This conversation may be better suited for the Blind Like Me list, but I
will say my peace.
Yes, having a screen reader is exceptionally important in my view of the
world. Aside from the fact that it gives me the ability to manage my own
finances, do my own product research, purchase products, window shop, read
news, play games, email friends and family, and access other devices which
I then use to read books, navigate, scan written materials, and listen to
music.
Aside from all that, it has allowed me to have a well paying job, which
has, in turn, allowed me to purchase a home, purchase items more than just
necessities, and travel the world.
Personally, my own feeling is that in this day and age, without access to
a computer, your chance of employment is just slightly above none. With a
computer, I believe your chances of employment are not great, but nowhere
near as bad as that 70% number that gets thrown around all the time. That
number includes many people who are not employable, meaning people who
lose their sight late in life and in jobs that either cannot be adapted,
(bus driver), or that would take years of retraining to re-enter that
position.
Most of the blind people I know that are employed, are employed in the
technology field and use computers as part of their work. Many others are
employed in jobs where using a computer is simply a tool, although, an
indispensable tool.
Without screen readers and accessible computers, everything would be so
much more difficult, or at least so much more limited, that I cannot even
imagine it.
So, yes, I believe that the work put in to learn to use a screen reader is
well worth it. No, it is not easy. No, it is not fun. yes, it is
frustrating as hell, but the alternative is pretty much unthinkable to
me.
--
Blue skies.
Dan Rossi
Carnegie Mellon University.
E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel: (412) 268-9081
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