Date
1 - 20 of 35
Focus 40 Blue for JAWS
|
Richard Holloway
Okay, I'm back in Focus 40 question mode, but now the confusion is tied straight to a JAWS machine.
We have a 32 bit HP desktop unit running Vista. We have a Focus 40 Blue (Classic model) that has been plugged to the machine for a couple of years via USB. We couldn't use Bluetooth because we were still running JAWS 11. I've upgraded to JAWS 14 and added a Rocketfish Bluetooth USB adapter. I have run the appropriate installer for the adapter and it looks like Bluetooth is running, but I can't see anything to pair. The 40 Blue is charged fully and operating properly-- definite turned on too... A day or so ago, I was pairing a new generation Focus 40 Blue to an iDevice and found I had to pair through VoiceOver, not in the regular Bluetooth area, so I thought that might be similar with JAWS. Well, I can switch Braille to Bluetooth and see the adapter appears to be there and it wasn't before I added the USB adapter, but with one or two different Focus 40's running in the room, and the classic has never been paired to anything, I don't see a display to select through JAWS. It can't be all that hard to pair this thing, can it? What simple step am I missing? Sent from my iPhone |
|
|
|
Richard Holloway
Interestingly, while I had been told I needed to upgrade to JAWS12 or newer for BT operation, I just read in the manual that for "JAWS 12 or earlier" you have to find the outgoing port number assigned to the Focus display. (Under Bluetooth setup.)
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I guess it is good to be current, but I bought the JAWS upgrade so my daughter could use her computer from across the room. So far she still can't and it looks like this should have worked without the upgrade for the past two years. I also bought this new Rocketfish BT adapter just in case the old one was part of the problem-- apparently another bad guess. To be completely clear, this manual is for the new Focus 40 Blue and I was trying to configure a "classic model", but BT isn't seeing either the new or classic models turned on and in the same room. Sent from my iPhone On Jul 15, 2013, at 11:58 AM, Richard Holloway <rholloway@...> wrote:
Okay, I'm back in Focus 40 question mode, but now the confusion is tied straight to a JAWS machine. |
|
|
|
Lee Maschmeyer
For what it's worth (every penny you pay for this advice <grin>) screenreaders are far too much in flux to skimp on updates. If you have the money it is close to imperative, imho, to purchase every single update. And, when you do an automatic upgrade, destroy your personal settings for that version and use Settings Center to recreate them from scratch. Personal settings are, for example, the ones in:
c:\users\lmaschm\appdata\roaming\freedom scientific\jaws\ This is the path on Windows 7. Other versions have slight variations. And of course replace lmaschm with your (or your daughter's) ID. Just shooting off my mouth but it really is a good idea to buy new versions so you're lucky you did so, -- Lee Maschmeyer "Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise." --Lewis Carroll |
|
|
|
Richard Holloway
Your advice is sound.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
However, my daughter is only 10 (now) and wasn't using her computer extensively at the time the SMA ran out. We started off with a PAC Mate with a display and a new computer with JAWS for her when she was four. Freedom got us with a couple of sma's and a couple of hma's (or whatever the hardware agreements are). Soon after we bought all this (she was age 5) , our daughter started working with Braille 'n Speak. Then moved to an mPower at 6, and on to an Apex BrailleNote at age 7, so decided to hold off until she was ready to start really using the FS items more before that became a place to spend even more money. Besides, we needed to buy various iDevices for her as well along the way. And other little items like Victor Readers and such. There is always somewhere to spend more money on technology. Actually, we realize now that we actually could have used the JAWS license with her PAC mate and had working JAWS 12, 13, and 14, before we upgraded, but I don't think it has caused her a major setback. It actually would have been nice if they had told us the PAC Mate included the JAWS feature up front. That extra $900 was hard to part with then, and I'd have saved the original SMA money plus the upgrade money if I had only bought now-- something like $600, and be in the exact same place now. We've been using her Apex extremely heavily for several years now. It is where most everything is done for her schoolwork and personal notes and a good deal of her online needs are handled between the Apex and her iDevices. That said, were heading into 5th grade and we need to get more up to speed with our jAWS as well as all the rest, so it was time, and the hassle of using the PacMate as a huge JAWS "DONGLE" was just too much of a hassle not to move forward with a regular license. I may need to get her a laptop pretty soon anyhow, so we'll be all set for that when the time comes. The only problem is she's gonna need a wagon or small golf cart to haul all her technology around with her pretty soon, LOL. Good advice though-- I appreciate it! Sent from my iPhone On Jul 15, 2013, at 9:57 PM, "Lee Maschmeyer" <leemer1@...> wrote:
