The VA in the Vegas area and in Tucson only trained in Jaws. I kept saying
that my husband needed to use the same screen reader as me so I could help
him learn when they weren't here. They finally got it for him, but they
said they stuck to Jaws because they had no trainers who knew Window
Eyes. That's probably the reason for their so-called restriction. They
have never bothered to have their trainers learn WE, so they can't teach
it. The Vegas VA, who contracts computer training through Easter Seals,
now has a WE trainer; and he's sharp and knows his stuff. About time!
TTFN,
Marilyn
At 07:37 AM 7/18/2011, you wrote:
Iâm also in Illinois. Youâre probably right that they only train in
Jaws, but they did purchase my updated copy of Window Eyes since I
insisted that thatâs the screen reader I desired. Keep in mind though
that Iâve been using WE for 20 or so years.
From: Keith [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 9:58 AM
To: gw info
Subject: Re: States that allow window-eyes
Here in Illinois, the Bureau of blind services will train new clients,
whether they are looking for a job or going back to school in Jaws only.
Keith
----- Original Message -----
From: <mailto:[email protected]>Dave Bahr
To: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: States that allow window-eyes
Wow, just when you think you've heard it all. I've never heard of this
before, wouldn't that be monopolizing in some form? If you are on a laptop
or computer of your own, couldn't you just use WE? Then again, is this the
civil service's equivelent of dictating what sort of computer can be used,
pc or mac? I suppose they could argue on the grounds industry standard or
uniformity, but that still seems cagy. I guess my course of action would
be twofold. First, if you're working at a productive level in the job
right along with either other blind or sighted colleagues and you feel
comfortable using WE more than jfw, I would tell them that. If you're
trying to learn a different screen reader which is really the only way you
can navigate a computer and your productivity is at a level that is
satisfactory to the managers, then why choose something that has a fairly
steep learning curve? In other words, you could tell the supervisors that,
for all intensive purposes the two prodducts are alike and you feel more
comfortable with WE because you've been using it longer and feel you can
give them your best work. They don't have to know the specific differences
between the two products but it might be beneficial to say that you can
give them much better work with something you don't have to spend hours
and hours to learn. If they absolutely insist that under no circumstances
can you use an alternative reader, then tell them that you need to go
through intensive training to learn jfw and they should pay for it if they
are so stuck in their ways. Then you have the advantage of saying that to
get a WE license would cost x dollars while training and jfw would cost y
dollars. In an economy where everything is being cut back, a savings is
still a savings. of course there is also the tactic which carries probably
the most weight and that is to emphasize the stability of WE and its
features for your speicific tasks in the job and jfw's severe lack in both
of those areas. If it really came down to it you could demonstrate such
tasks and perhaps play up jfw's massive amount of keystrokes required to
perform the task; keystrokes which also require that the user have 12
fingers to execute. Exaggeration in this case would benefit you i think.
You could then switch to WE and glide through the task with ease thus
demonstrating it's precision and streamlined approach. That's all
hypothetical of course.
Ok, i've probably analyzed this beyond the level necessary to make a
decision, but those are just my thoughts on the matter.
Dave c. bahr
On 7/17/2011 7:12 AM, tony c wrote:
> Hi, I never knew that there were
  any restrictions on what screen
> reader one could use. Is it because WE
  will not work with their
> software? Iâll check here in Saint Louis and
  let you know. T C
>
> *From:* Michael Peterson <mailto:[email protected]>
  *Sent:* Sunday,
> July 17, 2011 5:30 AM *To:* <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
> <mailto:[email protected]>
  *Subject:* States that allow
> window-eyes
>
> *Hi all. I
  am looking in to possibley relocating to another state for
> civil
  service employment. California restricts screen reader use to
> Jaws
  only. Is this true of all or most states?* *The state I am
> focusing on
  is PA currently and if I could use window-eyes the
> learning curve
  would be easier although I am currently trying to
> learn all the twists
  and turns of using jaws in case I work in CA.*
> *At this point nothing
  is in stone but I wish someone had a list of
> states that will allow
  there workers to use there choice of screen
> readers or at least
  window-eyes as an alternative to Jaws if they
> choose..* *Thanks for
  any helpful information.* *Mike* **
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