[blindlaw] ZoomText versus JAWS

[Susan Kelly]

Thanks - I will try to communicate that to the powers that be.  From past interactions with the head of our agency, as well as IT administration, I have the impression that they a) do not believe that my visual impairment is as severe as it is, since (like most of us), I still manage to look properly dressed and can move around spaces that I know well without my white cane, and b) do not understand that the condition is progressive, and will result in total vision loss at some point before my retirement age hits.  I tried to explain that I already need the navigation features of JAWS that do not seem to be as complete (if even they exist) in ZoomText, along with the Braille output potential for the future, but I have the feeling that no one cares to go beyond the product sales blurbs as far as education about the various programs.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rod Alcidonis, Esquire [mailto:Attorney at alcidonislaw.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2015 8:03 AM
To: 'Anita Keith-Foust'; 'Blind Law Mailing List'
Cc: Susan Kelly
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] ZoomText versus JAWS

The point not being made here is that ZoomText is not a screen reading program in the sense that JAWS, NVDA, and Window Eyes are. There is a gross misunderstanding about the technology if someone were to say that you can replace the functionality of JAWS with ZoomText. They are not the same thing at all.

I don't believe any totally blind person should agree to that form of accomodation.




Rod Alcidonis, Esq.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Susan Kelly via blindlaw
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2015 10:26 AM
To: 'Anita Keith-Foust' ; 'Blind Law Mailing List'
Cc: Susan Kelly
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] ZoomText versus JAWS

Thanks for the contact name.  If this happens, I will be sure to pass along 
the information to the techs from IT assigned to our agency.

My bigger fear is the learning curve, as the only time that I will have to 
learn this program, if it is determined to be what will be provided, is when 
I am at home.  I run JAWS and MAGic at home, which were initially provided 
to me by the state VocRehab agency, along with the training to learn JAWS 
basics.  Because my case is now considered closed, and because I am too 
young (or too old, being already employed) to be a priority for re-opening 
the VocRehab case, that also means learning without the program available to 
me to practice on, unless I take time away from my family and ask them to 
bring me to the office after hours and on weekends.

-----Original Message-----
From: Anita Keith-Foust [mailto:anitakeithfoust at gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 7:10 PM
To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
Cc: Susan Kelly; AnitaKeithFoust at gmail.com
Subject: RE: [blindlaw] ZoomText versus JAWS

Dear Susan:

If you have to use ZoomText, get to know the technical support person named 
Lloyd. He is the best and he takes time with you. He is very patient and 
helpful.

ZoomText only reads text, not pictures of text. This will be the first 
problem that you will run into.

If there is any way possible, get them to keep JAWS. I do not understand why 
they would eliminate JAWS rather than just adding ZoomText. Make sure that 
they get ZoomText with Speech.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Anita Keith-Foust
919-430-1978





-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Susan Kelly 
via blindlaw
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2015 7:18 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List
Cc: Susan Kelly
Subject: [blindlaw] ZoomText versus JAWS

The IT department for our county appears to be considering replacing the 
JAWS ply MAGic accessibility package I use, to replace it with ZoomText.  I 
still have a small amount of useful vision, but this is a progressive 
condition and within a few years (or sooner), I will be completely reliant 
on screen narration.  I am trying to learn Braille in the interim, but as a 
busy assistant public defender in the juvenile courts, time is not my 
friend.

My understanding is that JAWS is the most full-featured narration for a 
Windows / Word environment.  This change is primarily due to the fact that 
the county does not want to permit me any variance from the standard (and 
definitely not unique, but definitely incompatible with adaptive software) 
network environment that is run here.  Will ZoomText provide me with the 
same benefits as JAWS?  Also, how / where can I learn the necessary keyboard 
commands, as I will almost certainly have to do this in my "free" time at 
home?
_______________________________________________
blindlaw mailing list
blindlaw at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindlaw:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/anitakeithfoust%40gmai
l.com


_______________________________________________
blindlaw mailing list
blindlaw at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
blindlaw:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/attorney%40alcidonislaw.com