[nfbcs] JAWS, Bookshare, and Web reader

Wed Apr 3 18:01:28 UTC 2013

Sometimes, knowing how to find the answer is better than having someone just 
tell you, so you might be helping your students by teaching them how to hunt 
for answers.
Granted, when I go to someone with a question, I like it best if they can 
just tell me, but, if they have helpful suggestions where to look, I can use 
those suggestions next time a problem comes up.

It sometimes seems to me, and probably shows I'm getting old, that, with 
special aides and disability services and all, that students don't know how 
to help themselves.  When I was in college, there weren't any disability 
services offices, and I got pretty good at chasing things down myself.  It 
took time and energy, but, on the other hand, when I got out of school and 
into work, where there aren't any special services, I had a good idea of how 
to get what I needed, and it wasn't a big shock to me.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Portillo" <portillo.jim at gmail.com>
To: "'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] JAWS, Bookshare, and Web reader

> Thanks.
>
> Everyone's right in their observations.  Gabe, you're right in that 
> students
> don't deserve to get the short end of the stick.  And, believe it or not, 
> I
> wasn't learning on the job because for the past few weeks, I've not had 
> time
> to learn things on the job.  Too many people in a day.  So, I do spend a 
> lot
> of my personal time doing the research and asking the necessary questions.
> I also don't have some of the equipment that I see people bringing in for 
> my
> own personal use, so I have to ask questions.
>
> Dave, you are right.  Sometimes, things get thrown at you last minute. 
> So,
> you make opportunities out of them.  Otherwise, you'll have plenty of
> stress.  And, you build a network of people who can help ease the load.
>
> I do wish I knew much more about every gadget and service out there, but
> it's just not possible.  Aside from that, I can't spend all of my time on
> this stuff because I also have a life and other commitments and
> responsibilities after work.  But, I don't shirk what I need to do and
> haven't had a complaint yet.
>
> That's why I appreciate this list.  I consider it like a think tank where 
> we
> help one another.  And, if you have further ideas as to how I can improve,
> shoot them my way.  I'm always willing to learn more and spend the time
> doing it.  And, I'm the first to also tell my students "I don't know, but
> I'll be glad to help you find the answer."  No shame in that, and they
> appreciate the honesty.  To me, that's the sign of a good and honest
> teacher.
>
> Jim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Hyde, David W.
> (ESC)
> Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 5:56 AM
> To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] JAWS, Bookshare, and Web reader
>
> You know, that is a great idea which, in many teaching environments, has 
> no
> contact with reality. There are times when you are told as instructor that
> you need to teach in an area in which you have passing familiarity. A good
> teacher will find out what he or she needs to teach, learn it, and teach 
> it.
> You solve the problem that you have. What you "should have known" is
> unimportant. There are times when the instructor and the student learn
> simultaneously. This is not a bad thing.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gabe Vega Via
> Iphone4S
> Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 7:30 PM
> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
> Cc: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] JAWS, Bookshare, and Web reader
>
> But it is not your job, to learn on the job. You should have learned this,
> or have known how to do this, before you will put into this situation. 
> That
> is we are that is why we are all trained the way we are so that we will 
> know
> how to do stuff before we are asked how to do I feel that the student is
> getting the short end of the stick, due to you lack of knowledge. And that
> is not fair
>
> Gabe Vega
> Sent from my iPhone
> (623) 565-9357
>
> On Apr 2, 2013, at 5:22 PM, "Jim Portillo" <portillo.jim at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the encouragement, Gabe.
>> Unfortunately, I'm who he's got, and I have to make it work because
>> it's my job.
>> It's a learning opportunity for me as well, but this situation just
>> came up as a request from another teacher working with him.
>> Jim
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gabe Vega
>> Via Iphone4S
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 5:09 PM
>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] JAWS, Bookshare, and Web reader
>>
>> Not to seem harsh, but this sounds like your way in over your head.
>> Why not transfer him to AAT trainer that knows about braille? And how
>> braille devices work?
>>
>> Gabe Vega
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> (623) 565-9357
>>
>> On Apr 2, 2013, at 3:29 PM, "Jim Portillo" <portillo.jim at gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi there,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have questions I need to find answers to by tomorrow and not enough
>>> time to play around with what I need. <grin>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> A student of mine needs to be able to read a bookshare book both
>>> using his Braille display and JAWS.  At first, I'd downloaded the BRF
>>> file and opened it with NotePad.  The Grade 2 Braille file came up
>>> just fine, but JAWS was reading the translated code.  That didn't work.
>>>
>>> Then I found out about Web Reader from Bookshare, and I guess I can
>>> click on the "Read Now" link, and the book will show up in both text
>>> and
>> with JAWS.
>>> Here are my questions.  Oh, and this kid is using a Brailliant display.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> First, JAWS seems to be reading just fine, but do you know if the
>>> actual book will appear in Grade 2 on the Braille display?  I don't
>>> have one available right now to test it out, and I see him first
>>> thing tomorrow morning.
>>>
>>> Second, when I did the "read now" feature, Bookshare's introductory
>>> section popped up, and then when it ended, I just got a "frame end"
>>> message.  I couldn't go any further.  Do I use the Frames list for
>>> this, or should things be coming up on their own?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Finally, if Grade 2 Braille doesn't appear on the Braille display,
>>> what would be the easiest way of getting it to display in Grade 2
>>> without affecting how JAWS is reading the book?
>>>
>>> I thought perhaps altering the JAWS Braille setting, but not having
>>> used a Brailliant except for demos, I am not sure.
>>>
>>> Any help would be appreciated.  My next thought is to possibly put it
>>> on his BrailleNote, but I'm not sure if he wants it done that way.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>>
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