[nabs-l] MS Excel and accessibility

Fri May 20 01:28:01 UTC 2011

Chris,

In some ways, this is really a more complicated question than it might seem on the surface.  Excel does work pretty 
good with JFW and with Window-Eyes and even some other screen readers.  If you are not at all familiar with 
spreadsheets, and if Excel is used as a tool in your school, taking some time to learn about spreadsheets is a good 
idea.  I believe there are still tutorials that are free or low cost from the Iowa Department for the Blind.  Check out

http://blind.state.ia.us/assist/

and I think there are other tutorials around.

One also has to look at the reason for graphing.  If your teacher is having students graphing in excel, the chances are 
that the students are entering numbers into Excel and then using Excel to display the graph.  The purpose is therefore 
not to have students draw graphs but to show them what the graph will look like.  This means that the extra work you 
are doing to make a graph on your braille writer is probably beyond the call of duty in a way.  Unfortunately, even 
though Excel is accessible, you won't know what the graph looks like.  How numbers relate to each other on a graph 
is important for some concepts.  Therefore, even if you don't make the graph, it is important that you understand what 
they look like.  If what I have said is accurate, you should talk to your instructor and whatever resources to see if there 
is a more efficient way for you to handle this.  There are drawing kits that people can use to make tactile drawings, but 
this isn't always necessary.  I believe the American Printing House for the Blind still has graph paper, and one can do a 
lot with that and pipe cleaners.  The goal here would be to find tools that someone else could use to show you what 
the graphs look like if the kids are letting Excel generate the graphs for them.  

Try to get an idea of what the true purpose of this particular exercise is, to have you draw a graph or to have you see 
what it looks like.  

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Wed, 18 May 2011 16:09:11 -0400, -ris Nusbaum wrote:

>Ok.  Before I ask for the link, how much does it cost? Are there 
>any free ways I can learn to work it, like an FS Cast or 
>something?

> Chris

>"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)

>--- Sent from my BrailleNote

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "dreicer, zachary" <z.dreicer at emissives.com
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing 
>list<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Tue, 17 May 2011 15:46:32 -0600
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] MS Excel and accessibility

>pretty good! there's a carroll tech class if you want to pay for
>instruction.  Let me know and I can get you the link to their
>site

>Sent from my BRAILLENOTE Apex

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: ?is Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing
>list<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Tue, 17 May 2011 17:18:21 -0400
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] MS Excel and accessibility

>Good...  so, how does it work with JAWS?

> Chris

>"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)

>--- Sent from my BrailleNote

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "dreicer, zachary" <z.dreicer at emissives.com
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing
>list<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Tue, 17 May 2011 15:07:32 -0600
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] MS Excel and accessibility

>excel is pretty good with jaws

>Sent from my BRAILLENOTE Apex

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>To: NABS list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Tue, 17 May 2011 15:57:02 -0400
>Subject: [nabs-l] MS Excel and accessibility

>Hi, all!

>Lately in science class, we've been doing a lot of assignments
>involving graphing data from an experiment, or lab, into MS
>Excel.  Since we haven't tried it on my computer, and my TVI
>doesn't know a lot about its interaction with screen readers
>(JAWS in particular) we make the graph manually on my
>Braillewriter, which is tedious and time-consuming (at least more
>time-consuming than doing it in Excel.) This can amount to be
>pretty annoying.  My classmates are getting the graph done on the
>computer in no time and are moving on to notes that are homework
>if not finished in class, and having enough time to finish the
>notes and have no homework! However, I didn't even have time to
>start on the notes because the graph took so long to make (from
>scratch) on the Brailler, and had to do it all at home.  * Frown.
>So, I'd like to know how accessible Excel is to screen readers,
>especially in making graphs or spread sheets.  What have your
>experiences been with Excel and are there any tips or tricks you
>use with it? Or do I still have to go old-school and do it on the
>Brailler? (smile) Any help would be apreciated! Thanks!

>Chris Nusbaum

>"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)

>--- Sent from my BrailleNote

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