Hey Eric,
Thanks for posting this news bit. I wasn't aware of their financial
plite. I'll take a look at their site and see how much I can give. It
amazes me how many people will download gobs of free software (free of
charge and free as in speech) and not give back a dime or a minute of
their time.
In the case of Orca, the screen reader for GNOME, I've been (somewhat
slowly) learning the internals and such so I can contribute code wise to
help grow and improve the product. I don't use NVDA real often but I
could throw in a few bucks to help keep it going.
On 01/20/2011 01:10 AM, Technomage Hawke wrote:
looks like the blind across the planet need a little extra help. I happen to be one of
them that uses windows for apps not found in Linux or OS X. unfortunately, I have no way
to afford the nearly $1,000 cost of a screen reader for windows (from "freedom
Scientific").
This project is completely open source and free. I donate about $5.00 a month
to these guys (and I live BELOW the poverty level!). I am leading by example.
If the very poorest of us (not yet homeless) can find a way to donate to a
worthy project that is both FOSS and a benefit to the blind, than others with
greater means should find it easy.
I don't have to go into a rant here. I will say this; the core programmers at
the NVDA project are like me: blind. need I say more?
-Eric
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:50:07 +0200
(IST)
From: Geoff Shang<[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [nvda] NVDA Needs You
Hi,
The following has been posted on the NVDA website:
http://www.nvda-project.org/blog/NVDANeedsYou
NVDA Needs You
As you are all aware, NV Access, the organisation which develops NVDA,
is a non-profit organisation which is predicated on making software for
the blind that requires no extra cost than the purchase of a computer.
What you may not know, however, is that to do this, we must seek grants
or donations from larger organisations to survive. Unfortunately, the
present financial climate has meant that these grants are much less
forthcoming than in the past, despite the accolades that NVDA has
received over the past couple of years.
Jamie and Mick, the core developers of NVDA, are essentially paid
minimum wage for their experience, knowledge and skills, which they are
prepared to accept because they love the fact that they are making a
positive contribution to the blind community and the accessibility
industry more generally. Despite their willingness to carry on,
however, there will be no money to pay them after July 2011 unless we
receive some financial assistance. Rest assured, we will be seeking
grants from and alliances with other companies, but the stark reality
is that these may not come to fruition in time to save NVDA. In short,
we desperately need your help.
For the last release of NVDA, our records indicate that there were
50,000 downloads. Even if we discount 20,000 for those who may have
downloaded NVDA multiple times, we are left with 30,000 individual
users. If every user donated $10 today, we would have $300,000 that we
could use to pay Jamie and Mick to continue to develop NVDA full time
for the foreseeable future.
We are very proud that we provide a free and open source screen reader
for our community and for the accessibility industry to use. The
principles that underlie the decision to make NVDA free and open source
are as important to the committee of NV Access now as they were when
Mick first envisaged the potential of NVDA. However, for NVDA to be
developed in the way that you have become accustomed, we need your
help. We are not being greedy or exploitative, merely pragmatic and
honest. Please think of how NVDA might have helped you, or may help
others, and donate today.
We sincerely thank you for any contribution you can make.
The NV Access Committee
Your continued donations help keep NVDA development going strong. Donate at:
http://www.nvaccess.org/wiki/Donate
Or by purchasing voices from Ivona TTS:
http://www.ivona.com/accessibility.php
Use the following link with the code STOR-4NS3-DSCT to save 10% on Voices from
nextup.com:
http://is.gd/6pU86
To post messages to the list send email to
[email protected]
To modify your NVDA Email settings or view archives go to:
http://www.freelists.org/list/nvda
NVDA homepage:
http://www.nvda-project.org/
NVDA on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8601265515
The NVDA controler DLL is at:
http://www.nvda-project.org/nvdaControllerClient/
NVDA Snapshot Downloader:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1473937/NVDASD-v2.0.2.exe
Get SkypeTalking for NVDA:
http://skypetalking.googlecode.com/
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