[blindlaw] Mac Users Out There?

[Susan Kelly]

This is likely something unique to where I practice (public defender in
Arizona), but what would be most useful to me does not seem to be
offered by any company, for either platform - a bi-lingual screen
reader.  (In this case, Spanish and English, but there would be other
possible needs for other courts and professions, I would guess.)  Has
anyone heard if this will ever be a possibility?  Every screen reader I
have researched will do one or the other, but not both....

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 1:57 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Mac Users Out There?

Mark:

Not to seem argumentative, but I think your statement doesn't accurately

state what has and is going on.

It is not true that Microsoft includes no accessibility in its OS.  It 
is true to say that Microsoft includes no full-featured screen reader or

other technology in Windows.  Some years ago disabled customers, and 
assistive technology companies urged Microsoft to leave AT up to the 
experts, and they agreed.  That was about 15 years ago though, and 
people might not take the same position today.  At the time it seemed 
like the correct recommendation.

Microsoft in fact has more people working on accessibility then any 
other tech company.  They are not perfect, far from it, but still do a 
lot to make many of their applications accessible to blind and other 
persons.

I have heard rumors that Narrator, and other applications will be 
substantially improved in Windows 9, but at this point it is just a 
rumor I have heard, and I have no idea if it is true or not.  I would 
guess that it is though, and that Apple and its efforts are pressuring 
Microsoft.

Apple has done a good job and should be applauded.  However, there is no

competition in the Apple arena for assistive technology, and there 
likely will never be any.  There is competition in Windows, and in 
general it brings out more features and capabilities and faster 
improvements.

There isn't a right or wrong answer -- we just have to make the best of 
each situation.

Dave

p.s.  Do you really want to be completely reliant on Microsoft for your 
screen reader?  If they come out with a free, full-featured competitor, 
it is likely to kill off most, if not all the competition!


On 6/23/2011 3:35 PM, Mark BurningHawk wrote:
> Microsoft has done nothing to include accessibility in its OS because
many blind people spoke up, many of them FROM the NFB, and said, "No,
no, don't fool with Jaws, let the experts handle it, we don't want some
non-blindness-related company building our screen readers."  So, I M H
O, in this instance, we reap what we sow.
>
> Mark BurningHawk
> Skype and Twitter:  BurningHawk1969


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