[BlindMath] basic statistics class using Jaws and excel

Fri Jun 14 19:21:49 UTC 2019

Alice,
I would just like to add that it still "depends" on what type of class you
are taking, who the professor is, what the problems will be given in and
returned to the professor in and exactly what type of excel plug-in you are
using.  You also have to add in which version of Excel and what version of
JAWS you will be using.
I have seen a few blind people the past few year get through a basic
Statistics course with no real problem using Excel and some who would have
had no chance in  hell in completing  the course unless they became
proficient in the use of "R" or SAS before they even sat in a class.
Another student, who had a degree in Electrical  Engineering before losing
her vision, breezed through the mathematical calculation portion of her
Statistics course with no trouble, but had difficulty without her tactile
graphs arriving in  time for each of her homework assignments.  She did get
an "B" in the class and has two published research studies that she is the
lead author on from her graduate work.  She still only uses excel to do any
Statistical calculations to this day.
I currently am assisting a very low vision student at a college in
Pennsylvania and a very inquisitive and compassionate professor who
contacted me four months ago in preparation for his Statistics course this
semester.  After looking at his options on campus, i.e. the latest versions
of SPSS and Excel, all three of us opted for him spending the summer
learning to use "R".  He has been told by his undergraduate advisor that he
has a real graduate future in Psychology at the rate he is going and that
learning to use a serious Statistical package at this point in  his career
can only help him in the long run.
Literally, depending upon what is offered  in a basic Statistics course and
what type of assistance you have access to, I could get you through a class
using SPSS or at least you could have been able to do so up to version 22.
That is still the major issue I have with that program for basic courses as
IBM can make a small interface change on a subsequent version and the JAWS
scripts won't work anymore.  
For any person with seriously limited eyesight that does not readily have
quick access to a very good Braille embosser, I do recommend using the SAS
Graphics Accelerator to assist you.
You can literally use it  to make very useful "sonified" graphs on all types
of data and that is extremely important in understanding what the actual
Statistical output is telling you.  
If you are remotely literate in any programming logic, I do  say you should
just go ahead and use "R"  or SAS though.  Creating the syntax to get the
results you need will actually reinforce what you are trying to analyze.
   Most importantly, "R" is free and you don't have to rely on any scripts
or plug-in to make it work.  The more you want to learn, the easier it is
to add to the program.  You can even make sonified graphs with it, but I
still recommend using the SAS Graphics Accelerator for rover flexibility and
ease of use though.

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Godfrey,
Jonathan via BlindMath
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2019 6:13 PM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Godfrey, Jonathan <A.J.Godfrey at massey.ac.nz>
Subject: Re: [BlindMath] basic statistics class using Jaws and excel

Hello,

Unfortunately my experience says the accessibility of plug-ins is fickle at
best. I think you will need to experiment with the tools being used by the
class but my guess is that the outcome is more likely to be negative than
positive.

Even tools that have been labelled as accessible by others do not meet my
standards for accessibility.

And in advance of the most likely follow up question, I only ever recommend
R and SAS as statistical software that is accessible. Other options range
from "next to useless" up to "you can use it if you want a fight" and I do
not offer opinions on software that has less than 10,000 users worldwide.

Best of luck,
Jonathan
Senior Lecturer in Statistics

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Wershing, Alice
D. via BlindMath
Sent: Friday, 14 June 2019 3:20 AM
To: 'blindmath at nfbnet.org' <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Wershing, Alice D. <adwershing at pstcc.edu>
Subject: [BlindMath] basic statistics class using Jaws and excel

Hello,
I am in need of support on whether excel statistical plug ins are accessible
with JAWs. Thanks-

Alice D. Wershing, M.Ed., A.T.P.<http://www.resna.org/atp-general-info>,
C.P.A.A.C.<http://www.accessibilityassociation.org/cpacccertification>
Disability Services, Technology Specialist Pellissippi State Community
College
865-694-6751
865-539-7699 (fax)

East TN Region Accessibility
Specialist<http://www.tnecampus.info/specialists>
Tenessee Board of Regents-TN eCampus

PSCC Access for All Blog<http://blogs.pstcc.edu/access4all/>
PSCC Accessible Format Facebook
Page<https://m.facebook.com/psccdisabilityservices> (PSCC-Disability
Services) PSCC Access4All Twitter Feed<https://twitter.com/Access4allPSCC>
(@Access4allPSCC)

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