You're invited to join....

the Inclusive Planet, the "best place on the web for accessible content, conversations and friends."

Lots of information for blind users, including about NVDA, the new open source screen reader.

And more information is there for those of us who may not know what a perkins brailler is.

And while I'm sending invitations, don't forget that there's a disability blog carnival on the horizon.

Will the real assistive technology stand up?

I was just over at Planet of the Blind which is both a blog and a place as far as I'm concerned. I go there to read poetry some days. I also visit to hear the thoughts of author and professor Stephen Kuusisto. His blog writing has been hampered lately, as has apparently all his other writing, because of computer issues.

Today he writes about PC and Mac fails with assistive technology needs for the blind and visually impaired. It's a piece worth reading. It's a disgrace that computers still lack access for people with disabilities, despite their claims that onboard software offers accessibility solutions.

The new Windows 7 system is supposed to have its own screen reading software built in, along with screen magnification. "Huzzah!" thought I. "Let's give it a go!"

Well of course it turns out that the W7 "narrator" is just a stunt or a gimmick--it's not a fully functional screen reading program like Jaws (which though pricey does afford full functional access to most major Microsoft programs). So guess what? Blind people will still have to fork out the hefty price for Jaws or its competitors in order to effectively use the pc.

If you're a visually impaired person this is all familiar enough


On top of this, computers present compatibility issues with assistive software and operating systems. So what about Macs....

Given all the problems with Windows 7 and the Dell laptop and Jaws I began to think about switching to the new Mac. Apple has been touting (or is that "tooting"?) about its new "Voice Over" screen reading program that's built into the OS 10 operating system. IN effect they're bragging about how seamless and accessible the new Mac is for blind people.

So of course I tried it out with a loaner Mac from the university. What I discovered is that Voice Over doesn't work with Mac's version of Microsoft Office, the very productivity tool one needs to work at the University of Iowa. It doesn't work with the Mac version of "Outlook" which is called "Entourage" nor does it work with the Mac version of "Word". I spent hours last night combing through Apple's unfriendly assistive technology website trying to gain information about why Voice Over couldn't work with these essential tools. Lo and Behold, buried on a web page about programs that "do" work one finds by process of elimination that Voice Over won't currently function with these all important programs.

Go on over and read the rest- about the effect all of this has had on Steve's ability to get work done and the amount of time he's had to waste trying to get information, much less a solution to these issues.

Curious sighted people want to know....

...are there grocery stores for blind people?

Check out this article over at Fred's Head about the myths-and questions- encountered by the author.

Some folks use people with disabilities as their very own Google search, with no regard for the person's feelings.

Accessible gaming: Audio ping pong

The tech/gadget blogs are talking about a game of ping pong that is played via audio, with mixed reviews. One complaint is that it's more difficult, but the game does present a possibility for those with visual impairments and mobility impairments since it's hands free. Me? I think it's brilliant.

Basically you put on a set of headphones and listen to sounds to direct you as to which direction to tilt your head to "pong" the ball back. Simple idea and who knows- maybe it will lead to more audio games. The guy who created this? Mike McCracken, whose blog you can find here.

Mind Tree Poems

A link to a site with a bio of a young man with autism who is also visually impaired who has written poetry on an alphabet board. His poems are about his experience of living with autism.

An excerpt from The Mind Tree:

Maybe it is night
Maybe it is day
I can't be sure
Because I'm not yet feeling the heat of the sun
I am the mind tree
When I had been gifted this mind of mine
I recall his voice very clearly
To you I have given this mind
And you shall be the only kind
No one ever will like you be
And I name you the mind tree
via nationalgeographic.com

To read more, please click the link above.

h/t NJCIM list serv

New to the blogroll: JacksLists

...about the blogger's " journey with her visually impaired son, and a resource for parents who don't know what they don't know, but want to find out". I love that title.

