Visual Assistance Resources

Screen Magnifier Technology

Screen magnifier assistive technology enlarges the content displayed on a device’s screen to assist students with visual impairments. Although the TDS supports some non-embedded screen magnifier resources from third parties, CAI strongly recommends students use the zoom resources embedded in the TDS. These embedded resources were designed to magnify test content in the most intuitive and user-friendly manner for students. Embedded zoom resources can also be tracked by the CAASPP or ELPAC program when gathering data about students’ resource assignment. Refer to the Configuring ZoomText Demonstration video for additional information.

The embedded zoom resources in the secure browser allow students to magnify test content to the following levels:

  • 1×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
  • 2.5×
  • 3×
  • 5×
  • 10×
  • 15×
  • 20×

Table 1 provides a list of third-party screen magnifier tools that can be used in the TDS. The non-embedded screen magnifier tools listed in this table come with an increased risk of interoperability issues, require students to manually pan the magnification resource across the screen, and can include unwanted features that should not be used while testing. These non-embedded resources also cannot be tracked by the CAASPP or ELPAC program when gathering data about students’ resource assignment.

Table 1. Third-party Screen Magnifier Applications
Screen Magnifier Supported Versions OS Requirements Additional Details
Fusion
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  • Windows Server 2016 R2
  • This software requires additional setup before use with the TDS (refer to configuration instructions).
  • Fusion combines the JAWS screen reader with ZoomText.
MAGic Magnifier
  • 14.0.1512, 15.0.2014 (both versions are now discontinued)
  • Windows 10
  • Windows Server 2016 R2
  • Students have access to research tools and a built-in clipboard that can store content copied before testing began.
  • Because the TDS cannot confirm appropriate configurations are in use during testing, the TA or TE will need to ensure the student does not use features outside of the screen reader functionality.
  • MAGic Magnifier includes optional TTS.
  • Both versions of this product were discontinued by its manufacturer. However, a student may continue to test with it if it is already available for the student’s use.
ZoomText Magnifier
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  • Windows Server 2016 R2
  • ZoomText includes a SpeakIt TTS feature that could be used to read aloud passages, which is not permitted on CAASPP ELA or ELPAC Reading domain tests. Students testing with ZoomText should use the magnification features only.
  • It is recommended that students requiring TTS support use the secure browser’s embedded TTS resources, and that students requiring screen readers use JAWS or Fusion.
  • This software requires additional setup before use with the TDS (refer to configuration instructions).

Configuring Fusion to Recognize the Secure Browser

When displaying a test with a print-size accommodation at or above 3× magnification, the secure browser automatically enters streamlined mode. To retain the standard layout of a test but display it with a print magnification at or above 3×, consider using Fusion, which is magnification and screen-reading software that can be used with the secure browser. Use the following procedure to ensure Fusion recognizes the secure browser.

  1. If Fusion is running, close it.
  2. In Windows Explorer, go to the installation directory for the local version of Fusion.
  3. In a text editor, open the file Fusion.xml.
  4. Search for a line containing the D2DPatch property, similar to the following:

    <Property name="D2DPatch" value
    ="*,~dwm,~firefox,~thunderbird"/>

  5. On the same line, type ~CASecureBrowser15.0, immediately after ~firefox, (be sure to include the tilde and the comma).
  6. Save and close the file.