For what it's worth (every penny you pay for this advice <grin>) screenreaders are far too much in flux to skimp on updates. If you have the money it is close to imperative, imho, to purchase every single update. And, when you do an automatic upgrade, destroy your personal settings for that version and use Settings Center to recreate them from scratch. Personal settings are, for example, the ones in: |
|
|
|
Angel
All this seems daunting to me. When I matriculated all I needed for my school work was a Braille slate and stylus, reel to reel tape recorder, Braille writer, and a manual typewriter, abacus, and or a Taylor arithmetic slate. All of which ran perhaps 250 dollars in cost then. It causes one to wonder whether the education gotten is worth the high cost of all the modern technology doesn't it?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway@...> To: "The Jaws for Windows support list." <jfw@...> Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 11:42 PM Subject: Re: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS Your advice is sound. |
|
|
|
Kimber Gardner
This is jmo of course, so take it for what's worth.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I am very cautious about upgrading Jaws and rarely jump on a new release as soon as it comes out. In I always keep the prior version of Jaws on my laptop when I do upgrade. I have often found that a prior version may perform better in a particular application. For example, I am currently using Jaws 12, 13 and occasionally 14 depending on what I'm doing. All this is just to say move ahead with caution. Just because something is new doesn't nmean it's better or even necessary. Unless a new release addresses a specific issue you're having, frequently upgrading isn't necessary and may save you a little money and a lot of aggravation. Kimber On 7/15/13, Richard Holloway <rholloway@...> wrote:
Your advice is sound. --
Kimberly |
|
|
|
Cy Selfridge
In the Fifties you had a slate, stylus and that was about it. If you were in
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
a math class you could borrow a Taylor arithmatic slate but don't lose even one little piece of slugs which fit it. (LOLLOLLOL) If you had your very own Brailler you must have been rich. Same is true for the reel to reel recorders. The old Webcor only weighed about fifteen tons and then the Wallensak came into use but it was also not particularly portable. (LOLLOLLOL) A manual typewriter could usually be found somewhere and those old Underwood units were open cased so if you were trying to read what you wrote better be careful not to get you nose whacked by the arms. (LOLLOLLOL) Always nice to get to about page 2 of some paper and suddenly realize that you had left out a paragraph on page one - redo. Cy -----Original Message-----
From: Jfw [mailto:jfw-bounces@...] On Behalf Of Angel Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 2:52 AM To: The Jaws for Windows support list. Subject: Re: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS All this seems daunting to me. When I matriculated all I needed for my school work was a Braille slate and stylus, reel to reel tape recorder, Braille writer, and a manual typewriter, abacus, and or a Taylor arithmetic slate. All of which ran perhaps 250 dollars in cost then. It causes one to wonder whether the education gotten is worth the high cost of all the modern technology doesn't it? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway@...> To: "The Jaws for Windows support list." <jfw@...> Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 11:42 PM Subject: Re: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS Your advice is sound.four. Freedom got us with a couple of sma's and a couple of hma's (orReaders and such. There is always somewhere to spend more money on technology.same place now. in: _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Jfw mailing list Jfw@... http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com |
|
|
|
Lee Maschmeyer
Yes, do always keep prior versions.
