I know it seems so, but, when you consider all the different things our blind children are expected to learn these days. After all, they are introduced to mainstreaming at an earlier age than were we; and are expected to keep pace with their sighted peers? It amazes me the amount of things they are expected to learn. After all, the axiom still holds that we blind have to do things twice as well to be considered by most to be half as good as are they. The more he uses the computer along with whatever screen assistance tool he chooses the more proficient he will become. ----- Original Message ----- From: kimsan To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 11:40 AM Subject: RE: jfw for the blind or visually impaired Angel: Thanks for the suggestion and whenever I taught screen readers in the past I always mentioned and explained the differences and how there are application spicific commands, screen reader commands and window commands, which brings me to my next point that I just remembered. When the issue of teaching the students jaws came up, the teacher for the blind stated, "I'm thinking twice about having you teach this person jaws" and I was like "why" and the response was there are to many commands for this student to remember and it might not work out for him. Not defending this person but maybe she thought that was ok because he was in the sixth grade and now he is in seventh. Thanks for all of your input. I have enjoyed reading them. Take care. From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of angel238@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 4:59 AM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: jfw for the blind or visually impaired Just a suggestion. When teaching keyboard commands teach windows commands first before teaching Jaws specific commands. The reason being windows keyboard commands will work on any computer regardless the screen reader. Perhaps you could mention the use of a screen magnification program rather than using Jaws. If your students are expecting no further vision loss the virtual buffer will confuse the student. Because what is heard with the screen reader will not match what is seen by instructors. Mention to them that Jaws was meant to be used most efficiently by the blind, and not by those with sight. Perhaps you can demonstrate this point as well. Perhaps the students might be better served with a screen magnification program rather than a screen reader. ----- Original Message ----- From: Kimsan Song To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 11:38 PM Subject: RE: jfw for the blind or visually impaired Tom: Great story. I, to love hearing about success stories like that. Take care. From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Lange Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 8:15 PM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: jfw for the blind or visually impaired Hi, You can talk all you want to about the degree of visual acuity below which the learning of JAWS is warranted, but my take on it is this: if a person has some useful vision but there's even a remote possibility that the vision will deteriorate substantially, then JAWS should be seriously considered and encouraged. I've taught many blind and visually impaired people over the past sixteen years, eight years or so in a classroom setting, and though some were dragged kicking and screaming into learning JAWS, ultimately it was time well spent. One student of mine was likely to lose his vision because of diabetic retinopathy, and it was a really safe bet that one day his eyes would "blow out", to use his term, not mine. He had a hell of a time buying into the idea of using JAWS at all, but sure enough, one day he woke up and his vision was completely gone. No light perception, nada. He's since gone on to master JAWS, Kurzweil 1000, the Braille Note Apex and all sorts of other assistive technologies and he uses them to the fullest extent. Now he's director of a training program for blind youths and is doing very well indeed. I love success stories like that. Tom ----- Original Message ----- From: Marie Lyons To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 6:57 PM Subject: RE: jfw for the blind or visually impaired There are a group of visual disability that affect peripheral vision. That would mean you could get less of a word in your field of vision. It could have to do with eye strain as well. If you can see 20 point font but only read one letter at a time JAWS could be a very useful tool. Marie -----Original Message----- From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kimsan Song Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 7:36 PM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: jfw for the blind or visually impaired Cy, That was my Original thought. I kind of figured that there were no criteria, which brought me to presenting this discussion or lack of... Where I work, I am part of a multidisciplinary team supporting blind and visually impaired school students and I have observed the teachers for the blind assess these students and reccomend jaws training. My confusion was why when these students are able to read 20 plus pt font just fine, why introduce them to jaws? and when they use computers else where its the same exact set up font wise etc. Meaning, the only time they use jaws is when they are in class with me... Anyways, thanks for your response. Take care.