[CVALE] About screen readers and other accessability stuff.

[Dennis Baker]

Hey Michael,
Thanks for the heads up on those programs.  I've heard of JAWS but I think
the $950 price tag is going to be a problem.  I'll see if he can get some
help with the dept of rehab.  His problem is fairly uncommon and I'm not
sure if they will be able to help him much.  Using the keyboard is not a
problem for him.  He can even type fairly well.  It's just actually reading
words that he has problems with.  I was thinking about trying to set him up
with Linux but he used to work with computers and I'm thinking it's best to
keep him on familiar territory.

I have seen some software called gnopernicus and I'm playing with that a bit
plus I'm looking into some OSX/ Mac software.  Ironically it might be
cheaper to get him hooked up on a new mac with screen reading then to just
purchase the Windows software.

Thanks again.
-- Dennis

On 6/7/07, Gaijin <gaijin at clearwire.net> wrote:
>
>         Dennis Baker wrote:
>                 > I have a off topic question for you.  A close friend of
> mine had a stroke
> > about 18 month        s ago  as a result he suffered some brain damage
> and can no
> > longer read.  He is by no means blind,  he just can't read.
>
>         At the moment I'm running a screen reading program called,
> "Window-Eyes"
> from www.gwmicro.com.  Basically, it reads what's on the currently active
> window, dialog box, or menu.  Tap the [Alt] key, for example, and it'll
> say
> "File," as you'll usually activate the File menu in Windows.  The Question
> is whether he can
> use the keyboard.  Win-Eyes isn't really the tool to use if you can't use
> a
> keyboard, and he may need an even more specialized  User Interface.  Maybe
> speech recognition?  Win-Eyes adds a navagation feature to the web
> interface.  Press [H] and you can cycle through the Headers on the web
> page, [F] for Frames, [Tab] for links, etc.  To enter text iin an edit
> box,
> this "Browse Mode" needs to be toggled off (or on again) by pressing
> [Ctrl+Shift+A].  If he'll have problems with pressing multiple key
> combinations, Win-Eyes will only get in the way.  Freedom Scientific
> offers
> a similar program called "JAWS."  Job Access With Sound.  I can't tell you
> much more about it, because I can't install the dumb thing.  It may be
> because I have Win-Eyes iinstalled.  I don't have the URL handy, but their
> phone number's a good one.  800-444-4443.  That's for ordering JAWS.
> Contact either place for a free demo CD.  Even blind as a bat with
> laryngitis, it'll walk you through the install if all you have is a
> working
> sound card.   I hear JAWS is a better program, as it uses a Python
> interface for adding special program
> interface routines that can make using a particular program easier to use.
>   Many Python people have already added their own interfaces to the list
> of
> "additions" to JAWS.  I'd like to be able to run the thing myself.  Only
> problem is the price.  Both cost $950 and include three free upgrades.
> Best thing to do is get into contact with the Dept. of Rehabilitation.
> They'll get his own personal needs evaluated and get him set up with what
> he can use.  Their number in Modesto is: 209-576-6239.  Teresa Gardener is
> a very nice blind woman who'll come over and help get him started with the
> paperwork. If he qualifies, it should take about three months to process
> everything and then go from there with rehab training and equipment.
> Windows has a "sticky-keys" feature that might help with keyboard usage.
> With that turned on, you can operate the keyboard with a single finger,
> pen
> tip, etc., in case he's disabled enough to need that service.  There's
> also
> a magnifier to help people with some sight left.  I'm just getting into
> all
> this myself, and can't help much more than that.  Seems I'm gonna have to
> purchase a $1000 speech synthesizer just to get Linux running.  There's a
> great kernal mod called Speak-Up for Linux.  It echos everything from the
> screen to ttyS0, and to the speech synth connected there.  You can hear
> *everything* that happens during bootup and shut down.  Still haven't
> figured out how to get access to the BIOS setup screen, though.  If I get
> into C deep enough, I'll write an editor that can access the fool
> settings.
> <grins>  HTH a little, Dennis.  The demos above are free, and you can try
> them yourself...and become just as frustrated at the 30 minute time limit.
>     I've had to reboot twice just to get this much typed using Win-Eyes.
> Can't wait to get Linux operational.
>
>                 Michael
>
> _______________________________________________
> cvale mailing list
> cvale at lists.fire2wire.com
> http://lists.fire2wire.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cvale
>



-- 
Dennis Da-Ogre http://ogrehut.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.fire2wire.com/pipermail/cvale/attachments/20070607/ac2acbf7/attachment.html