High contrast icons for vision impaired users?

[Clueless in Seattle]

I recently switched from Word 97 to Word 2003.

In the older version of Word, the icons on the toolbars were easier to
identify because they contained hard dark lines.

But in the newer version of Word, the icons are rendered in faded grey
lines with graduated pastel tones that I'm having a hard time making
out.

Is there a way to increase the line contrast and/or remove those
nauseating, distracting pastel colors?

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

P.S. This prettifiying of the icons seems to be run counter to the
whole idea of icons in the first place. I mean, aren't icons supposed
to be like Chinese characters: little abstract black & white designs
that convey ideas? Can you imagine what Chinese caligraphy would look
like if the Microsoft engineers got their hands on it and prettified it
with embroidery and pastel colors too?

 

[Karen]

Hi Will,

I hope you've already solved your dilemma, but if not, in Word 2003 you
can also select larger icons by going to Tools>Customize>Options and
then clicking in the box where it says "Large Icons".

Granted, they take up more room in your window so you have less viewing
room for your document, but the icons themselves sure do increase in
size (unfortunately they're not bordered in black and I'm not sure
about changing their colour). Hopefully someone will be along shortly
with your answers.

Good luck with this!

Karen