Thoughts on Screen Readers

Assalamu alaikum, I got into a recent discussion (see recent comments above) regarding Freedom Scientific (henceforth referred to as FS) and System Access/Serotek (henceforth referred to as SA). I have a policy that I don’t fight the screen reader wars. I’m not going to hate on someone who uses GW Micro, or Serotek products, or whatever. I’ll be up front and say that I’m primarily a Jaws user and have been since 1998 when I first started to learn to use Windows. And I was a Jaws user because that is what my university had, although up to that time I’d been a Vocal-Eyes user, before of course moving to Windows. And it’s not that I don’t like Window-Eyes (I can’t quite seem to master it for some reason, though), nor System Access (which I actually do have on my machine and have learned to master it pretty much), it’s just that I’ve just always stuck with Jaws.

Why you might ask? Because in my opinion, it is a good screen reader and it does what I need it to do pretty much when I need it to do it with usually little phenagling on my part, which is what I want. I’m not going to trash Jaws as a screen reader just because I don’t always like the practices of the company that owns it. And perhaps the techies know more about the gutts of Jaws and they are better equipped to fuss at something they find wrong or some bug that Jaws has that FS supposedly has refused to fix, or whatever. However for me, the pretty much average computer user, Jaws works for me.

I’m currently using Jaws for Windows 10 with a Focus 40 Braille display, and for me, Braille support is a must for any product that I’m going to purchase/use on a regular basis. And if there was any screen reader that I was ever going to switch to (without going all out and purchasing a Mac and switching to Voiceover), it probably would be System Access.
However, there are a few things that keep me from switching. First, it won’t support my current Braille display, unless and until I guess Jaws puts out generic Windows drivers for it. And I don’t have the thousands of dollars it would take to purchase a Braille display. Perhaps, in order to facilitate the switch to System Access for Braille users who currently have non-supported Braille displays, System access could work with the companies that manufacture the Braille displays that they do support and perhaps we could have some kind of a payment plan that would allow us to more easily afford to purchase the Braille display that would work with System Access.

Secondly, I have a quirky machine that for some reason locks up if I have SA start up at the windows login screen. It will start talking just fine, but when I go to log in, the whole machine locks up, which pretty much locks me out of Windows altogether and thus my system. It’s a good thing that from the log in screen, I was able to readjust my settings to not have System access start up at the log in screen, or else I’d have been in pretty serious trouble, pretty much turning my machine into a huge brick.

Another reason why I’ve not completely switched over to System access is that I’m not sure that SA has the equivalent of the Jaws cursor, which pretty much gives you an unrestricted view of the screen, where you can move around and pretty much click on what you want. The closest thing I’ve seen to this is the “Virtual Mouse”, however, it only gives you access to the icons on the screen, and you’re restricted to where you can move around.

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. If my Windows firewall blocks a program, a little box, which isn’t really a standard dialogue box, will pop up and notify me that my firewall has blocked a program. Now, if your screen reader isn’t at just the right place at the right time, it’ll miss this. However, you’ll know that a dialog is there because it’s covering up other items on the desktop. Now, with my Jaws cursor, I can move around the screen, on my desktop, find the box, left mouse click on it, which then will bring it into focus where I can tab through it and click on the option I want. Now, I’m not sure if System Access, or any other screen reader for that matter, has this option. Perhaps they do and I’m just not aware of it or don’t know how to use it.

But the use of the Jaws cursor is something that I have to have, especially at work where I use a system which connects via a tn3270 terminal (I think) and Jaws won’t automatically read, or at least not well anyway, what’s in that window, and I’ve tried using SA for that and it’s worse than Jaws. The only way to make that program accessible to me is by using the Jaws cursor to read the data on the screen and the PC cursor to enter the data.

Now of course, if there was a way that I could switch to a screen reader, that does what Jaws does, accesses the programs I need to do my job, or just to simply get done what I want done, and if it’s cheaper, of course I’d switch, who wouldn’t? Most of us who use Jaws are either doing so out of necessity or perhaps because we are happy with the program and it does for us what we need. I just don’t like the hateful rhetoric. If you don’t like Jaws or FS’s policies, and if you can find another comparable screen reader, go for it. I sure would, and am even considering purchasing a Mac the next time I’m in the market for a new computer. And if there was a way that I could get SA to work with my machine without it locking it up, and if I could either afford a new Braille display that would work with SA, or if SA started working with my existing display, you can but I’d make the switch. Especially as there’s no cost for any future upgrades. I’d even consider switching from Jaws to SA at work, if I knew that all of the programs I needed would work with SA, and again, if I could get Braille support.

