To configure accessibility features, open the GNOME Settings dialog (for example using Applications › System Tools › Settings) and click Universal Access. Each assistive feature is enabled separately using this dialog.

If you need a more direct access to individual assistive features, check Always Show Universal Access Menu in the Universal Access dialog. A new menu will appear on the bottom panel.

In the Visual Impairments section of the Universal Access dialog, you can enable features that help people with impaired vision.

Turning High Contrast on enables high contrast black and white icons in the GNOME desktop.

Turning Large Text on enlarges the font used in the user interface.

Turning Zoom on enables a screen magnifier. You can set the desired magnification and magnifier behavior, including color effects.

If the Screen Reader is turned on, any text under the cursor (as you move it) is read aloud.

If the Sound Keys are turned on, a sound is played whenever Num Lock or Caps Lock are turned on.

In the Hearing Impairments section of the Universal Access dialog, you can enable features helping people with impaired hearing.

If the Visual Alerts are turned on, a window title or the entire screen is flashed when an alert sound occurs.

In the Typing and Pointing and Clicking sections of the Universal Access dialog, you can enable features that help people with mobility impairments.

If the Screen Keyboard is turned on, a virtual keyboard appears whenever you need to enter text. You can use the screen keyboard by clicking the virtual keys.

Click Typing Assist to open a dialog where you can enable various features that make typing easier: sticky keys, slow keys and bounce keys. You can turn these features on individually.

Sticky Keys allows you to type key combinations one key at a time rather than having to hold down all of the keys at once. For example, the Alt–→| shortcut switches between windows. Without sticky keys turned on, you have to hold down both keys at the same time. With sticky keys turned on, press Alt and then →| to do the same.

Turn on Slow Keys if you want a delay between pressing a key and the letter being displayed on the screen. This means that you need to hold down each key you want to type for a little while before it appears. Use slow keys if you accidentally press several keys at a time when you type, or if you find it difficult to press the right key on the keyboard first time.

Turn on Bounce Keys to ignore key presses that are rapidly repeated. For example, if you have hand tremors which cause you to press a key multiple times when you only want to press it once, you should turn on bounce keys.

Turn on Mouse Keys to control the mouse pointer using the numeric keypad on your keyboard.

Click Click Assist to open a dialog where you can enable various features that make clicking easier: simulated secondary click and hover click.

Turn on Simulated Secondary Click to activate the secondary click (usually the right mouse button) by holding down the primary button for a predefined Acceptance delay. This is useful if you find it difficult to move your fingers individually on one hand, or if your pointing device only has a single button.

Turn on Hover Click to trigger a click by hovering your mouse pointer over an object on the screen. This is useful if you find it difficult to move the mouse and click at the same time. If this feature is turned on, a small Hover Click window opens and stays above all of your other windows. You can use this to choose what sort of click should happen when you hover. When you hover your mouse pointer over a button and don't move it, the pointer gradually changes color. When it has fully changed color, the button will be clicked.