Visual Assistive Technology

Refreshable Braille Displays

Refreshable Braille Displays (RBDs) are used to read text-only content on digital exams. Alternative text descriptions are embedded in the exams for all graphics. RBDs must be properly set up before they can be used by students. For information about installing and setting up RBDs, refer to the product’s provided instructions and manuals.

Refreshable braille is not recommended for AP Exams that include graphics. If a student will need tactile graphics for their digital AP Exam and this hasn’t already been requested, the student should talk to their AP coordinator and SSD coordinator as soon as possible so they can help the student determine available options.

College Board has tested with and currently supports the leading magnification applications, including:

•    ZoomText
•    Fusion
•    Windows Zoom and Magnifier
•    Apple (OS and iOS) Zoom
•    Chromebook Display and Magnification

Other magnification software might work with the Bluebook™ application. Depending on which other magnification software and which release of that software, some functions may work differently or not at all. If your software is not listed above, try a digital practice test on Bluebook to make sure your assistive technology will work on test day.

Enlarge Screen Display in Bluebook

Screen magnification technology enlarges the content displayed on the screen to assist students with visual impairments. All students can zoom in or out using their device’s native controls:

  • On a PC or Chromebook: Control +/-
  • On a Mac: Command +/-
  • On an iPad: pinch and zoom

Students with the approved accommodation for use of a magnification device (electronic) who prefer to use the system preferences should use the following configurations:

Windows Magnifier

To quickly turn on Magnifier, select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Magnifier > Turn on Magnifier.  
Or, press the Windows logo key + Plus sign (+). To turn off Magnifier, press the Windows logo key + Esc.  

To change Magnifier view, as per student preference: 

  • Lens (Ctrl + Alt + L)
  • Full Screen (Ctrl + Alt + F)
  • Docked (Ctrl + Alt + D)

Mac Zoom

Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Zoom on the right (keyboard shortcut: Option + Command + 8).

Select the checkbox as appropriate to your preference: Use keyboard shortcuts to Zoom, use trackpad gesture to Zoom, or use scroll gesture with modifier keys to Zoom.

Select Zoom style options, as per student preference: 

  • Full screen
  • Split screen
  • Picture-in-Picture

iPad Zoom

Tap Settings > Accessibility > Zoom.

Chromebook

In Chromebook Settings > Accessibility > Display and magnification there are a few options that can be configured, including:

•    Full-screen magnifier (Search + Ctrl + M) – whole-screen magnification
•    Docked magnifier (Search + Ctrl + D) – split-screen magnification
•    Display settings > adjust Display size

Reduced Motion and Animation Features  

The prefers-reduced-motion CSS media feature is implemented in Bluebook to detect if a user has enabled a setting on their device to reduce or ignore the nonessential motion or animations. This setting is helpful for users that have vestibular disorders. 

Bluebook has minimal occurrences of animations and does not rely on animation to convey essential information such as instructions or exam content. 

Here’s how you can reduce and ignore the decorative animations for the following operating systems: 

  • Windows: Within the Ease of Access Display settings, toggle (turn off) the Show animations in Windows settings.
  • macOS: Within the Accessibility Display settings, enable the Reduce Motion toggle button.
  • Apple iOS (iPad): Within the Accessibility Motion settings, enable the Reduce Motion toggle button.

Note: It is currently not observed that Chromebook operating systems support users’ ability to reduce or ignore animation for managed kiosk applications.

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