[stylist] Using JAWS and vision on computer

[Donna Hill]

Bridgit and Jackie,
This brought up a memory from junior high that I'd like to share. I was
legally blind and still struggling with standard print at the time. My
mother taught me how to type at home, and when I got to the ninth grade, my
homeroom was the school's typing class. Since there was a typewriter at
every seat, I looked at it. I began to think that my vision was slipping
because I could not see the letters on the keys. Then, I found out that
there were no letters. Students were taught to type by touch and memory, so
they could use their eyes to read whatever they were supposed to be typing.
Typing without sight never seemed like a big deal after that, though
nowadays, I love the instant feedback of hearing every letter as I go.

Donna


-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 6:52 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] Using JAWS and vision on computer

Jackie,

Well, first of all, I come from one of the first generations that were
taught typing and word processing in school. While sighted, I had
learned to type on a computer without constantly looking at the
keyboard. Not all people pick this skill up, and by my teens, I could
type 60 WPM, which nowadays is nothing since many can type as much as
130 WPM; like anything, some find it easier than others; some can
eventually pick it up while others struggle. Nonetheless, I had the
added benefit of learning how to type long before losing my vision, so
that aspect was not new.

Now, despite my age, I'm not a big techy person. I did not truly start
using email until I was blind, and I rarely used the internet before I
was blind. In terms of learning these tools, sighted or blind, I
required practice and instruction.

I actually test at an above average hearing, but I always have even when
sighted, so this has nothing to do with my blindness. Short of a hearing
impairment though, most should be able to hear and understand a
screenreader, though I know it's common to struggle with the electronic
voice. I adjusted pretty quickly to the voice, and though I started out
around 15% for the speed with JAWS, within a week or so, it was too slow
for me. I now have it at a 60% speed, but I slow it down when trying to
really take material in such as when I edit Slate & Style. I have a
couple of friends though who can hear JAWS at an 80% speed. In my
opinion, how fast you listen to a screenreader is no indication of
anything other than one's ability to hear and understand something; it
has no bearing on how well you use it or one's level of learning.

While back in university, it was an adjustment to study with JAWS, and
though I knew how to use it for basic functions and could hear it, it
took me an entire semester to acclimate to learning mostly by audio,
whether it was JAWS or something else.

My greatest benefit has been that I attended an adult orientation
program at the Iowa Department for the Blind. I spent nine months
attending daily classes and learning through a combination of practicing
and doing real-life things in order to reiterate those skills. For
instance, going on camping trips, skiing, attending plays and sporting
events, cooking dinners for several people... Things like that that
helped reinforce the skills.

When I said I learned the basic functions of the computer with JAWS in
two months, it wasn't a brag, but simply a statement displaying if used
on a regular basis, a skill like JAWS can be picked up and become an
efficient way for one to navigate the computer. I didn't pick up
everything this quickly. Again, like any lesson in life, some are able
to pick up things quicker than others, and vice versus. It took me four
months to learn the Braille code and still longer to read it well, which
I still don't because of mild nerve damage in my hands. Ross learned
Braille in two months, and he remembers it all; I mean grade 1 and 2,
AKA, uncontracted and contracted. I know the alphabet and remember some
grade 2 that's often used, but by no means do I remember the entire
code. He's one of those annoying people, ha-ha!

Yes, in some ways, being younger and having more energy helps you when
learning new things, though while in training at IDB, several fellow
students were senior citizens living at the facility alongside me and
learning all the same skills. One gentlemen was in his 80s at the time.
In my experience, those who can attend a live-in training center, and
take it seriously, tend to not only learn the skills in a six to nine
month period, but tend to be a bit more successful. Of course there are
always exceptions, but this has been my observation.

I know not everyone can attend a live-in center for various reasons. An
illness caused my blindness, so I wasn't able to leave for IDB until I
regained my strength, which took about a year. I had literally almost
died, so the recovery process took time.

And many of my fellow students still had useable vision including my
husband. Pathetic story, Ross and I met in training. Yes, those with
some level of vision must wear sleep-shades during lessons, but
attending a live-in program is done by all blind people not just those
with no vision at all.

If you have the ability to attend a center though, I strongly urge
everyone to do so. Unfortunately, due mostly to funding, those who opt
for home training tend to get lost in the mix and do not receive
anywhere near the same level of training those in the live-in training
receive. I think this is ridiculous and needs to be changed.

When I was recuperating, I requested home training in the interim until
I could attend the live-in center. In a single year, I had one white
cane travel lesson, and I was loaned a computer with JAWS, but no one
ever came out to show me how to use it. I tried to teach myself, but
unlike my husband who can teach himself anything especially when it
comes to technology, I found it difficult. So I completely understand
the frustration of your situation, Jackie, and those like you. It's
unfair and ludicrous.

I have friends, my husbanded included, who were able to self-teach
Braille and screen reading skills. I admire this ability, and though I
tend to be able to pick up things quickly, it is only when I have
someone instructing me. In fact, I really learned how to use my skills
to the best of my ability when my husband, who has worked for IDB and
other places teaching alternative skills, took me under his wing and
worked with me. He has a true gift for teaching and knows alternative
skills like Braille, JAWS and cane travel like the back of his hand.
He's one of those annoying people who could be dropped off in the middle
of nowhere and find his way back pretty quickly, smile.

And when I say I learned JAWS pretty quickly, I mean the basic skills. I
can operate MS Word pretty well, and I'm familiar with basic online
navigation, but I'm no expert, nor do I know all the intricate
ins-and-outs of the program. Again, when I have a question, I ask Ross,
the hubby, who is getting his masters in computer science. Again, one of
those annoying people who can sit in front of a computer and mess
around, figuring things out without accidentally starting a nuclear war,
LOL! If I tried to figure out a program without knowing a single thing,
I would probably melt my computer down somehow, grin.

And I didn't truly retain my computer skills until I went back to
university and had to use it almost everyday. And especially with my
degree, creative writing, I had to retain JAWS and MS Word stuff. Using
it daily is what really gave me true efficiency with JAWS and the
computer.

So I apologize if my previous post sounded insensitive and derogatory. I
don't always consider at first that learning things like JAWS require a
lot, and depending on one's situation, receiving training may not be
simple either.

It is very possible to learn these skills and use them efficiently, but
we all learn at various levels and in multiple ways. Attending a
training center like IDB or one the NFB centers provides one with the
best chance of learning the skills and learning them well, but this is
not possible for some for many reasons- many legitimate.

In terms of the skills in-and-of themselves though, most people can
learn to harness them, and if used consistently and properly, are very
efficient and comparable to sight in most cases.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:14:47 -0700
From: "Jacqueline Williams" <jackieleepoet at cox.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Using JAWS and vision on computer
Message-ID: <E119F72CA4834E1ABF5050FF461EE49C at JackiLeePoet>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Bridget,
Perhaps we should be talking about I.Q.
When I returned from the blind center in Tucson, my Voc Rehab counselor
said I would need computer lessons for about one year to attain the
skills I would need for a job. Of course they did not have the people to
meet that requirement except on an off and on schedule with constant
change of instructors. There guidelines were accepted as the norm. When
you say you learned JAWS in about two months, it blows my mind. How
about two years? I have to assume that you had computer skills to start
with, which includes typing skills, and top-notch hearing. I have
suspected that you are extremely bright. You wear many hats, and have
boundless energy. Many of us may not be able to meet those performance
levels. Jackie 

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.net <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>

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