Thank you for this answer, is a clarification for me. I just was
hoping I was doing the right thing. Have obsticles anyway
besides blindness I'm over 40. So, I don't know about getting
work, but I do know I want to try, and if Jaws and the computer
helps that process, I still want to try. Karen
----- Original Message -----
From: Dan Rossi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: jaws-users-list@jaws-users.com
Date sent: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:55:21 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] my questions: about Jaws and the
computer:
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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Visit the JAWS Users List home page at:
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Address for the list archives:
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To post to this group, send email to
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For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or
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