space into the message rather than providing navigation.

Tip: Press Shift-TAB to navigate backwards through the options. Shift-TAB takes you backwards and will take you to Send or any other option.

The formatting features for Bold, Italics and Underline are the only features with keyboard shortcuts, all other features must be activated using your mouse. If you have a right mouse click option on your keyboard, you can activate the menu that allows you to use many of these options, however, when you get to the color menu, the colors are not labeled. The features are:

Left Align
Center
Right Align
Color Text
Background Color
Insert a Picture
Insert Favorite Place
Spell Check
Insert Signature File

Buddy List

The Buddy List® feature lists the screen names of your friends and family members who are online when you're online - allowing for easy, spontaneous communication using the Instant Message feature. The following tips will help you get started using the Buddy List feature:

Setting up the Buddy List Feature
Tip: From the Buddy List window, TAB to the Setup button and press the SPACE BAR or Enter key. You can navigate among buttons using the TAB key and activate these buttons by pressing either the SPACE BAR or Enter key.

Modifying Buddy List Preferences
Tip: From the Setup window, TAB to the Preferences button and press either the SPACE BAR or Enter key. In this window you can choose a buddy icon, choose a theme, easily attach new sounds to your screen name, set up privacy controls, and more.

Tip: To move among the options in each section, press the TAB key. In most places within these sections, you will need to press the SPACE BAR or Enter key to activate the selected option.

Instant Message

The Instant Message (IM) feature allows you to have immediate, one-on-one, private chats in real time with other AOL members and non-AOL members who use the AOL Instant Messenger(SM) (AIM) service, which can be downloaded from www.aol.com.

Sending an Instant Message
Tip: Press CTRL+I to bring up a blank window for composing a new Instant Message. This can be done anywhere within the AOL service. Use the TAB key to move around the Instant Message window.

Tip: Press The Enter key or SPACE BAR to activate the highlighted "Send" or "Available?" buttons.

Tip: CTRL + Enter will send an Instant Message without having to use the TAB key to reach the Send button. Under the General IM tab, you can now set your preferences so that you can hit enter to send your message.

Away Messages
Tip: If you prefer not to be interrupted, turn off the Instant Message or put an Away Notice on. The Away Notice feature allows you to setup a brief message to automatically display to anyone who sends you an Instant Message when you are signed on but not at your computer or when you do not wish to be disturbed.

To use the Away Notice feature:

3. On the Buddy List window use the TAB key to reach and activate the Away Notice button.

4. Use the TAB key to put focus on the window with your choices. You can use the Up and Down arrows to select your choice (At lunch, Be Right Back, I am Away, On the Phone) and hit the SPACE BAR or Enter key to activate the Away Notice choices.

Tip: You can close each IM after you reply if you want your Buddy's reply to "steal the focus." If you don't and are using IM within the AOL service, leave the IM form open after you reply.

Tip: For an AOL member using Instant Message, you will receive a tone alerting you to an Instant Message even while you are in another program.

Note: With AOL 8.0, the IM forms no longer sit on top of each other in the upper left side of your screen; the windows cascade so that you can see how many Ims you have open.

Chat

AOL's popular chat feature allows you to talk in real time to other members of America Online (or even members from around the world!) about anything you are interested in.

You can reach Chat from the Welcome Screen. If you are using the TAB key to navigate on the Welcome Screen, use the SPACE BAR to activate Chat.

Using the Chat option from the Buddy List window
Tip: From the Buddy List window, TAB to the Chat button and press the SPACE BAR. Clicking on any of the text fields enables the ability to navigate among fields and buttons using the TAB key. Pressing either SPACE BAR or the Enter key will activate buttons.

Preferences

Customize the AOL service to better meet your needs by setting Preferences. Example preferences include Toolbar & Sound Preferences; Font, Text & Graphic Preferences; and Marketing Preferences. These preferences can be found on the Preferences page within one of three preference categories: Account Controls, Communications, and Organization.

ALT + S + P = Opens the Settings Menu to Preferences

For more information on all Preferences, visit AOL Keyword: Preferences. Below several Preferences are summarized, those that are relevant to people with disabilities or are frequently used by AOL members.

Toolbar & Sound Preferences is under Account Control
The AOL service provides sounds such as the Welcome greeting and Instant Message chimes. You may want to change the sounds in order to reinforce what is on the screen and make the sounds easier to hear.

Tip: To enable AOL sounds, press ALT + S + P and navigate to Tool and Sound Preferences under Organization. Sound Preferences is the last option on the page.

Font, Text & Graphics is under Communications
This Preference allows you to permanently set your font for writing all E-mail, Chat, and an Instant Message.

Marketing Preferences
America Online occasionally extends product and service offers to our members. We've created this area to let you know more about these products and services, and to provide you with the option of not receiving such offers. If you choose to receive marketing information you can also choose how to receive or block this information, by U.S. Mail, pop up, telephone, or e-mail.

For more information visit AOL Keyword: Marketing Preferences or AOL Keyword: Choice.

For additional help on any AOL feature, visit AOL Keyword: AOL Help.