Google Applications Accessibility for the Visually Impaired:

Included in this website page are the following sections. Google Applications Accessibility for the Visually Impaired. Online Resources About Google Applications Accessibility for the Visually Impaired. Gmail Accessibility on a Computer. Google Docs Accessibility for the Visually Impaired on Computers. Voice Typing on Google Docs. Google Docs Accessibility Features Support Settings. Windows Keyboard Shortcuts for Google Docs. Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Reading and Copying from a Google Doc. Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Making the Text Easier to read. Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Editing Text. Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Adding to the Google Doc. Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Text Styles. Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Other Functions. Online Resources About Google Docs Accessibility for the Visually Impaired. End of list. Last Updated March 10th, 2026.

Google Applications Accessibility for the Visually Impaired:

Google applications include Gmail, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, and Google Drive.

People with visual impairments can use Google apps by using the accessibility features available on their computer, magnification software, screen reader software, and the accessibility features available for the specific Google apps.

Online Resources About Google Applications Accessibility for the Visually Impaired:

Online Resources About Using Google Applications:

Gmail Accessibility on a Computer:

The background theme can be changed to High Contrast for easier-to-see buttons, Dark for a black background, or another theme such as Mustard to increase contrast. To view emails with a black background and adjustable contrast levels, use an internet browser extension such as Dark Reader. Keyboard shortcuts can be used to control Gmail.

To adjust the Gmail Settings, select the Settings Button located in the top right corner then select see all settings. From here, you can select a settings tab.

  • The maximum number of conversations can be reduced to ten which allows a user to navigate one page of up to ten conversations at a time. This setting is found in the General Tab.

  • To change the default text style that will be used when writing an email, go to the General Tab. I recommend changing the font to Verdana and the text size to huge.

  • To change the button labels that appear in an open email conversation from icons to text, go to the General Tab.

  • To turn keyboard shortcuts on, go to the General Tab.

  • To turn on custom keyboard shortcuts, go to the Advanced Tab. To change keyboard shortcuts, go to the Keyboard Shortcuts Tab.

  • To change the Gmail background theme, go to the Themes Tab. I recommend trying the High Contrast Theme, the Dark Theme, and the Mustard Theme.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Gmail:

  • To go to your inbox, type the letter G then the letter I.

  • To open an email conversation, type the letter O or type Enter.

  • To go back from an open email to all emails, type the letter U.

  • To move to the next email, type the letter J.

  • To move to the previous email, type the letter K.

  • To select the email conversation, type the letter X.

  • To delete a conversation type the hashtag symbol (#).

  • To start a new email, type the letter C.

  • To reply to an email, type the letter R.

  • To reply all to an email, type the letter A.

  • To send an email, type Control and Enter for Windows or Command and Enter for Mac.

  • To search, type the backslash symbol (/).

  • Keyboard Shortcut for Gmail website page from Google link.

Google Docs Accessibility for the Visually Impaired on Computers:

  • Zoom in or out. For Windows, type Control then plus to zoom in or Control minus to zoom out. For Mac, type Command then plus to zoom in or Command then minus to zoom out.

  • Zoom in or out on the top menus. For Windows, type Control then Shift then plus or minus. For Mac, type Command then Shift then plus or minus.

  • Adjustable contrast level using an internet browser extension such as Dark Reader.

  • Voice Typing.

  • Keyboard shortcuts.

  • Screen magnifiers and screen readers.

Voice Typing on Google Docs:

To turn on Voice Typing, go to the Tools Tab. Then go to Voice Typing. The key command for Voice Typing is Control then Shift then the letter S key.

Google Docs Accessibility Features Support Settings:

Go to the Tools Tab then go to Accessibility. The following three features can be enabled. Turn on screen reader support. Turn on braille support. Turn on screen magnifier support.

Once the turn on screen reader support feature has been enabled, the accessibility tab appears on screen. The accessibility tab is a list of key commands for Google Docs.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts for Google Docs:

  • Reading and Copying from a Google Doc.

