Teaching · Special Education

A pointer they can find,
a cursor they can follow

Choose the platform to see where the pointer and text cursor settings live. Record the pointer size and color and the text cursor choice, mark each step, from the find-it trial to apps that ignore the setting, then note how real tasks went.

Start a setupWhat you get

Setups

The worked example is made up: a library desktop with a large yellow-green pointer and a text cursor indicator, a Mac with a very large black pointer, and a classroom iPad with a mouse just started. Use initials or a code, not names.

Loading the setup form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Teaching · Special EducationFree

What you finish with
A setup record per person and device: pointer size and color, the text cursor choice and viewing distance; eight steps marked done, to try or not needed; real tasks tried; and what to try next. The flags show where the settings live on that platform and cautions for pointer colors that vanish on dark or light pages and pointers so large they hide text. A large-print setup card prints for the device.
Who it is for
Teachers of students with visual impairments, special education teachers, assistive technology staff, occupational therapists, families and students.
Format
Browser tool with a saved record per person and device. Prints a large-print setup card, the full record, every setup in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Special Education space in Caveat Teaching.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Choose the platform.
  2. Run the find-it trial and set the size.
  3. Check the color on light and dark pages.
  4. Set the text cursor for typing.
  5. Try real tasks and print the setup card.

Start a setup

Where the cursor settings live

Pointer and text cursor settings on four platformsWindows 11Settings > Accessibility > Mousepointer and touchThe size slider runs from 1 (standard)to 15MacSystem Settings > Accessibility >Display > PointerDrag the Pointer size slider fromnormal toward largeiPadSettings > Accessibility > PointerControlApplies when a mouse or trackpad isconnected to the iPadChromebookSettings > Accessibility > Cursor andtouchpadTurn on "Show large mouse cursor",then set the sizePointer and text cursor settings on four platformsWindows 11Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointerand touchThe size slider runs from 1 (standard) to15MacSystem Settings > Accessibility > Display> PointerDrag the Pointer size slider from normaltoward largeiPadSettings > Accessibility > Pointer ControlApplies when a mouse or trackpad isconnected to the iPadChromebookSettings > Accessibility > Cursor andtouchpadTurn on "Show large mouse cursor", thenset the size
Two cursors matter: the mouse pointer for finding and clicking, and the text cursor for seeing where typing will land.

The find-it trial

Have the person look at the board or a book, then back at the screen, and point to the pointer. If it takes more than a moment, raise the size one step and repeat. Do the same while typing for the text cursor. Stop at the smallest size that passes, since larger pointers cover more of what they point at.

Color before size

A black pointer vanishes on a dark page and a white one on a light page. An inverted pointer or a bright custom color often does more than a bigger size, and a slower pointer speed makes any pointer easier to follow.

Sources

  1. Microsoft Support. Make the mouse pointer and text cursor easier to see in Windows (support.microsoft.com).
  2. Apple Support. Change Display settings for accessibility on Mac: Pointer (support.apple.com/guide/mac-help).
  3. Apple Support. Use a pointer device with iPad and Pointer Control settings (support.apple.com/guide/ipad).
  4. Chromebook Help. Turn on Chromebook accessibility features: Cursor and touchpad (support.google.com/chromebook).

The worked example is made up. Menu paths are from current versions of each platform in general terms and can change after an update. This page is a setup record, not a vision assessment. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.