I was fortunate enough to find this blog from a comment. Nancy, Jack's mom, writes about her son, Jack, who is visually impaired as the result of "shaken baby syndrome" from a non-family member.

One of the features of the blog are letters that Nancy writes to her son. This one talks about how she feels on Sunday nights when Jack goes back to school. Go on over and check out all the great posts and information.

Cellphone can read to you

A Nokia cell phone can take pictures and read what it "sees" back to a user. It's pricey and although accuracy is said to be good (not excellent), this device represents an advance in technology for the visually impaired.

The phone, unlocked, costs between 500 and 600 dollars but it's the software that's more expensive, ranging in the $!500 range. This is the secret behind the technology, however.

"But it's the character-recognition and text-to-speech software from KNFB Reading Technology that makes it so powerful. KNFB is a joint venture of the National Federation of the Blind and Kurzweil Technologies."

Users have found it helpful for such things as reading print from newspapers and books, distinguishing labels on items (one person used it to see which was caffeinated/decaffeinated coffee in a hotel room) , and currency. It doesn't matter whether you take the picture of the print/text upside down or rightside up - the software works either way.

You'll find more information at the link above.

In other assistive device news:

Do you use the Kindle or Sony E Reader for hands free reading? Some of my friends do. Check this out.

Borders book store plans on competing against Amazon and its Kindle by launching a site offering books for the Sony EReader. Additionally, Borders is opening some digital centers at its book stores, offering customers various services, including free tech assistance for downloading books, music and working with photos.

This is interesting, since Kindle has been unavailable for months (you can order, but they're out of stock.) It's become the new Wii. One of my friends bought the Sony E Reader instead rather than wait any longer. Personally, I'd like to see a review of either device by someone with a disability.

Read This to Me

A free service for blind and visually impaired people is available (click above).

"ReadThisToMe allows blind and low-vision people to have printed documents read to them over the phone. All the blind person needs is a phone line and a fax machine (no computer is required.) Here's how it works:

The blind person (whom we'll call the "client") faxes the document to be read to the ReadThisToMe toll-free fax number: 1-877-333-8848. The first page of the fax needs to be a cover page that includes the client's first name and callback (voice) phone number. The document itself can be just about anything: a handwritten letter, a bill, a can of food, a multi-page magazine article -- just about anything that can be faxed.
One of ReadThisToMe's volunteer readers will call the client back and read the document.
That's it!
The service is available throughout the U.S. and is absolutely free (though donations are gladly accepted)."
-via their web site

ImagineIT Workshop for Visually Impaired Students

"Stephanie Ludi and Tom Reichlmayr, software engineering professors at the Rochester Institute of Technology, are working to increase the participation of people with visual impairments in computing fields. The ImagineIT summer workshop, funded by Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) of the National Science Foundation, is designed for middle and high school students (in grades 7 through 12) who have visual impairments and would like to learn more about computing through hands-on experiences. Participants learn about the wide variety of career fields within computing and explore how computing is applied in the real world.

The ImagineIT workshop is divided into three main modules: Robotics, Networking & Computer Hardware, and Game Design.

In the Robotics module, students learn about computer programming and design through Lego Mindstorms. Student teams use screen readers and magnification software, alongside accessible design manipulatives, to solve a problem involving searching using touch and sound. The activity encourages creativity alongside problem-solving and computing skills.
In the Networking & Computer Hardware module, students learn about the science of the computer while building a computer from its basic components and subsequently connecting the computer to the Internet. The tactile activity and lively discussion help students increase their confidence with computers and networking.
The Game Design module provides students the opportunity to design and program a computer game that is accessible and enjoyable. Each team develops a unique game that is shared with others." Via their site

The workshops also provide students social and networking opportunities. For more information, click the topic heading above.

It would be great to see more colleges hold workshops like this to give students with disabilities opportunities to improve their educational experience and, hopefully, job opportunities.