  • Making the Text Easier to read.

  • Editing Text.

  • Adding to the Google Doc.

  • Text Styles.

  • Other Functions.

Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Reading and Copying from a Google Doc:

  • To open a link, type Alt then Enter.

  • To find specific text, type Control then the letter F.

  • Use the Home Key to move the text cursor to the beginning of a line.

  • Use the End Key to move the text cursor to the end of a line.

  • To select text to the right of the text cursor, type Control then Shift then Right Arrow Key.

  • To select text to the left of the text cursor, type Control then Shift then Left Arrow Key.

  • To select the current line and the next line down, type Control then Shift then Down Arrow Key.

  • To select the current line and the line above, type Control then Shift then Up Arrow Key.

  • To copy an item such as text or an image, type Control then the letter C.

Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Making the Text Easier to read:

  • To increase the text size by one number, type Control then Shift then period.

  • To decrease the text size by one number, type Control then Shift then comma.

  • To make text bolded, type Control then the letter B.

  • To clear text formatting, type Control then back slash ( \ ) key.

Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Editing Text:

  • To select all of the text in the document, type Control then the letter A key.

  • To select text to the right of the text cursor, type Control then Shift then Right Arrow Key.

  • To select text to the left of the text cursor, type Control then Shift then Left Arrow Key.

  • To select the current line and the next line down, type Control then Shift then Down Arrow Key.

  • To select the current line and the line above, type Control then Shift then Up Arrow Key.

  • To clear text formatting, type Control then back slash ( \ ) key.

  • To increase the text size by one number, type Control then Shift then period.

  • To decrease the text size by one number, type Control then Shift then comma.

  • To make text bolded, type Control then the letter B.

  • To make text italicized, type Control then the letter I key.

  • To make text underlined, type Control then the letter U key.

  • To make text have a line through it, type Alt then Shift then the number 5 key.

  • To add a superscript, type Control then period.

  • To add a subscript, type Control then comma.

  • To make text aligned to the left, type Control then Shift then the letter L key.

  • To make the text aligned to the middle, type Control then Shift then the letter E key.

  • To make the text aligned to the right, type Control then Shift then the letter R key.

  • To make the text justified, type Control then Shift then the letter J key.

  • To find and replace specific text, type Control then the letter H key.

  • To decrease the indent, type Control then the left bracket ( [ ) key.

  • To increase the indent, type Control then the right bracket ( ] ) key.

Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Adding to the Google Doc:

  • To copy an item such as text or an image, type Control then the letter C.

  • To cut an item such as text or an image, type Control then the letter X.

  • To paste an item, type Control then the letter V.

  • To paste without formatting, type Control, then Shift, then the letter V.

  • To add a link to selected text, type, Control then the letter K.

  • To add a comment, type Control then Alt then the letter M key.

  • To add a checklist, type Control then Shift then the number 9 key.

  • To add a bulleted list, type Control then Shift then the number 8 key.

  • To add a numbered list, type Control then Shift then the number 7 key.

Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Text Styles:

  • To apply the Heading One Style to the text, type Control then Alt then number one.

  • To apply the Heading Two Style to the text, type Control then Alt then number two.

  • To apply the Heading Three Style to the text, type Control then Alt then number three.

  • To apply the Normal Text Style to the text, type Control then Alt then number zero. 

Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Other Functions:

  • To undo, type Control then the letter Z key.

  • To redo, type Control then the letter Y key.

  • To print the Google Doc, type Control then the letter P key.

  • To do a Spelling and Grammar Check, type Control then Alt then the letter X key.

  • To search the top Google Docs Menus, type Alt then forward slash ( / ) key.

  • To search the keyboard shortcuts available, type Control then forward slash ( / ) key.

  • To get the page and word count, type Control then Shift then the letter C key.

  • To use the dictionary, type Control then Shift then the letter Y key.

  • To start or stop Voice Typing, type Control then Shift then the letter S key.