-- Lee Maschmeyer "Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise." --Lewis Carroll |
|
|
|
Angel
No this isn't true concerning the Taylor slate. I have one now. There are several type. Even if one lost a few there would be others to take the place of those lost. Then, of course, both could be purchased from The American Foundation for the Blind. There was Algebra type also. The advantage of using the Braille or the Taylor slate for arithmetic calculations: Is one could feel how the calculations were set up. Because they would be set up as they would be written out. It is the same with the Suel raised line drawing kit when one was being explained to about geometric figures. The vocational rehabilitation people, or the school system paid for Braille writers, typewriters, Tape recorders, ETC. to be given students then on loan till their studies were complete, as they pay for note takers and other types of technology required by students these days. But, because of the fast paced obsolescence of modern technology there isn't much need to return outdated technology. So poverty wouldn't have been an issue. Though there were people who could afford to give their children the necessary equipment. Because such would have to be returned to the school system when the education was complete. My late husband had to return everything he was given even his magnifying lamp to the school system. While, because I purchased all my equipment I kept all mine.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cy Selfridge" <cyselfridge@...> To: "'The Jaws for Windows support list.'" <jfw@...> Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 9:46 AM Subject: RE: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS In the Fifties you had a slate, stylus and that was about it. If you were in |
|
|
|
Richard Holloway
Another factor about the high cost, is that compared to hiring people, a $7000 notetaker is relatively cheap. If you get two or three years out of one, that's just a couple thousand dollars a year for the school. That same equipment may SAVE the school tens of thousands of dollars in transcription costs. We certainly still have transcription needs rom time to time, but what was once a daily need to convert from print to braille and back to print for every assignment is now transparent through the electronic process.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
We have bought some of our equipment and some has come from the school system, but if needed, I would find a way to acquire any of what she has now if the school couldn't offer it. My typically sighted kids, just like myself, make great use of the internet and other computer based solutions in life. It is part of what many people expect to have available. My blind child should have available what the rest of us have as well. Mind you, if it were available at a more reasonable cost, nobody would be happier than myself! On Jul 17, 2013, at 5:52 AM, Angel wrote:
No this isn't true concerning the Taylor slate. I have one now. There are several type. Even if one lost a few there would be others to take the place of those lost. Then, of course, both could be purchased from The American Foundation for the Blind. There was Algebra type also. The advantage of using the Braille or the Taylor slate for arithmetic calculations: Is one could feel how the calculations were set up. Because they would be set up as they would be written out. It is the same with the Suel raised line drawing kit when one was being explained to about geometric figures. The vocational rehabilitation people, or the school system paid for Braille writers, typewriters, Tape recorders, ETC. to be given students then on loan till their studies were complete, as they pay for note takers and other types of technology required by students these days. But, because of the fast paced obsolescence of modern technology there isn't much need to return outdated technology. So poverty wouldn't have been an issue. Though there were people who could afford to give their children the necessary equipment. Because such would have to be returned to the school system when the education was complete. My late husband had to return everything he was given even his magnifying lamp to the school system. While, because I purchased all my equipment I kept all mine. |
|
|
|
Lee Maschmeyer
From braille back to print? I learned to type when I was in the fifth grade.Aren't they teaching that anymore? I guess that does leave four years when I turned in my assignments in braille... -- Lee Maschmeyer "Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise." --Lewis Carroll |
|
|
|
Richard Holloway
I don't think I follow you-- if you type a paper conventionally, how do you review / edit it?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
My daughter types in qwerty quite well, but if you're typing, unless you have a braille display and you're typing electronically, how would you know what you've typed? Screen reader? If so, that's not the same thing. Screen readers are great, but that's the SCREEN reading, not the student. Sighted kids can look at what they have written or typed and correct it before it is turned in. Braille literacy for kids is all about blind / VI kids reading and writing in braille. For us, the screen reader is mostly a convenience or things like Web Surfing, where sometimes there's no practical way to work with a braille display alone. That, or a convenience that supplements her braille work now and then. Now if you use a Perkins and that gets interlined, you can at least see what you brailled, but again, print comments have to be conveyed back to the student somehow. I'm already frustrated enough that my daughter's work printed from a notetaker comes back with comments and notations only in print (handwritten) most of the time such that she has to have these things read to her, or she doesn't know what was said. She's an honor role student, so there's often not a lot to tell her, but shy can't she review her papers like the sighted kids, to see what questions she missed? I have suggested it before, but I guess I haven't pushed hard enough-- the teachers should be typing comments and sending them back to her electronically so she can access them. On Jul 17, 2013, at 1:28 PM, Lee Maschmeyer wrote:
From braille back to print? I learned to type when I was in the fifth grade. Aren't they teaching that anymore? I guess that does leave four years when I turned in my assignments in braille... |
|
|
|
Angel
When we typed on manual typewriters, with and without the language accent marks, in whichever languages we wrote, we kept in memory what we wrote, and accuracy was held high as a premium. We were quite aware we would have no spoken or written feedback as we typed. When we wrote papers we Brailed rough drafts, and, if we were particular, we Brailed final drafts as well, and we copied from those drafts on the typewriter. So, we would be aware of what we were writing. I would mark a stopping place with tape on the draft. That I might return to it when I resumed typing.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
We engaged readers, paid for by the state. Which taught us the skills we would need as adults when we hired others to do work for us. Such as reading or driving, or assisting us with other tasks requiring sight. They read to us the comments left on our [papers by the teachers. I hope this assists you in determining the answer to your question. This method worked for those like Robert Erwin, who, in 1904 created the first resource room for the blind in a sighted educational setting. In my own city, I might add. I was taught by his apprentice teacher. As you all know, he was also totally blind, and was a Harvard graduate. Long before all these affirmative action programs, and these student service centers, and the ADA program extant today. Doctor Jacobus Tenbroek, 1916-1968 http://www.blind.net/who-are-the-blind-who-lead-the-blind/dr-jacobus-tenbroek-1916-to-1968.html who, as you know was a renown blind constitutional lawyer. Who founded in 1940 the National Federation of the Blind. Regardless what one might think of the organization itself, how many blind people who are 24 years old today can boast they founded a nation wide organization of the blind. The first of its kind in history. and the grand and marvelous Doctor Abraham Nemith. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_NemethWhose like we will rarely see again I fear. Not to mention the fine modern Blind African Ph.D holders who were taught using the technology I listed in my previous posts. ----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway@...> To: "The Jaws for Windows support list." <jfw@...> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 2:53 PM Subject: Re: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS I don't think I follow you-- if you type a paper conventionally, how do you review / edit it? |
|
|
|
Lee Maschmeyer
I don't think I follow you-- if you type a paper conventionally,You don't. you write your paper in braille first, then when it's ready you type it for the teacher. (SIGH! Modern kids are SO soft! <grin> ) Back in the mid-fifties nobody had talking appliances, refreshable braille, anything. They didn't exist and were basically undreamed of. We just did what we had to do. We had a whopping three or four books to choose from for leisure reading. Maybe a few more than that but I'm sure not as many as twenty. I remember my middle school science teacher teasing me because I was reading a dumb teenybopper girls' book because that was the only thing available in our braille room. We could order books from Library of Congress, but not at school. (I went to the Detroit public schools, not a residential school.) -- Lee Maschmeyer "Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise." --Lewis Carroll |
|
|
|
Angel
I second that my friend. Often I read Braille books I wouldn't have read had I been given the enormous choice available to the children these days. Reading them, however, taught me more than I would have learned had I been given the choice. Though there is more modern technology these days, and more money is spent on each individual than has ever been in the history of education generally, and of blind students specifically,has it truly improved the education of students generally, and for us blind people with regard both to education, and to employment. What are we given in exchange for the enormous investment we make toward this end when our blind youth are in their formative years. That when they become adults they will be fully functioning at their optimum level both socially and professionally.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Maschmeyer" <leemer1@...> To: "The Jaws for Windows support list." <jfw@...> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 5:28 PM Subject: Re: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS I don't think I follow you-- if you type a paper conventionally,You don't. you write your paper in braille first, then when it's ready you type it for the teacher. (SIGH! Modern kids are SO soft! <grin> ) |
|
|
|
Drew Hunthausen
Richard,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
