RE: jfw for the blind or visually impaired

  • From: "kimsan" <kimsansong@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:40:07 -0700

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 <mailto:kimsansong@xxxxxxxxxxx>  

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 <mailto:mlyons53@xxxxxxxxxxx>  

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. 

 

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