[visual description: A visually impaired student examines a robot on the desk in front of him by touch. Another student is sitting next to him.]

Vision World Wide

A friend alerted me to this resource to share with my readers after I emailed her with a link to Wheelchair Dancer's Braille Graffiti post .

From their website:

"Vision World Wide is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of the vision impaired through direct interaction and indirectly through the caregiving community. We serve both the totally blind and those with various degrees and forms of vision loss.

We provide invaluable information, education, guidance, support and consumer protection, not only to the blind and visually impaired, but to the many professionals (medical, social and technical) who serve them.

Do you or someone you know have eye problems? Are you a professional working with individuals who have vision loss? We are here to serve you through this web site, our telephone helpline, our E-Mail list, and our Webletters."

Their site has an audio message and a link to instantly chat with someone.

Hey kids - bookshare and RFBD have the new Harry Potter!

If you have a disability and belong to bookshare and/or RFBD (or have a child who does), just a shout out that they have already scanned Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (I know my nephews are straining at the bit to get this....)

[visual description: A photo of the front cover of the new Harry Potter Book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Underneath the book title is a photo of Harry Potter in his wizard robes, with his left hand up in the air, palm extended, looking into the distance.]

"Talking" paper invented

[visual description: A billboard is shown that is approximately three times the height of a chair in front of it .]

Digital paper that can speak has been invented by scientists.

"Researchers from Mid Sweden University have constructed an interactive paper billboard that emits recorded sound in response to a user's touch.
The prototype display uses conductive inks, which are sensitive to pressure, and printed speakers.
The team envisages that the technology could be used by advertisers, and in the future, it might even be employed for product packaging."

Although this BBC article makes no mention of its use as an assistive technology device, I found this exciting. (They think it would be great on cigarette packaging, but I think of my Ski for Light and blind friends and have all kinds of other ideas.) The example shown is for advertising - the way it works is that you touch the screen (like a board/kiosk) and then a voice streams out (digital file).

Hopefully this break through could be extended toward other ideas - classroom applications, handouts, smaller sheets of "paper", menus, displays in train/bus stations to make people more independent, maps in malls, etc. Very exciting how much independence this could provide through this technology.

Electronic Virtual Assistant anyone?

EMAX is a new service that reads email messages to users over the phone. You can respond by voice, which is recorded and sent as a digital sound file. It's available for 19.95/month and comes with a 30 day free trial. Click above or call 1 877 447-3382 to subscribe if this sounds like assistive technology that you could use.

Hat tip to Talking Book Topics

Universal design needs to consider low vision users

Scott over at Rolling Rains posts about an article stating that low vision users do not receive the consideration they need when universal design planning is done. (Click above to read his post).

One of my blind friends Sue was telling me that the curbcuts wheelchair users need are a huge problem for her mobility. She provided input on a local level to the design plans for curbcuts so they would take into consideration the needs of blind and low vision people. This may seem obvious to say but it's important to design accommodations in a way that does not present further barriers for folks with other disabilities.

It is also important, as the article Scott cites points out, to consider lighting conditions when planning for low vision users. The article describes the difficulties a woman with low vision encounters in her own home due to the lighting conditions- a situation that will become more common in the baby boomer generation.

As we see more input from people with disabilities, hopefully architects and others will learn what constitutes true "universal design". To achieve that goal, I encourage readers to speak up if they encounter accommodations that present additional barriers or have ideas to improve future designs. Your experiences and input are valuable.

Excellent video on blindness and visual impairment

I'm linking over to Planet of the Blind (click above) where Connie has posted a video about blindness and partial visual impairments that is excellent. Thanks Connie!

It answers many questions and based on the comments has been of help to friends, relatives and loved ones of those dealing with these issues as well as folks living with them.

I always encourage everyone to take minutes out of your day to view these videos. Educating ourselves about disability is a wonderful way to practice inclusion. If you'd like to view more information about disabilities, click on my label "learning about disability".