In my experience, it all depends on the teacher/ professor. In most cases the teachers try to be as helpful and accommodating as possible considering they probably have no prior experience working with someone who is blind. For me, I always asked my teachers if they could write me a paragraph by e-mail summarizing in basic terms what the comments were in my paper and any suggestions to improve. This worked very well and made it easier for both of us. It often takes a little time for the teacher to get in the habbit of doing this as it's brand new. Hope this helps -----Original Message-----
From: Jfw [mailto:jfw-bounces@...] On Behalf Of Richard Holloway Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 11:53 AM To: The Jaws for Windows support list. Subject: Re: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS I don't think I follow you-- if you type a paper conventionally, how do you review / edit it? My daughter types in qwerty quite well, but if you're typing, unless you have a braille display and you're typing electronically, how would you know what you've typed? Screen reader? If so, that's not the same thing. Screen readers are great, but that's the SCREEN reading, not the student. Sighted kids can look at what they have written or typed and correct it before it is turned in. Braille literacy for kids is all about blind / VI kids reading and writing in braille. For us, the screen reader is mostly a convenience or things like Web Surfing, where sometimes there's no practical way to work with a braille display alone. That, or a convenience that supplements her braille work now and then. Now if you use a Perkins and that gets interlined, you can at least see what you brailled, but again, print comments have to be conveyed back to the student somehow. I'm already frustrated enough that my daughter's work printed from a notetaker comes back with comments and notations only in print (handwritten) most of the time such that she has to have these things read to her, or she doesn't know what was said. She's an honor role student, so there's often not a lot to tell her, but shy can't she review her papers like the sighted kids, to see what questions she missed? I have suggested it before, but I guess I haven't pushed hard enough-- the teachers should be typing comments and sending them back to her electronically so she can access them. On Jul 17, 2013, at 1:28 PM, Lee Maschmeyer wrote: From braille back to print? I learned to type when I was in the fifthgrade. Aren't they teaching that anymore? I guess that does leave four years when I turned in my assignments in braille... others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise." --Lewis Carroll _______________________________________________ Jfw mailing list Jfw@... http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1432 / Virus Database: 3204/5998 - Release Date: 07/17/13 |
|
|
|
Richard Holloway
I agree entirely that my daughter's opportunity for success is much greater because she stands on the shoulders of those who came before her, and as she does so, she makes use of the tremendous advances in technology for the blind which have developed in recent years.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I heard mention of that radical NFB group in an earlier message. We would be some of those NFB folk ourselves, as well as members of their affiliate, The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children. Our blind daughter is 10 and we just attended our 10th National convention for both groups this month, so we're pretty heavily invested in the NFB philosophy at this point. As far as our commitment to reading Braille, my daughter was reading and writing Braille quite well by age three. She knew most of her braille contractions before she was out of Kindergarten. Having just finished 4th grade, she has competed in 4 Regional Braille Challenges so far. To date, she has taken first or second place each year and on two occasions advanced to and won her age group at the national competition. (She won national again just last month in fact!) Mind you, I'd be just as proud if she hadn't won, so long as she did her best work, but I can't say I'm not pleased that she has been so successful. Our daughter also attends a typical school. She is the only blind student there. We have never considered a residential placement for her. She has other blind friends, but not through school, and she has many sighted friends at school too. Our daughter is living proof that, as the NFB says, given the right training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a physical nuisance. You can't tell I'm a proud father, can you? Richard Sent from my iPhone On Jul 17, 2013, at 7:04 PM, "Angel" <angel238@...> wrote:
I second that my friend. Often I read Braille books I wouldn't have read had I been given the enormous choice available to the children these days. Reading them, however, taught me more than I would have learned had I been given the choice. Though there is more modern technology these days, and more money is spent on each individual than has ever been in the history of education generally, and of blind students specifically,has it truly improved the education of students generally, and for us blind people with regard both to education, and to employment. What are we given in exchange for the enormous investment we make toward this end when our blind youth are in their formative years. That when they become adults they will be fully functioning at their optimum level both socially and professionally. |
|
|
|
Richard Holloway
It does, thanks. It is nice to hear that has worked for others. We request just what you suggest this fall when school resumes...
