[Nfbf-l] GW Micro and Microsoft partnered to make Window-Eyes available to users of Microsoft Office at no cost

[Alan Dicey]

January 14, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fort Wayne, Indiana (January 14, 2014) - GW Micro, Inc. (www.gwmicro.com) is 
proud to make a revolutionary announcement. GW Micro and Microsoft Corp. 
have partnered to make Window-Eyes available to users of Microsoft Office at 
no cost. Window-Eyes is a screen reader that enables people who are blind, 
visually impaired, or print disabled to have full access to Windows PCs and 
makes the computer accessible via speech and/or Braille.

To better deliver Window-Eyes to the people who need it most, GW Micro and 
Microsoft have collaborated on this global initiative, available in over 15 
languages, to enable anyone using Microsoft Office 2010 or later to also use 
Window-Eyes for free.  Access to technology is critical to people who are 
blind or visually impaired in order to have the same opportunity to compete 
in the workplace. As such, this initiative between GW Micro and Microsoft 
has the potential to reduce barriers for millions of people who are blind or 
visually impaired around the world.

As the population ages, technologies like Window-Eyes will become more and 
more important as the number of people with age-related macular degeneration 
and other retinal degenerative diseases increases. "This significant change 
in the way we are doing business reflects the changing perception of 
accessibility and also technology in general.  Rather than wait for the 
world to change, Microsoft and GW Micro are leading the way," said Dan 
Weirich, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GW Micro.  Weirich 
believes this technology can help millions of people gain access to their 
PC, and that providing it free of charge will open a whole new world of 
assistive technology to many people.

In light of the rapidly changing face of technology and specifically, the 
changing face of assistive technology, the combined efforts of GW Micro and 
Microsoft have the goal of providing accessibility to people who are blind 
and visually impaired for the long term.

Microsoft continues to take accessibility seriously.  "By partnering with GW 
Micro in this endeavor we are demonstrating Microsoft's ongoing commitment 
to provide all of our customers with the technology and tools to help each 
person be productive in both their work and personal lives." said Rob 
Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer for Microsoft.

Eligible customers, using Microsoft Office 2010 or higher, will be able to 
download a full version of Window-Eyes starting today at 
www.WindowEyesForOffice.com.  The website provides download instructions as 
well as additional details about this offer.

GW Micro, Inc. (www.gwmicro.com) has been a trusted pioneer in the adaptive 
technology industry since 1990, and continues to lead with innovative, 
customer driven solutions.

Contact:
Dan Weirich, VP of Sales and Marketing
dan at gwmicro.com
(260) 489-3671

- - - -
With Best Regards,
God Bless,
Alan
Plantation, Florida
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