And currently, as I’ve mentioned before, I have SA on my computer and I do use it on occasion. I also have a System Access Mobile Network account and I use that on a fairly regular basis also. I also purchased a Small-Talk Ultra from GW Micro a few years back, so I can’t really fight the screen reader wars even if I wanted to because I’ve bought products from all three of the better known screen reader companies, the fourth being Dolphin which I’ve not bought anything from them. I’ve even played around with NVDA, and if I could just learn to master that one, perhaps I’d even switch to using them. I’m not sticking with Jaws just because, as I’ve said earlier, I do have my reasons.

I’m not even sure why I’m even writing a post like this. I’m not sure why some of is in the blindness community want to make a huge issue out of things like this. It’s like if you use FS products you’re somehow “down with the man” or “supporting the blindist pig” or something. It’s really quite ridiculous. And it’s the same with dog guide schools. We like to fight these useless “my school is better than your school” or “my screen reader is better than yours” when really, there’s no need for it. There’s a reason why there are so many dog guide schools and somany screen reader manufacturers, and that’s because there’s a need in the market for them. If there wasn’t, the companies/schools wouldn’t be able to stay open/in business.

Google Reader Seemingly Increasingly Not Accessible

Assalamu alaikum / greetings,
I think it started when they started inserting ads right in the middle of the blog posts or that’s what it seems like they’re doing, because I’m finding ads there that weren’t there before (which I really hate because then I have to keep arrowing down to find the rest of the story or to check to see whether or not I’ve gotten to the end of the post or not). Now, my “share” button won’t work. When I try to click on it, I get pushed down to the next post. And this isn’t to talk of the fact that Google Reader keeps refreshing itself and jumps me back up to the top of my blog posts, or otherwise above what I’m currently reading, and then I have to find my place again. And that’s really bothersome, not to mention time consuming. Thanks Google, for not thinking about us blind/disabled consumers in your rush to profit from or “improve” your product. Now, I’m looking for a “more accessible” blog/rss reader, and preferrably one I could sync between my computer and mobile phone. Is there anything out there like that?

AOL Radio Accessibility

Assalamu alaikum, I recently rediscovered AOL Radio via my new cell phone (they had it on the demo version of PocketTunes that I was trying out). I’d heard that the new version of AOL radio wasn’t accessible, so I went to try it out via http://radio.aol.com, and to my dismay, yes, it is not very accessible. I can get the stations to play, but the flash buttons in the player are not accessible. Well, because it’s flash, lol. But anyway… I wasn’t very happy about that, I mean, I can’t access my presets, skip songs, etc., and it’s quite frustrating, and they’ve got some really interesting stations, too. I guess when AOL went free then they forgot about their supposed commitment to accessibility I guess.

Does Lack of Accessibility Relegate Blind and Visually Impaired Cell Phone Subscribers to Higher Priced, Contract-Required Phone Plans and Providers?

Assalamu alaikum, I’ve been a subscriber to Cingular/now AT&T Wireless for almost 5 years now. And generally, I’ve been happy with the service. However, with services such as Metro PCS and Boost Mobile, which are now offering unlimited calling and in some cases, unlimited text and mobile web at a lower price than AT&T is offering, as far as I know, I’m considering switching.

However, my excitement at finding a cheaper deal is severely dampened when I discover that none of the phones offered by either Metro PCS or, as in the case of my search today, Boost Mobile, are accessible to me. Even if I were to go and purchase a phone, none of the phones, as far as I can tell, would support Mobile Speak, the software that I’m currently using on my current AT&T device in order to make the features of my phone accessible. However, I’m also paying a higher price for that accessibility, not only with the software I have to buy to make it accessible, but also for the phone plan and the features I want too, as the no-contract plan/features tend to be cheaper.

If I were sighted, like my husband, for example, I could go and get a Boost Mobile phone, choose my plan and be up and running within minutes. However, because I’m blind, I’m limited to the “big boys” as it were, and limited to usually a 2-year contract. And to be honest, this makes me angry. So much so that I’m half tempted to just scrap having a cell phone altogether.

Does it not occur to anyone that blind people, many of whom are on a fixed-icnome, would also like a prepaid plan as well, just like a sighted person? Probably not, I guess.

SeroTalk » Blog Archive » Out of the Ghetto and in to the Digital Lifestyle

Assalamu alaikum, love it, love it, love it!

And this site has a lot of interesting podcasts also!

SeroTalk » Blog Archive » Out of the Ghetto and in to the Digital Lifestyle

Frustrated

Assalamu alaikum, I’m trying to add my Google Reader shared items to my rss widget on my blog. I click “Add”, beside the rss widget, and then further on down the page, the rss box/heading comes up, and you, supposedly, can click on “Edit”, I guess, and put in your rss feed, however, when I click on “Edit”, the whole thing disappears.

