<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m =
"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"><HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<TITLE>Message</TITLE>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 10.00.9200.16721">
<STYLE>@font-face {
font-family: Cambria Math;
}
@font-face {
font-family: Calibri;
}
@font-face {
font-family: Arial Rounded MT Bold;
}
@page WordSection1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; }
P.MsoNormal {
FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
}
LI.MsoNormal {
FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
}
DIV.MsoNormal {
FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
}
A:link {
COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99
}
SPAN.MsoHyperlink {
COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99
}
A:visited {
COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99
}
SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {
COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99
}
PRE {
FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "HTML Preformatted Char"
}
SPAN.EmailStyle17 {
FONT-FAMILY: "Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-STYLE: normal; mso-style-type: personal-compose
}
SPAN.HTMLPreformattedChar {
FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "HTML Preformatted"; mso-style-name: "HTML Preformatted Char"
}
.MsoChpDefault {
mso-style-type: export-only
}
DIV.WordSection1 {
page: WordSection1
}
</STYLE>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></HEAD>
<BODY lang=EN-US link=blue vLink=purple>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I
think Ian may be on to something. If you cannot reach the keys, your keyboard is
not where it should be. No one should bend their hands "up" to reach the keys.
Our wrists are designed to rest at a flat position. The fingers need to curl to
actually "type" on the keys so your keyboard should actually have the back end
tilted down a little. I use what is called a natural keyboard, the board has the
keys split into two sides that have a little tilt and the center of the board is
raised on a curve. Because I am short, I have invested in a articulating
keyboard tray for my desk so that I can have a down ward angle to my keyboard
(plus, it gives enough clearance for my braille display to sit under the
keyboard). I have problems with my spine and thus have had to do extensive
research on ergonomics.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>If you
can't reach your keyboard, you need to be creative in figuring out how to bring
it to you. I don't think you'll ever be able to touch type if you keep a
keyboard in such an unnatural position with it sliding all over your desk. If
your hands shake uncontrollably for whatever reason, you need to have someone
build a tray to keep your keyboard from moving around. A better investment of
your time and money would be to purchase Dragon Naturally Speaking and learn how
to use your voice to operate the computer. It will take practice to learn to use
that software, but it does work with JAWS and you must use a headset to control
it so that it doesn't interpret the screen reader speech instead of yours.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>In my
experience, these are the only two options if you want to be independent and a
writer. If you don't need to do it yourself, the other option is to hire someone
to do all of your typing and either sit with them or record your stories and
have them transcribe them.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>If you
don't like the above options, I really think you are going to be very frustrated
in your attempts. There is no one way for blind people to do things, but we have
to figure something out that will actually work for us. I hope you are able to
get to the McDowell Center sooner rather than later so they can help you figure
out a solution.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=549503808-07112013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>Cindy</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Nfbktad
[mailto:nfbktad-bounces@nfbnet.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>April
Brown<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 06, 2013 7:55 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
nfbktad@nfbnet.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Nfbktad] Touch typing and
keyboard<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">
I will explain why I have to raise the back of the keyboard and leave it at
that. I may be 40, my hands and body think they are 90. If I don't
raise the back of the keyboard at least two inches, I can only reach the space
bar, and maybe, the bottom row of letters. My wrists do not angle in
that strange way type upside down. The keyboard is now sitting on two
boards to raise the back. They slide too much. Having the keyboard
raised has nothing to do with vision, and everything to do with being able to
reach the keys properly.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">April
Brown<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">Writing
dramatic adventure novels uncovering the myths we hide
behind.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">April,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">><I>From
what I hear you saying in this message, you are relying on your
vision<o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">that
doesn't exist to use the keyboard. Also, raising the "back" of
the<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">keyboard
is absolutely the wrong the thing to do. Just because they
put<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">those
legs on it doesn't mean that it is correct. Those legs are
because<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">people
have a crutch of needing to "see" the keyboard.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">It
takes a lot of practice to be able to touch type. I learned touch
typing<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">back
when the only thing electric on the typewriter was that it had a
return<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">key.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">Your
keyboard should NOT be moving as much as you describe unless you
have<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">some
other reason for being unable to keep it still.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">If
you practice for an hour every day in proper techniques, you will
develop<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">muscle
memory for touch typing. I actually had an extremely difficult
time<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">using
on screen keyboards when they came out because I did not know
where<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">the
keys were because I could not touch type. My fingers know where to
go<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">and
the only keys I have trouble with are the top row numbers because
my<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">fingers
are short (had this problem when I was learning in high school).
You<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">really
do need a structured program for learning to touch type. It
will<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">teach
you to learn the letters and then learn to put them together in
words<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">so
that when you type you think in words and not letters. I type about
70<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">wpm
and have done so since leaving high school.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">I
hope you find some of this helpful.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'">Cindy
Sheets<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV><BR><BR>
<HR
style="BORDER-TOP: medium none; HEIGHT: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; COLOR: #909090; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 99%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #b0b0b0">
<TABLE
style="BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 15px"><A
href="http://www.avast.com/"><IMG border=0
src="http://static.avast.com/emails/avast-mail-stamp.png" NOSEND="1">
</A></TD>
<TD>
<P
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','Verdana','Arial','Helvetica'; COLOR: #3d4d5a">This
email is free from viruses and malware because <A
href="http://www.avast.com/">avast! Antivirus</A> protection is active.
</P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>