[nfbcs] NVDA product question

[Nancy Coffman]

I work for the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We use JAWS in the agency because it is compatible with the other software we use. My experience is that free screen readers sometimes work better with free software such as Open Office.

I don't know if Freedom Scientific charged for their services, but when we had accessibility problems with our web-based case management system, they helped to resolve them. Between their web presence, the training materials which are cheap or free, and the phonelines, we get good technical support from Freedom Scientific. am still a believer that you usually will get what you pay for. I also have free screen readers on my computer. I work with them if JAWS doesn't work well or if I want to learn about them. I even donate to NV-Access occasionally.

Nancy Coffman
Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 31, 2014, at 1:06 PM, "Stanzel, Susan - FSA, Kansas City, MO via nfbcs" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Gary,
> 
> One reason I would continue to pay is the wonderful customer assistance. Jaws staff is always cordial and very helpful.
> 
> 
> Susie
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Wunder via nfbcs
> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2014 12:14 PM
> To: 'Mike Jolls'; 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] NVDA product question
> 
> Hello, Mike. I am delighted that you read the article about NVDA in the Braille Monitor, and I want to give you a heads up about something that will appear in the November issue.
> 
> We have run two articles talking about free or essentially free software for blind people, but I wanted the Braille Monitor also to make the case for why we have for-profit commercial screen readers and what role they play in our education and employment. I think I found that article, and I hope that it provokes discussion. The essence of the article is that free might not be everything it is cracked up to be if we are interested in efficiency, and I think anyone who is employed knows that efficiency is a key issue.
> 
> Thank you for being a reader of the Braille Monitor. Please feel free to write me with ways in which I can make the publication more responsive to the things that you want and need. My email address for Monitor-related issues is gwunder at nfb.org
> 
> Warmly,
> 
> Gary
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Jolls via nfbcs
> Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2014 2:00 PM
> To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbcs] NVDA product question
> 
> So I was reading the NFB Monitor this morning and came across an article about NVDA.  I didn't know much about it up to this point, but as I read the article by the person who created the free screen reader, it really intrigued me.  Up until this point I've sworn by JAWS ... but it is pricey and in a few years I'll be wanting to retire ... and NOT have to pay the price for upgrades all the time.  Having a free screen reader would be a good thing.... providing it's a good product.  It sounds like it, but I wanted to get some opinions.  I know some of you out there have spoken about it so I'm hoping we have some users on this list.  Can anybody comment on the product?  How does it stack up next to Jaws and does it support Freedom Scientific's Braille displays?  In addition, I might be interested in contacting the developer and get on board in helping out people once I don't have the responsibilities of working for a living.
> 
> Comments welcome.
> 
> 
> 
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