I've worked as a programmer all of my adult life and I've been using screen readers of many stripes since 1989. For the past 15 years I've worked for a county govn IT department in Texas.
My employer purchased both WE & jaws upon my request and maintain a sma for both. I agree strongly that you must take full responsibility for your own skills and training, as well as being the voice to your employer. My experience has always been, if I go to my employer and explain why I need a particular product and where to get it I get it. If I take the path that something doesn't work and put it back on the employer to figure out a solution then people get their back up and it becomes a useless confrontation that I cannot win. Yes, this means you have to work harder than sighted co-workers and you may consider this unfair but having a job and enjoying the freedom it brings is a far cry better than living on welfare spending your time and energy complaining. Neither screen reader is perfect and both can stand to improve in numerous areas. However, access to technology and information has never been better for the blind than it is today. -----Original Message----- From: Sandra Fouts [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 12:57 PM To: 'Amanda Lee'; gw-info Subject: RE: Off topic - U.S Federal Workers using Window-Eyes? A demo yes. But a full copy is not free. -----Original Message----- From: Amanda Lee [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 12:52 PM To: gw-info Subject: Re: Off topic - U.S Federal Workers using Window-Eyes? Why surely you can! a demo of most screen readers is absolutely free. I know that both provide tutorials as well. I taught myself most of what I know and so can you. Perhaps it's not what you'd prefer in terms of learning. But i have always been personally proactive about making every effort to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Then after I have done so and something doesn't work, i can take ownership of the fact is that I did the best i could. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandra Fouts" <[email protected]> To: "'Amanda Lee'" <[email protected]>; "gw-info" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 1:41 PM Subject: RE: Off topic - U.S Federal Workers using Window-Eyes? Learning it and affording may be two different things. The government isn't going to buy jaws for me and I can't just go out and buy it. I think it's great if people can get both of them. The key word, money. "smile" -----Original Message----- From: Amanda Lee [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 12:37 PM To: gw-info Subject: Re: Off topic - U.S Federal Workers using Window-Eyes? CAP does provide both Jaws and Window-Eyes. When I worked for the Department of Commerce, I obtained both Screen Readers which is my preference. I was a Technical Point of Contact for a division so i needed to be able to access a number of different applications. Therefore, it has always been my experience that one Screen Reader may interface more effectively with a certain application. So one Screen Reader doesn't always meet all needs across a wider array of applications. The IRS and other Federal Government agencies utilize what may be commonly termed as 'Seat management'. This approach applies to all employees regardless of their access needs. I don't really believe this is the best approach but, for the most part, it will meet most needs. What I find problematic though is whenever an application is determined not to work with JAWS or a particular Screen Reader and there isn't sufficient technical ability within the organization involved to properly evaluate and/or take other measures to provide an appropriate reengineering solution. This places the employee involved in a very precarious position and frequently they become unproductive. Seat Management is appropriate in the majority of instances. However, when there isn't enough flexibility to effect a solution which could indeed be that another Screen Reader is obtained along with applicable Apps written, then an employee loses valuable time and productivity notwithstanding the effects on his or her morale and interrelationships with co-workers and his or her respective management. My recommendation to anyone is to be flexible enough to learn another Screen Reader. You might not prefer it over Window-Eyes as I don't prefer JAWS but I have advanced skills with both and I adapt as there have been instances where I was required to use JAWS and had no other choice. I know that if GW Micro were a larger organization, perhaps they could have effected a broader marketing approach. Still, after all these years, GW Micro is still in business and it serves to prove they are doing an effective job of what they do. I do see though that within the Department of Defense too that Window-Eyes is beginning to prove it's capabilities and flexibility with how it can be customized to interface without the need to utilize specialized syntax or or such. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Baracco, Andrew W" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 1:11 PM Subject: RE: Off topic - U.S Federal Workers using Window-Eyes? It depends on the agency. Many agencies use the Computer Access Program, (CAP), which is under DOD, but many agencies like the VA contract with it. CAP allows you some choice in selecting the kind of equipment you want, and they will purchase Window Eyes for you. However, some proprietary programs used by the government have been scripted for JAWS, so JAWS works better with them. The IRS and SSA use a different approach. They handle computer access themselves, and have developed exclusive contracts with vendors, so you do not have a choice. Also, the applications they use have been scripted for JAWS, so it is unlikely that Window Eyes would work well with them anyway. Andy -----Original Message----- From: Peter Wolfe [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2013 4:45 PM To: gw-info Subject: Off topic - U.S Federal Workers using Window-Eyes? Dear all, Does anyone on here work for the U.S federal government using Window-Eyes at work? In many many conversations wih people and programs that I've attended, it appears that JAWS has a federal contract with the federal government. I'm not trained with JAWS Screen Reader, so would like to know your advice on whether its worth my while to learn JAWS or not for federal employment. I'm just so annoyed that I was trained with Window-Eyes and its not even used almost anywhere of employment. Can somebody or anybody give me advice on what to freakin do. Right now I'm blamed for not knowing JAWS for the IRS training program, so I couldn't complete it impart cause of it. This is where the government in my view screws up by picking losers and winnersx in things. I wish that Window-Eyes and JAWS could work in the federal government. However, the IRS in particular thinks that Window-Eyes isn't as powerful as JAWS. I've had two separate occasions had Window-Eyes through the Small Business Administration and another internship in D.C. How many freakin screen readers must we know what should we know or what can we do? I'm so so tired of the confusing mess of the disorganized Vocational Rehabilitation programs that they are obviously failures and us students are blamed for it? Thanks for listening just I want work with my social science degree just that not even SPSS softwares and other necessary softwares don't currently work with Window-Eyes or JAWS and there is no clear answers or standards of what we should know to obtain a job or anything. Thanks, Peter If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
