A stroke doesn't change the computer. It changes what it takes to use it. A machine that once felt effortless can suddenly become frustrating: small targets and a hand that won't stay still, sight lost on one side so half the screen is where things seem to disappear, or words that don't come when you reach for them. The computer hasn't changed; it simply no longer fits the person using it.
This is a practical guide to closing that gap — the everyday adjustments that can make an ordinary Windows PC easier to use again. It isn't medical advice, and it isn't about rehabilitation. Questions about recovery, vision therapy or what to expect after a stroke belong with your stroke team or occupational therapist. This guide is only about making the computer fit again.
Start with what's already built in — and a free guide to it
Before buying anything, remember that Windows already includes many of the accessibility features people need — and they're free. Larger text, high-contrast themes, bigger mouse pointers, Magnifier, Narrator, Voice Access and one-handed typing are all built in. Most simply need turning on.
The best place to learn about them is AbilityNet's My Computer My Way. It's a free, step-by-step guide to the accessibility features available on Windows, macOS, smartphones and tablets. If you read only one resource, make it that one.
Match the adjustment to the difficulty
The temptation is to switch on every accessibility feature at once. It's usually better to make small changes that match the challenges the person is actually experiencing.
- Sight on one side (a common after-effect). Reading can become difficult because it's harder to find the beginning or end of a line, making text seem to jump around the page. Larger text, generous spacing and a less cluttered screen all help. Placing frequently used items on the person's stronger visual side can make them much easier to find, while a larger, high-contrast mouse pointer is less likely to disappear.
- A hand that won't stay steady, or only one hand. Reduce pointer speed if accuracy is difficult, enlarge click targets wherever possible, and avoid tiny icons. Windows' Sticky Keys allows key combinations to be entered one key at a time, making one-handed use much easier. If the computer has a touchscreen, many people find it more forgiving than a mouse.
- Difficulty with words. When reading or finding the right words becomes tiring, pictures often communicate more effectively than labels. A family photo that starts a video call is easier to recognise than a name in a list. Read-aloud features can reduce the effort of reading, and ready-made messages can remove the pressure of composing text from scratch.
- Fatigue. Post-stroke fatigue is common, and often underestimated. The kindest adjustment is simply reducing the number of steps between switching on the computer and doing the thing they wanted to do. Every unnecessary click costs energy.
The principle behind all of these changes is the same: ask less of the computer user, and make the things that matter large, obvious and forgiving.
Where My World fits — and where it doesn't
My World brings many of these adjustments together in one calm, simplified Windows experience. Large, clear buttons, layouts adapted for one-sided vision, unsteady hands, word-finding difficulties or memory changes, and a setup completed together with the family help the computer fit the person from the start.
It doesn't treat, diagnose or rehabilitate the effects of stroke, and it isn't a replacement for your stroke team or occupational therapist. It sits alongside the support they're already providing.
If you don't need a complete setup, everything described above can be achieved on a standard Windows computer using the free guidance from AbilityNet. The goal is simply a computer that fits again — however you choose to get there.
Where to get the real help
- The Stroke Association (stroke.org.uk) — support, information and a helpline for stroke survivors and their families.
- The occupational therapist or stroke team — the right people for anything about recovery, vision, or adapting daily life. Ask them about computer use too; many have seen exactly this.
- AbilityNet (abilitynet.org.uk) — free advice on adapting technology, including for people after a stroke.