[nabs-l] using magnification or screen readers on mobile devices

Ellana Crew eemcrew at gmail.com
Mon Feb 27 23:57:30 UTC 2017


Hi Aaron,

I have a fairly moderate amount of residual vision, and I personally have chosen to use the built-in screen reader on my mobile devices. I used to use handheld magnifiers and large font settings before I learned about screen reader software, and when I first learned about them, I was like many with residual vision in my stubbornness against using nonvisual techniques and insisting on using my eyes. After my first exposure to independence training, however, where I was forced to sit down and really learn how the software worked and unlearn my bias assumption that it would be cumbersome and complicated, I was completely hooked and have never gone back since. I personally found using a screen reader to be incredibly freeing and much less strenuous, and as I really learned how to use it efficiently, it also proved to be immensely quicker for me than magnification. It took a little time to learn, but the more I used it in the better I got at it, the more and more quick I got at it and the more natural it felt, and now I don't even have to think about it. I still use a little handheld magnifying glass on occasion to get a good look at a picture or to use an occasional app that isn't accessible, but the vast majority of the time, using a screen reader is much more comfortable and officiant for me. I'm not sure if you have already learned to use the screen reading software on your mobile devices, but I hope this is helpful in some way.

Best,

Ellana Crew, Vice President
Maryland Association of Blind Students
Website: nfbmd.org/students
Facebook: facebook.com/mdabs.federation
Twitter: @MDABS_NFB

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

> On Feb 27, 2017, at 12:22 PM, Aaron via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hey guys,
> 
> I was wondering for those of you who have a little vision, do you use a
> screen reader or the built in magnification tool? Do you use a combination
> of both? I'm struggling of which to use and would like some opinions. 
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Aaron Linson 
> 
> CEO Blind Faith Project <http://www.facebook.com/blindfaithproject> 
> 
> CEO Linson Productions
> 
> 
> 
> Aaron Linson 
> 
> 
> 
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