In spite of the many problems we have with our sometimes not so favorite screen reader, it can still be good to be a JAWS user. I ran across a message on the GW Micro Info list complaining that only JAWS users could read protected Epub books with the new Adobe Digital Editions 1.8 Preview. Apparently, Window-Eyes doesn't have the needed support for the program, and JAWS for Windows 12 does.

I immediately went to

http://blogs.adobe.com/accessibility/2011/07/books-for-everyone-an-accessible-digital-editions-for-windows-and-mac.html?PID=4166869

to read all about it. (If this long link wraps, just copy it into your browser.)

The blog entry gives you some information about the program, and the comments from those who have tried it are also helpful. There are also links to the download page.

If you decide to try the program, be sure to read through the included book for instructions on how to use it with JAWS. You can then go out and find some Epub books either from Overdrive or from commercial bookstores. You will need to create an Adobe ID on the Adobe web site if you don't have one. This will allow you to authorize the program on more than one computer if you plan to read your books in other locations.

I am currently reading an Epub book from Overdrive, and it is reading very well. There doesn't seem to be any way to read continuously; so, we will just have to read the books a page at a time like the sighted folks do.

I will say that reading an Epub book with this program is much more pleasant than reading one on my iPod Touch with the Overdrive Ap, as I did a couple of months ago.
Gary King
w4wkz@...
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