Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15!Barbara.Akin
From: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: blind computer users
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Date: 1 Mar 90 03:13:16 GMT
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Index Number: 7008

Scott, I just happened to see your message to Marty where you were 
curious about the way blind persons use computers.
Hope I'm not butting in here, but I thought I'd let you know how my 
system works, since Marty is on an Apple, and I am on an IBM compatible.
Actually I have a Toshiba laptop with what is known as the Artic card 
installed in it. I use what is known as a "screen reader" program that 
allows the computer to speak exactly what is on the screen that a sighted 
person would be looking at. I get exactly the same information this way 
as you get by looking at the screen.
I teach computing on a freelance basis, teaching Wordperfect, data base 
management, MS Dos, and telecommunications. I teach sighted and blind or 
low vission students. My oldest student believe it or not was 71, a 
sailor, right off the ocean, who'd never even touched a computer before. 
He was then in the proccess of starting a part time accounting business, 
and needed the computer to do it. He's doing great!
Now, something about myself personally. I am an old lady (38) with two 
children ages 4, and 8, both girls, (and they say boys are hard to 
handle, haha). 
Computing is just one of my many addictions, I also love hiking, 
horseback riding, biking, goofing around with my kids, well, I basically 
would just like to play, and not work, if that were posible, no, I 
actually like my work--just not house work!
Well, Scott, I had better run, have a student comming pretty soon, and 
have to get my little one ready to go over to my Mom's while I teach. 
See you soon. Hope I satisfied some of your curiousity.

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