I’m not sure if there is some sort of graphic or box, or some other element on the page that Jaws won’t read or not, however, this is getting to be very frustrated. Any thoughts?

Accessible Islamic Links for the Blind / Visually Impaired

Assalamu alaikum, OK, so I hate to whine and complain about things not being accessible, because a lot of the time, I really don’t know how to fix said accessibility solutions. (except to email the site administrator, etc.), But I feel like I complain sometimes, yet really don’t offer as much as I could in the way of solutions to fix whatever it is I’m complaining about. I just sorta expect things to be accessible, because, well, they just should be. As if I’m back in blind school world or something, when everything was in Braille or on tape or in large print format or whatever. And that’s just not a good thing.

Regarding things Islamic, I’ve often felt frustrated that resources that could increase my Islamic knowledge are just simply not available to me, and anyone who could teach blind Muslims, i.e., the Arabic Braille code, how to read the Qur’an in Braille, etc., are just too far away from me for me to be able to access. And regarding online classes, at some point, with anything in the area of Islamic knowledge, one just must know Arabic, there’s just no way around it.

When I see a class or program somewhere, and I see the phrase “knowledge of Arabic is required”, or whatever, I get this sinking feeling that I will never move past knowing the basics of Islam, fiqh, tajweed of the Qur’an etc., because I won’t be able to find anyone who can even begin to teach me how to read Arabic, etc., etc., and then I briefly engage in a moment of self-pity.

Even if I could learn Arabic Braille, just as in English Braille, materials for gaining knowledge would be in short supply. That would then necesitate me getting some sort of an Arabic Screen-reader, and finding some alternative way to if not learn the Arabic language, which I could conceivably do, but to get online materials in Arabic, that I could then be able to decipher because I would have the knowledge to understand whatever it was the screen reader was trying to tell me. The problem is, I’m not sure if there is a screen-reader which would read both English and Arabic, such that I could take an online Arabic class, and be able to read everything that was on the screen.

It really bothers me when I get in moods like this, but it also bothers me that my Islamic knowledge has definitely plateaued, and yet I have a desire to learn more. And unfortunately, no means to do so that I’m aware of. I can understand being rewarded for my intentions, I can understand people saying that not everyone was meant to be a scholar, etc., etc., but when I hear people say things like this, I feel like their just brushing me off, that they just want me to just shut up and stop complaining.

But as my years as a Muslim go by, my angst because of my lack of knowledge and my seeming inability to acquire it makes me feel even more, well, anxious, like I should be doing something but I’m not. That “everyone else who’s been Muslim for as long as me would know more than me”. That I’ll always be treated like the new Muslim who just said Shahadah, and to be honest, sometimes I feel like no one would be too far off the mark for treating me this way.

But every time I hear someone say “all Muslims should strive to learn Arabic”, etc., etc., I feel sad because, well, I feel as though, unless Allah makes some sort of way for me, I’ll never learn Arabic, I probably won’t learn much of the Qur’an, except to recite it phonetically.

I know I’m whining, I probably seem as though I’m doing nothing but feeling sorry for myself. But it’s hard to explain to people how it feels to want to do something, and to keep hitting a brick wall every time you try to do it. And to be told “Inshalah”, when you just want to vent and get some support from your fellow Muslims when you express your frustrations in doing something that I’d venture to say most sighted Muslims take for granted.

Yes, Inshallah… That I’ll be rewarded for my struggles, that perhaps my desire to learn and my inability to do so because of my lack of sight will perhaps make up for my shortcomings in other areas. That perhaps I will find a way to gain the knowledge I so want to have, simply because I want to learn as much as I can and use it to better myself and others. But if I’m not able to do that, may Allah give me the strength to be patient and content.

I know all of this, but when I hear people say it, their tone tells me they don’t quite know what to say or think, they don’t know quite what to tell me. And much of the time, it sounds patronizing and paternalistic, like you’re telling a small child to shut up because they want a piece of candy and you don’t want them to have it.

Yes, Inshallah, but at least please understand why I’m frustrated, please just have some sympathy, I think that’s all I’m asking. I mean, a “yes I understand, I know you want to learn but things just aren’t out there, let me see if I can find anything out for you”. Or “I don’t know anyone but let me ask around”, that sorta thing. Not the “Inshallah” stuff and then “oh sister, when are you gonna have kids”. Or, “oh sister, recite all of the Qur’an you know and tell us how to pray and make wudu and ghusl ’cause we want to make sure you know”. I think by this time, as these sorts of things have happened in quick succession of one another, in the space of an evening, just understand how demoralized and “patted on the head” I feel, that I feel like no more than a child, that I feel awful, that I feel “not as good as” the others in the room. ’cause not only do “I not have the knowledge” but “I don’t have kids” either. So something must really be wrong with me.

