[access-uk] Re: Talx and cost of access software
- From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:39:18 +0100
Right Jillian,, I think you get to the nub of the matter when you say, "> seems
to me like noone can win on this one. Those making scripts or actual >
programs to make stuff accessible need to recoup costs. But some of us with
> disabilities are not working and cannot afford the equipment we need to make
> life better. I'm one of those, hence the antiquated comp."
Those in reasonably well paid work will pay the asking price if they choose;
those of us - and I too am out of work - far more often go without. Those
providing services, including script writing, as well as the access tech itself
have to turn a profit; why else would they be businesses, as opposed to
charitable organisations? Though I won't pursue the status of charities here,
I hope its enough to say that, given the amateurish and Imp afraid to say,
often self-serving nature of many of them, its not really an option. Besides,
there are strict rules about being a charity and trading.
That leads me to bang on again about the need for reform of provision of access
technology. You are doing the logical thing Jillian by trying to go the
education route, because that's one of the ways in which people can get their
hands on funding. If you say to one of the stuffed shirts or padded shoulders
selling the stuff at Sight Village next week, that, "oh, I can't afford that",
they'll say can you get Access to Work or an Education grant, or have you tried
the charities?"
Its time for a more wide ranging scheme, to bring the subsidy, or grant, for
access technology to the individual level, rather than the work or educational
situation of an individual, Because computer based technology is more and more
part of everyday life, be it using phones or getting about, (GPS) the time is
ripe for a change. Governments and Political entities such as the European
Union could play their part in laying down mandates for accessibility of ATMs
phones and computer interfaces. We ought too to look at the issues surrounding
unfair pricing between different currency areas.
To provide access equipment outside of work/education settings has another
benefit too: equipping VI and disabled people generally to cope in daily
living and at work or college, before they get there, if they ever do, rather
than an expensive bandaide after that they arrive at college or work. Sure
training and classes would have to go hand in hand with technological
provision, and there are many ways this could be done.
I'm trying to argue for a much more inclusive system of access tech provision,
widening it out from the long time preferential treatment of people who win the
work or education lottery. Seeing people at a Job Centre office accessing the
internet and using touch screens brought home to me again the fact that we are
a group apart, not just marginal, but beyond the margins, out of sight and out
of the minds of the grand strategists.
We'll go on having this argument as long as this system of access apartheid
exists.
Ray
Personal emails: Email me at
mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jillian Grant" <jillian.grant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 11:16 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Talx and cost of access software
> Not quite sure which message to reply to with my comments, so apologies if
> it doesn't quite fit in.
>
> seems to me like noone can win on this one. Those making scripts or actual
> programs to make stuff accessible need to recoup costs. But some of us with
> disabilities are not working and cannot afford the equipment we need to make
> life better. I'm one of those, hence the antiquated comp. There's no way I
> can afford a new setup. I'm pursuing the education route for this, but that
> has its problems too. With the OU, you need to do 60 points worth at least
> to qualify for a DSA, (disabled student allowance). as I'm going to be
> starting from scratch, I just want to do courses on the lowest level. But
> there are very few of those, and one of the ones I wanted to do is being
> revamped, and is not available to people like me for probably a year. So I
> can't qualify for another year. I'll be loaning equipment through the OU,
> which I really don't want to do. but I'm left with no choice. I originally
> didn't want to go back into education, but as grants seem to be few and far
> between for this kind of thing, it was my only alternative. Before anyone
> mentions them, I got turned down by Electronic aids for the blind.
>
> I'm not even after an I-pod, just a high speck computer to record my music,
> and the access stuff to boot. so keeping up to date with any other advances
> of technology is impossible. It often feels like there's noone who
> understands, as a lot of you on this list work, which is great. I still
> feel that it is more difficult to find work as a vi person, but that's
> another thread altogether.
>
> Jill.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ray's Home <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 9:51 AM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Talx and cost of access software
>
>
>> Note the change in the subject line.
>>
>> Well said Steve, regarding the list of costs associated with JFW; and
> then there's buying scripts, which quite often you have to do. No, this is
> not just another JFW, bad fish thread starting with me. Personally I'm a
> great believer in promoting the choice of other products which people have,
> and the cost/benefit in terms not just of saved money, but customer support,
> stability and products merits in their own right.
>>
>> I might add, again, as a parting remark, that should you be impressed by
> the BrailleSense, coming soon,to these shores, if GW's doug is to be
> believed, then forget using it with JFW. FS is sulking about another very
> fine competitor to PackMate and simply refuses to allow third party drivers
> to link BrailleSense to JfW.
>>
>> Think FS is best left to those who will consider nothing less than
> 'professional solutions' by the 'industry leader'. Personally, I think
> using your loaf and assessing the benefits to yourself is a better way to
> go, than listening to such drivel by sales staff.
>>
>> Don't forget too that some, icluding Brian Hartgen, are having a good deal
> of success using phones like, I think, the Nokia 6630 as a personal
> organiser with Talks and an external keyboard. So, folks give that a
> thought and think on.
>> Ray
>>
>> Personal emails: Email me at
>> mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Steve Nutt" <steve@co
>>
>>
>> Hi Kevin,
>>
>> But what you don't realise is that Freedom do do that anyway. They get
>> their money back by software maintenance agreement costs, and charging the
>> earth for JFW upgrades, rather than charging you for transfers. And what
>> about charging you just for remote access to another PC? And what about
>> charging you just because you are on XP Pro, rather than Home? Oh yes,
> they
>> do it, but in much more devious ways <Smile>.
>>
>> All the best
>> --
>> Computer Room Services: the long cane for blind computer users.
>> Telephone Voice: +44(0)1438 742286, Fax/BBS: +44(0)1438 759589
>> mobile: +44(0)7956 334938,
>> Email: Steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Web site: http://www.comproom.co.uk
>>
>> All the best
>> --
>> Computer Room Services: the long cane for blind computer users.
>> Telephone Voice: +44(0)1438 742286, Fax/BBS: +44(0)1438 759589
>> mobile: +44(0)7956 334938,
>> Email: Steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Web site: http://www.comproom.co.uk
>>
>>
>>
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