Making iPad Accessible for Everyone

The iPad has brilliant features to help all Parish Council members use it comfortably, regardless of vision, hearing, motor, or cognitive needs. Here's how to make your iPad work for everyone:

Quick Tip!

To quickly access accessibility features, triple-click the Home button (or top button on newer iPads). You can customise what appears in this menu!

Vision Accessibility Features

VoiceOver

Screen reader that describes everything on screen. Perfect for councillors with visual impairments.

Zoom

Magnify the entire screen or just parts of it to make text and images easier to see.

Display & Text Size

Adjust contrast, reduce transparency, and make text larger and bolder.

Spoken Content

Have your iPad read selected text aloud—great for long meeting minutes or proposals.

Setting up Larger Text:

  1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size
  2. Tap "Larger Text" and toggle on "Larger Accessibility Sizes"
  3. Use the slider to adjust text to a comfortable size for reading council documents

Hearing Accessibility Features

Subtitles & Captioning

Display text during videos—essential for recorded council meetings or presentations.

Sound Recognition

Get alerts for sounds like alarms, doorbells, and sirens during council sessions.

Mono Audio

Combines left and right audio channels for those with hearing loss in one ear.

LED Flash for Alerts

Makes the iPad flash when notifications arrive—useful in quiet meeting environments.

Council Meeting Tip

Enable Live Captions (in Settings > Accessibility > Live Captions) during virtual council meetings to see real-time transcriptions of what's being said!

Physical & Motor Accessibility

Touch Accommodations

Adjust how the screen responds to touches for councillors with motor challenges.

AssistiveTouch

Creates a virtual button for those who find physical buttons difficult to use.

Switch Control

Navigate using external adaptive devices instead of touching the screen.

Voice Control

Control your iPad completely with voice commands—ideal for preparing council materials hands-free.

Cognitive Accessibility Features

Guided Access

Limits iPad to one app and controls which features are available—helpful for focused council work.

Reduce Motion

Minimises screen animations that might cause distraction or discomfort.

Screen Time

Set limits on app usage to help with focus during council duties.

Siri Shortcuts

Create simple voice commands for complex tasks related to council responsibilities.

Setting Up Personalised Accessibility

Parish Council Consideration

When preparing council documents, ensure they're accessible by using proper headings, sufficient contrast, and descriptive text for images. This helps all members engage fully with the materials!

Accessibility for Virtual Council Meetings

By implementing these accessibility features, you ensure all Parish Council members can participate fully in digital council activities, regardless of their abilities or preferences!

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