I think sometimes this is why I don’t like being around any sighted people, be they Muslim or not, because it really causes some serious feelings of self-doubt. Perhaps that’s not a good thing, and I understand that, but it’s just not good to be around people that seem to accentuate what you *can’t* do. And it’s one thing to say “Inshallah … ” etc., but use a more, I don’t know, “dignified” tone of voice, that doesn’t sound so condescending and patronizing. And I understand that the vast majority of people truly mean well. I’ve been in situations myself where when someone has told me something, that my response was lacking. But my reaction would have been to then say “hey I know my response is not what it should be, but I really don’t know what to say, and I wish I did”. That kind of response given to me would not bother me in the slightest.

It’s the kind of response that seems to say, in the brevity and the tone of voice that “well, let’s just say something nice and turn the conversation to something else, because discussing this makes me feel uncomfortable”.

I really don’t know how to explain how I feel, that doesn’t make it sound as though I’m not thinking the best about my fellow Muslims and all of that. Anyway…

What got me started on all of this was that I’d wanted to recommit myself to trying to learn the Qur’an, and to my knowledge, there is no one here in my small community that is able to teach me at this time. So the only way I can do it would be online. And Mere Muslim’s Qur’an resources seemed to be a good jumping off point, and as I said on his site, the Qur’an Explorer site is a good one. But alas, it seems some of the graphic to click on and play the recitations are not accessible! And yes, emailing the site administrator would be a good idea, however, I don’t know how to tell them *how* to make things accessible. Except for “flash is bad, most of the time, very, very bad, unless of course it’s made accessible but I don’t know how to do that”. So I’m just left complaining, or just keeping quiet and finding an alternative resource.

But are there? I’m not sure if there are any pages out there with any links catering to blind and visually impaired Muslims? Perhaps this is a project I should start, Inshallah.

Because I don’t just want to complain, as I’ve said before when things like this have come up, I’d like to offer solutions, if I can. But this doesn’t take away from the frustration I’ve always felt, ever since I can remember, when things weren’t accessible, or I was told I couldn’t do something.

Daily Kos: Court: Paper Money Discriminates Against Blind

Daily Kos: Court: Paper Money Discriminates Against Blind

Google Reader and Firefox

Assalamu alaikum, have started playing with Google Reader and Firefox, both of which I’d tried before but for some reason just couldn’t really get into at the time. I’m not sure if it’s because Jaws didn’t work as well with them at the time, if those programs didn’t have the features I liked, or some of both.

At any rate, I really like Google Reader. With the exception of the Gambian news sites I find myself visiting on at least a semi-regular basis (which would be The Gambia Journal, The Gambia Echo, and <a href=”http://www.senegambianews.com”), which don’t to my knowledge have RSS feeds, I can put most of my blogs and news sites all in one place, and I’m finding that doing that saves quite a bit of time. I like using Google Reader because no matter where I go, or which computer I use, all of my feeds/sites will be in one places. And that is cool.

I’m also playing with Firefox, and it seems that Jaws has implemented a lot of the IE commands into the Firefox browser, so it makes the transition from IE to Firefox that much easier. In fact, I don’t have the usual frustration that I have when moving from one program to another.

I really like the add-ons, and I don’t find the tabbed browsing as bulky and unwieldy as it seems to be with IE, as sometimes if you open up a bunch of tabs in ie, the browser kinda has a fit and crashes. Maybe it’s a Jaws thing or maybe it’s my computer I don’t know.

Since I’ve not really taken Firefox through it’s paces yet, I can’t really tell you any more pros or cons, except when you’re using Gmail, for example, when you’re in standard mail view, with Firefox you still have to route the Jaws cursor to the PC cursor when you want to click on a message to read it, whereas with IE you don’t have to do this anymore. So it seems that the ajax support with Jaws and Firefox is lacking somewhat. Also, when you click on something in Gmail, while in Firefox, it seems to take a while to update itself, or I should say, for Jaws to update for you. For example, if I hit archive or delete on a message, it takes it a while to show that a message has been archived and that it’s gone back to your inbox or your label if you’re looking at a group of labelled messages.

Perhaps this is oemthing that Freedom Scientific could address in future releases, or maybe it’s a firefox issue, I don’t know, but these are just minor annoyances to me really. But it would still be nice if I didn’t have to take these extra steps to click on these kinds of links, as I don’t have to in IE.

Blind Access Journal: Computerworld Article: Blind users still struggle with ‘maddening’ computing obstacles

Assalamu alaikum, found this article via the Blind Access Journal blog. The blog author links to the original article where, as he says, there are some disturbing comments. And if they’re anything like the comments from that Wall Street Journal article a while back, I don’t care to read them! I’m not in the mood for rampant/nauseating displays of ableism tonight.