[blindlaw] law library accessibility

[Olusegun -- Victory Associates LTD, Inc.]

Dear Mr. McBride:

I think it would be unfair to recommend a particular screen reader over the 
other.  If you recommend Jaws, and I walk into the said library desiring to 
use NVDA, there will be a problem.  The librarian will assume that I am a 
Jaws user just like you when in fact this may not be true.  As such, whereas 
the library will be accessible to you, it will remain largely inaccessible 
to me.

If you are able to load your screen reader of choice on a USB flash drive, I 
believe that requesting access to the library's computer using the screen 
reader loaded on your USB flash drive will be the best approach.  My 
understanding with respect to Jaws though is that a copy of Jaws does have 
to be installed on the particular computer to be used in order for the 
portable version on a USB flash drive to work.  If this is correct, perhaps, 
for temporary use only, you may need to investigate NVDA, System Access to 
Go, and Window-Eyes!

Of the three screen readers suggested above, Window-Eyes may require the 
installation of a video driver on the computer in question before the 
portable version on a USB flash drive would work.  NVDA, however, DOES NOT 
rely on video driver hooks, and, if memory serves, I believe that System 
Access To Go can be used directly off the Internet.

As you can see sire, no one method fits the bill.  Not all blind individuals 
use Jaws and, if the goal is to make the library's computer accessible to 
other blind atorneys or paralegals in your area, the considerations outlined 
herein do become necessary evils!

Sincerely,
Olusegun
Denver, Colorado