Hello everyone
I am considering purchasing an Alva Braille display and thought I’d join this
email list as there is no one in my area in Southern California that I can find
who is using one. I think the only US distributer is in Oregon. So I thought
folks on this list could share their thoughts with me.
I am visually impaired and a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. I’ve worked in
Vermont and Kentucky the past 10 years and recently moved back to my native
California to begin a small nonprofit, Pacific Christian School for the Deaf
and Blind. Programs are primarily geared towards those who are blind, visually
impaired, deaf-blind, and their families. Mostly adults and in the summers
children, teens/transition, young adult and families.
Since I am starting out, I am renting space from different churches as programs
develop and am working out of my home.
I’m looking for a Braille display that’s fairly portable and that works mostly
with IOS (which I am sure just about everything these days does). I’m setting
up a small mobile assistive technology center of sorts with the idea of a
“retreat” type of setting- meaning that many pieces of equipment may be multi
functioning and I am using a lot of mainstream products and as little blindness
devices as possible. Such as using a lot of apps on iPads for my students
instead of having multiple hardware and software devices for the blind/visually
impaired.
Is anyone using the Alva BC640? That particularly interests me because it’s
just refreshable Braille and can run off of IOS. Will it also run off of
Windows or Mac for students who bring their own laptops and gadgets to my
programs?
I am also thinking of the smaller 12 cell device, but I’m thinking the Braille
cells are too limited on that and is more for on the go use. Unless someone
can multitask with one hand on their phone or iPad and the other hand reading
and scrolling the 12 cell Braille display. Who knows, maybe it will be faster?
I’ve used other devices; Braille Lite 18, Braille Note, and Voice Sense with
the detachable Braille display. This is the first time I’m looking at a device
that works with mainstream products instead of a stand alone note taker for the
blind.
Thanks for reading and for your ideas.
Linda
Linda Chung
lchung04@xxxxxxxxx
