Hi Christopher,
One of the things I have done is direct folks to the Mac Visionaries
website and list. I agree that there should possibly be a resource
created that defines reasons for blind users for switching from
Windows to the Mac. However, regardless of how well organized such
an effort might be, there is still going to be entrenched resistance
to the Mac. I encounter it often, and it's pretty much like trying
to get someone to use a car over a horse and buggy or turn from
putting square wheels on their cart. At least, you might have more
success in those situations than getting some state agencies to even
consider a Mac over a PC at the moment. The movement has to grow and
gain a lot more strength and momentum.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, SEROTEK AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS AGENT
MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING
On Jun 18, 2007, at 10:27 PM, CHRISTOPHER PEPPEL wrote:
Hi Everybody,
I think that we need to come up with a list of reasons why blind
people
should switch to the Mac. You can find plenty of reasons why
sighted people
should switch, but what about the blind? Yes, Voiceover is
certainly one
compeling reason, but I am sure there are many more.
Chris Peppel
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard
Gardenhire
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 4:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Macs and a Viable Alternative for State Agencies to Consider
Josh, I changed the subject line a bit to ask about another argument
that has been used by our agency here in Alaska. Are there any
statistics that show a percentage increase or decrease in the
number of
blind and visually-impaired people--professional or otherwise, who
have
made the switch from Windows to Macs, with the development of
Voiceover? I would be curious as to what percentage, on a national
scale, for example, use their Macs for their professional line of
work?
According to what I have been told by people who work in the Alaska
school districts, for instance, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley districts
use more Macs, per capita, of any community in Alaska, including
Anchorage; however, that number is changing as more bush and rural
schools are using them in their schools. The number of blind students
being exposed to the Mac and VoiceOver is increasing, but that's a
slow, painstaking work in progress, because our counselors are heavily
influenced by Windows screen manufacturers to continue pushing their
products. Our school districts here in Alaska are facing budget cuts,
as are a lot of school districts throught the country, and our
Anchorage store gets inquiries from Division of Voc Rehab, asking how
viable VoiceOver is? In fact, one of the counselors for the blind set
up an appointment to meet with me on behalf of a client who they are
serving, who wants to use his computer for his vending business, as
well as music. At last count, I know of eight, blind/visually-
impaired
Mac users in the state of Alaska--three in Anchorage, one in Juneau,
two on the Kenai )pronounced Keen Eye0 Peninsula, and three in
Fairbanks. That number has probably changed, for the upcoming
University of Alaska-Anchorage fall enrollment. I would be curious to
know how other states are faring? Richie Gardenhire, Anchorage,
Alaska. I stand corrected; there are only two, in Fairbanks, and a
student in the Fairbanks School District who is learning to use one.
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