[nabs-l] [gui-talk] Fwd: Object-oriented Programming Classes Questions

[Steve Jacobson]

Mike,

You have received many answers, but I don't know that the general question has been addressed.  I do not have a lot of experiences with object oriented 
programming, but I've done a little with various integrated development environments and I have had to take a lot of classes on the job over the years.

My approach has always been to try to learn in a class the same thing that the other students were learning.  What this has meant for me is that working 
with someone else has often, but not always been a part of how I have operated.  I have usually not required a dedicated reader.  My approach has been 
to get as much of the materials as I can in an accessible format and then try to work with a co-worker taking the same class.  I tend to take a lot of notes 
which include notes on how the person with whom I am working accomplishes tasks, even if it is with the mouse.  I have found that if they are using 
software that is not familiar to me, it is easier for me to learn how to use the software itself after the fact with the knowledge I have gained as a result of 
working with someone else.  Even if they use a mouse in a way that I would not do it, knowing how they do something helps me understand how I might go 
about it and it helps me understand what the instructor is teaching.

If I am taking a class in something that uses software with which I am familiar, I would probably tend to work alone if that is what others were doing.  In the 
situation that you are in where the language you learn might well be independent of the software you use, and if you have time, it might be worth trying to 
become familiar with the software ahead of time whether or not you work with a reader.  As I understand it, there are still some rough edges to using Visual 
Studio with a screen reader but mostly it can be done.  It is possible that you would do best to use whatever version works best with your screen reader 
even if it is different than what the class uses, but that would be a judgement call.  I know that there are people using Visual Studio with JFW and to a lesser 
degree Window-Eyes on the PROGRAM-L list, so you probably should subscribe and ask there.The address to subscribe is

program-l-request at freelists.org

and put "subscribe" without the quotes in the subject line.

I know that some people really put down the use of Integrated Development Environments, but they can really increase one's efficiency.  However, you 
could find that other IDE's work better than Visual Studio for you depending upon the language.  Some of the less expensive text editors like UltraEdit and 
the free text editor PSPAD have some useful IDE features.  Still, a more complicated IDE such as Visual Studio has some nice features for laying out 
screens if you are needing to develope a GUI interface, and at least some versions have some features that can be helpful with a screen reader.

I hope some of this is helpful, although I suspect you know most of it already.  Good luck.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Thu, 19 May 2011 10:41:51 -0700, Mike Freeman wrote:


>> From: "Freeman,Mike - TOSD-DITT-2"
>> Date: May 19, 2011 10:30:09 PDT
>> Subject: Object-oriented Programming Classes Questions
>> 

>> Hello.
>>  
>> Although I have had some experience with languages implementing object-oriented programming, I've never taken classes on the subject. My question is 
this: what platforms are beginning object-oriented programming classes generally run on and what accessibility tools are needed for a totally-blind student? Is 
the best option to use a human reader?
>>  
>> We use visual Studio 2008 around my work environment. Are there training courses on how to use it with JAWS, say, in C# programming? Are there e-
texts on the subject approached from a screen-reader perspective?
>>  
>> WE use Ruby around my work environment also. Any experiences with this language and platforms on which its interpreter runs from an accessibility 
perspective?
>>  
>> And what's the situation viz. Java programming these days insofar as blind access is concerned?
>>  
>> T I A!
>>  
>> Mike
>>  
>>  
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