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Sent from my iPhone On Jul 17, 2013, at 7:45 PM, "Drew Hunthausen" <dhunthausen@...> wrote:
Richard, |
|
|
|
Lisle, Ted (CHFS DMS)
Yep, that's how we did it. IBM brought forth its first PC, with its glorious 16k of memory, just about the time I was wrapping up my dissertation, so I guess timing is everything. I started using an XT for daily work while I was teaching at University of Louisville, producing all my own exams, and other related material, without relying on my department. I just printed out the number of copies I knew I'd need. I learned my first spreadsheet so I could use it to keep grades. Of course, I had to have sighted help grading tests and papers.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Having lived, and worked, both before and after makes me appreciate what we have now. Ted -----Original Message-----
From: Jfw [mailto:jfw-bounces@...] On Behalf Of Angel Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 5:18 PM To: The Jaws for Windows support list. Subject: Re: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS When we typed on manual typewriters, with and without the language accent marks, in whichever languages we wrote, we kept in memory what we wrote, and accuracy was held high as a premium. We were quite aware we would have no spoken or written feedback as we typed. When we wrote papers we Brailed rough drafts, and, if we were particular, we Brailed final drafts as well, and we copied from those drafts on the typewriter. So, we would be aware of what we were writing. I would mark a stopping place with tape on the draft. That I might return to it when I resumed typing. We engaged readers, paid for by the state. Which taught us the skills we would need as adults when we hired others to do work for us. Such as reading or driving, or assisting us with other tasks requiring sight. They read to us the comments left on our [papers by the teachers. I hope this assists you in determining the answer to your question. This method worked for those like Robert Erwin, who, in 1904 created the first resource room for the blind in a sighted educational setting. In my own city, I might add. I was taught by his apprentice teacher. As you all know, he was also totally blind, and was a Harvard graduate. Long before all these affirmative action programs, and these student service centers, and the ADA program extant today. Doctor Jacobus Tenbroek, 1916-1968 http://www.blind.net/who-are-the-blind-who-lead-the-blind/dr-jacobus-tenbroek-1916-to-1968.html who, as you know was a renown blind constitutional lawyer. Who founded in 1940 the National Federation of the Blind. Regardless what one might think of the organization itself, how many blind people who are 24 years old today can boast they founded a nation wide organization of the blind. The first of its kind in history. and the grand and marvelous Doctor Abraham Nemith. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_NemethWhose like we will rarely see again I fear. Not to mention the fine modern Blind African Ph.D holders who were taught using the technology I listed in my previous posts. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway@...> To: "The Jaws for Windows support list." <jfw@...> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 2:53 PM Subject: Re: Focus 40 Blue for JAWS I don't think I follow you-- if you type a paper conventionally, how do _______________________________________________ Jfw mailing list Jfw@... http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com |
|
|
|
Richard Holloway
As I recall, life in the "technological dark ages", while much less of a hassle for the sighted, caused a good deal of hassle for everyone. We endured what now seems intolerable hassle to prepare even a term paper or the like. Most of us would "hunt-and-peck" (type) our way through preparing any formal assignment and produce a marginally acceptable piece, generally with half a bottle or so of liquid paper "white out" smeared all over the thing to fix "typos", but it was either that, or pay someone to type for us.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
This is huge example where students today have a potential for much more of a level playing field. Kids in grade school today do their own web research and word process their own papers, sighted or blind, so long as they have the right skills and equipment. I don't claim to fully grasp the magnitude of change which technology has brought to the blind, but I figure if I take the changes for the sighted in a similar area and multiply by say, 50 or 100, I might be on the right track. And while we face absurd prejudice and misassumptions daily where our daughter is concerned, no longer is it assumed (by most at least) that blind people need to be shipped off to a special school to live, or that blind people are helpless idiots. It is not impressive that my daughter gets up and goes to school with typical kids. It is not impressive that she swims or dances will be a school patrol or plays in the chess club, etc. That's what kids are SUPPOSED to do. What is impressive is being on the honor roll, as she is, or winning a national competition, as she has done a couple of times. And mind you, i expect there are still situations where a school for the blind is an appropriate choice, but simply being blind certainly doesn't make that an automatic decision. I suggest it never should have in the past either. I'm not trying to over-brag. Only to make the point that my greatest wish for my daughter is that she impress others, just like I want my typically-sighted children to do-- through hard work and accomplishment and ultimately through achievement. That, or that she do whatever it is she needs to make her be happy and feel fulfilled in life. With various e-books and Bookshare, my daughter can access tens, if. of hundreds of thousands of books. With the combination of her Braille display and JAWS, she can access a huge number of web sites, and tossing an iPod and iPad into the mix with VoiceOver, even more sites can be accessed. I cannot imagine my daughter's life without the equalization of technology, and I look anxiously forward to new conveniences which seem sure to abound in the years to come. All we have to do is figure out how to pay for them! LOL... Great discussion everyone. Thanks, Richard. Sent from my iPhone On Jul 18, 2013, at 7:47 AM, "Lisle, Ted (CHFS DMS)" <Ted.Lisle@...> wrote:
Yep, that's how we did it. IBM brought forth its first PC, with its glorious 16k of memory, just about the time I was wrapping up my dissertation, so I guess timing is everything. I started using an XT for daily work while I was teaching at University of Louisville, producing all my own exams, and other related material, without relying on my department. I just printed out the number of copies I knew I'd need. I learned my first spreadsheet so I could use it to keep grades. Of course, I had to have sighted help grading tests and papers. |
|
|