Macs have a built-in screen reader called VoiceOver. VoiceOver does more than simply reading text aloud. It walks the user through complex actions like creating a presentation, editing a video, navigating open apps, and more. VoiceOver also has add-on tools like Braille support and audio descriptions. This feature would enable people who are blind or who have low vision to competently and confidently use a Mac to do simple and complex tasks.
For person who are deaf or hard of hearing, Macs offer some great options like FaceTime, iMessage, closed captions, mono audio, and screen flash. FaceTime and iMessage allow users to easily communicate with others. While features like closed caption and mono audio allow users to view videos without fear of missing out. Closed caption on Mac even lets users customize styles and fonts. Mono audio plays left- and right-channel audio in both ears so users listening with headphones can enjoy any audio file.
Switch Control is probably my favorite accessibility tool for Macs though. With Switch Control people with physical and motor skill disabilities can between apps, the Dock, onscreen keyboards, and menus using scanning. Users can even customize their own panels and keyboards. Switch Control works with a number of devices like joysticks, switches, and the keyboard space bar. Switch Control enables users to easily use all the functions and features of a Mac.
Finally, Macs have various resources that enable people with various learning or literary disabilities to succeed on a Macbook. For example, Macs offer Text to Speech features that allow users to highlight any text and hear it in more than 70 voices and 42 languages. Macs also offer word completion apps to help with word building and vocabulary. And the cherry on top - this English teacher loves that Macs have built-in dictionaries that allows users to easily access definitions, synonyms, antonyms, parts of speech, pronunciation, and more.
References:
Accessibility - Mac. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2017, from http://www.apple.com/accessibility/mac/
P. (2010, November 12). Understanding Assistive Technology: Simply Said. Retrieved April 11, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLvzOwE5lWqhRYvTn2kIygOTdXBE8AyHFR&v=DB9pKkZoJDc