[blindkid] Why JAWS?

Thu Mar 7 19:19:08 UTC 2013

Rita,

It is great that you are already researching what types of tools are out
there for your son!  Braille note takers are powerful and expensive
devices.  They are huge asset to students in that they have word
processing, contacts, calendars, and the ability to read or listen to
braille books all in one device.  Most kids start to use a braille note
taker in the middle to late elementary years or middle school years when
the amount of reading and writing starts to increase and when the other
students start to more of their work digitally as well.  Some students use
laptops with JAWS and others are now opting for I-Pads instead.  Each
device has it's pros and cons depending on what you are trying to
accomplish. As you son gets older you will get a better feel for what he
needs in school including what technology the teachers and other students
are using and that will help to drive your decision.

The pre school and early elementary years are a time when kids are learning
to read and write.  Sighted kids are immersed in print rich environments,
learning to identify and read and write letters, words and eventually
beginner books.  Likewise braille readers should have braille all around
them.  Let him experiment with a Perkins Brailler and a slate and stylus.
Create braille labels all around your house. Look for educational toys that
have tactile and auditory feedback.  Leap Frog used to have great pre
reading toys that were relatively easy to braille.

Continue to let him experiment on the computer. If you have an I-Phone or
I-Pad kids tend to figure our the Voice Over   commands quickly because
they are not as complicated as JAWS.  My son is a MAC user so we don't use
JAWS, so I can't really speak to that part of your question.

Keep up the good work!  School moves fast and it is always great for
parents to try to stay one step ahead.  Feel free to contact me on my
personal e-mail if you want to chat more or interested in more resources.

Sincerely,

Amy Shepherd
amyshepherd at mpvi.org

On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 1:06 PM, Rita Barrett <atirjoybear at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi all! I am the proud mommy of my brilliant baby boy, Paul. He is only
> 2&1/2 but is already enrolled at our public school in an early intervention
> program.  He has some light perception, we did the teller acuity test at
> the ophomologist and they said his vision is 20/800 with glasses on.  I
> have been observing the discusssions here for the last month or so.  Just
> wondering what is the earliest age anyone has started their child with the
> braille notetaker? I am very unsavvy when it comes to technology. I have
> downloaded the JAWS demo on my laptop but am basically at a loss when it
> comes to trying to operate it. I only did try to get it to read me some
> webpages but it seemed like it would stop shortly after it started. Not
> sure if my lack of patience and click happiness may have been to blame or
> not.  Paul is already wanting to play on the computer, we go to you tube a
> lot and listen to different animal sounds and instruments but I definitely
> do
>  not want to hold him back in any way.  I  have already filed my first
> official complaint with the school system and altho  I dont enjoy it I am
> more than willing to go to the school and insist he get some technology
> goals in his IEP if anyone thinks it is even remotely possible that
> I have a chance of succeding at a such a young age?, maybe at the start of
> the next school year? Meanwhile any helpful hints or links on how to start
> learning more about JAWS would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Many Thanks, Rita Joy
> --- On Thu, 3/7/13, Sally Thomas <seacknit at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Sally Thomas <seacknit at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Why JAWS?
> To: "Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <
> blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Thursday, March 7, 2013, 1:43 AM
>
>
> I agree with Arielle's comment on self teaching a new OS.  Technology is
> changing all the time so it's probably most important to foster an attitude
> of experimenting and discovery.  The TVI's I've encountered haven't been
> experts in assistive technology.  Much of the learning my son has done has
> been through just trying it out and talking with others using the
> technology.  It's the way I've learned most of my computer skills too.
>
> One comment about the netbook option--just make sure it has enough memory
> to make JAWS useable.  I'm not sure how powerful netbooks are these days
> but some of the original netbooks weren't powerful enough to run JAWS.
>
> Sally Thomas
>
> On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 8:42 AM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > I think part of it depends on what size Braille display she would get
> > if she went the JAWS plus Braille display route. If it's a portable
> > display like RefreshaBraille, she probably doesn't need a notetaker on
> > top of that. But if the Braille display they want to get is a huge 40
> > or 80-cell one, she may need the notetaker for portability. Personally
> > if I were the one doing the tech assessment, I would probably
> > recommend getting a small Braille display and a lightweight PC like a
> > netbook or ultrabook.  Netbooks are inexpensive, portable and have
> > long battery lives and I don't know of anything an elementary student
> > would do that couldn't be done on a netbook. RefreshaBraille from APH
> > can connect to the computer via USB or bluetooth if the computer is
> > bluetooth-enabled. It can also connect very easily with Macs and Apple
> > devices like iPhones, so if she were to get a Braille display she
> > could potentially have Braille access on your home computer as well,
> > though I suppose the same could be said of notetakers. While I haven't
> > used a notetaker since 2010, my experiences surfing the Internet with
> > Braille Notes has not been great. She definitely needs access to
> > either a Mac or PC though I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment on
> > which one is more critical to learn first. I do think once she learns
> > one operating system, she can self-teach another one if that becomes
> > necessary.
> > Arielle
> >
> > On 3/6/13, Allison Hilliker <AllisonH at benetech.org> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi folks,
> > >
> > > Just a note to mention that one doesn't have to use JAWS in order to
> > become
> > > proficient with using Windows with a screenreader. While I agree that
> > > understanding Windows and MS Office is important for future success in
> > the
> > > business world, JAWS isn't the only screenreading solution for Windows.
> > > Serotek provides its screenreader, System Access, for free to K-12
> > students.
> > > And the screenreader NVDA is free for everyone. Either of these may
> work
> > for
> > > a student whose teacher is reluctant to pay $800+ for JAWS.
> > >
> > > Just my thoughts.
> > >
> > > Allison
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> > Brandon and
> > > Sarah
> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 3:28 PM
> > > To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
> > > Subject: [blindkid] Why JAWS?
> > >
> > > I'm trying to make sense of a recent conversation with our daughter's
> > > TVI, who I realize is not up speed on technology - to be fair, neither
> > > am I. We were discussing a braille notetaker vs. braille display +
> > > computer. The TVI thinks she can justify the cost of a notetaker to
> > > the district by not having to get JAWS. Her impression is that JAWS is
> > > only for screenreading of internet material, which a notetaker can
> > > theoretically do. Here is my question for those who are ahead of us on
> > > this issue: If you have a notetaker at the elementary level and home
> > > computer access with Voiceover, is there a strong reason to have/learn
> > > JAWS? We have the MS Office for Mac on the home computer, so I'm less
> > > concerned about Emilia missing out on the Windows experience than I am
> > > about her getting more acquainted with accessing school curriculum,
> > > doing school work, etc. by electronic means. Thanks. Brandon
> > >
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> > >
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-- 
Amy Shepherd
MPVI President
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