[blindkid] Need Tech help

Mon Jul 12 14:36:12 UTC 2010

Mac is also a great option for 2 reasons. It comes with voice over which 
many many blind people are using and for a child they wouldn't have the 
prior knowledge of a windows computer. Mac is also supporting Braille 
desplays. So Yes Mac is an option. Each has their Pros and cons.

Bran

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thea Eaton" <thea at doodledoo.com>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)'" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 9:04 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Need Tech help

>
> For a 9 year old computer user, we would recommend a PC with a screen 
> reader
> that is MSAA compatible, such as JAWS or Window Eyes. These screen readers
> can access Flash content, wich will allow your daughter to access 
> accessible
> Flash games and children's content on the web, and also any Flash modules
> that they use at school.
>
> We build accessible Flash applications for educational publishers such as
> Harcourt School and Pearson, who are increasingly putting their book 
> content
> out there online. Most of their ebOok and enrichment content is Flash
> content, so I would make sure that you choose a screen reader that is 
> Flash
> compatible. Most these screen readers do not work on a Mac, I'm afraid, so 
> I
> would not get a Mac.
>
> Thea Eaton
> DoodleDoo
> Where early birds learn.
> www.doodledoo.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Sally Thomas
> Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 6:42 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Need Tech help
>
> There are several different screen readers.  Besides JAWS there are Window
> Eyes, NVDA, and System Access. I believe they all have free demos. 
> Serotek
> offers a free version of their software to kids K-12
> (http://serotek.com/kk-main ).  We've found the biggest issue to be 
> dealing
> with what the school will allow on their computers and what the teacher of
> blind students will support.  For several years the only software 
> supported
> was JAWS.  Now we are leaning towards a Mac for a laptop with its built in
> VoiceOver screen reader and using a BrailleNote as a braille display and
> note taker.  Unfortunately there is not one definitive answer.  We've been
> very happy with the tech support we've received from Humanware with the
> BrailleNote.  Freedom Scientific has become more helpful in the past year
> with questions about JAWS.
>
> The most cost effective solution is free screen reader software on a 
> laptop
> but for a braille reader, getting braille under your fingers is very
> important at age 9.  I think that some sort of refreshable braille is 
> great.
>
> The new notetakers are so light and can do so much.  You might want to 
> call
> the different note taker companies and see if they will have a sales rep
> come to the school to demonstrate the technology.  It is a big purchase so
> you should be able to take a look at it before you buy.
>
> Sally Thomas
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
> To: <jjordan_pa at yahoo.com>; "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of
> blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 8:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Need Tech help
>
>
>> We have been through similar frustrations. I expect we all have to  sort
>> through this business at one time or another. Not to state the  obvious,
>> but it depends on what her peers are doing exactly. There are  definitely
>> a lot of questions to ask before you get out your checkbook  and you also
>> need to have some idea of your budget limit because this  can get costly
>> very quickly. (Yet it may also be fairly cheap to start!)
>>
>> Here are a few questions that come to mind for starters--
>>
>> Mac or PC?
>> Blind or Low Vision (or both)? (This drives discussions about screen
>> readers and refreshable braille and so forth).
>> Assuming she's a braille reader are you trying to come up with
>> refreshable braille?
>> Are you hoping to produce embossed output in braille?
>> Are you wanting to use a screen reader?
>> What computer applications do you hope to use?
>> Do you need web access?
>> Are you certain you want a conventional computer as compared to 
>> something
>
>> like a PAC Mate or a Braille Note?
>>
>>
>> The first thing to do would be to list out your goals and probably to
>> prioritize them as well. If this is a low vision situation as compared 
>> to
>
>> a blindness issue for example, there are ways to magnify text and
>> increase contrast that aren't terribly expensive or even free in some
>> cases. Is this mostly about web access or maybe printing out stories  she
>> writes? The questions go on and on...
>>
>> If you're using a PC and want a screen reader, JAWS costs $900 to  $1100
>> but you can also get a demo version (for free!) that runs about  45 or 50
>> minutes. After that you have to restart the machine before it  will work
>> again, but again, it is free to try.
>>
>> If you have or will get a BrailleNote or PAC Mate you may have a no-
>> additional-cost solution right there for refreshable braille  (depending
>> on the model).
>>
>> For embossing braille you either need to think used equipment or  budget
>> close $3000 for that alone, but if you have a decent PC  available and
>> just want a screen reader, you may be able to get a  temporary solution
>> going with only a free download. Sometimes, you can  get the school to
>> print things out for you and avoid buying an  embosser & the related
>> software for that.
>>
>> What does she use at school? Do they have any equipment to let her use 
>> at
>
>> home? Do you have to buy a new PC or do you already have one for  her?
>> Ideally, I'd say go to NFB convention and see all sorts of things  on
>> display but that just happened last week, so unless you have a  state
>> convention coming up with a technology display, that may not be  soon
>> enough since the Dallas National convention was only last week  (the
>> national convention won't happen again until Orlando in July 2011).
>>
>> Feel free to reply with more details for more suggestions though it  may
>> be best to take this off list as the discussion can become tedious  for 
>> so
>
>> many to be reading through.
>>
>> Richard
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jul 11, 2010, at 6:54 PM, jjordan_pa at yahoo.com wrote:
>>
>>> Anybody out there know what would be the best set up for my daughter  as
>>> far as computer technology? There are so many "things" out there  and it
>>> is all so expensive. Can't exactly buy it and "hope" that it  is useful.
>>> I need to "know" that it is useful before I purchase.  What do I need so
>>> that my 9 year old can use a computer like her  peers? I am so 
>>> frustrated
>
>>> right now and don't know where to turn.  HELP!!
>>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>>
>>
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