Hi Terri,

Keep right on talking!
To coin a phrase, "right On!"


Joseph J. Lazzaro
HTTP://JoeLazzaro.Com

On Mon, 3 Mar 2003, Terri Hedgpeth wrote:

> I wasn't aware that PDF documents were a problem for people with reading
> difficulties and mild visual impairments. PDF documents are a problem for
> individuals who rely on screen reading software to access a computer. That
> means they are blind, legally blind or have a severe enough disability that
> impairs their access to a computer screen. Nothing mild about. Such a
> statement definitely shoots this software down with out even looking at it
> and comes off sounding a little patronizing. I guess that's enough out of me
> this morning.
> Cheers
>
>
> _________________________________
> Terri Hedgpeth
> Student Support Specialist Sr.
> Disability Resources for Students
> Arizona State University
> Tempe, AZ 85287-3202
> (480) 965-1232 (v)
> (480) 965-0441 (fax)
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: joe j lazzaro [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 7:35 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: FW: PDF files now accessible using text-to-speech software
>
>
> This is very misleading, and I doubt that this program can make "ALL" PDF
> files accessible.
>
>
>
> Joseph J. Lazzaro
> HTTP://JoeLazzaro.Com
>
> On Mon, 3 Mar 2003, MACMAHON, Tom wrote:
>
> > Please excuse a cross-posting, but I thought some list members might find
> > this info (posted to an Australian list today) of interest and I don't
> > recall reading  about this on the EASI list.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Tom.
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Sent: Monday, 3 March 2003 8:12
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: [arata-ls] PDF files now accessible using text-to-speech software
> >
> >
> > Hi all
> >
> > Just thought you might like to know about a very clever little program
> > released last month from textHELP - called "PDFAloud".
> >
> > As many of you will be aware, PDF (or Portable Document Files) files are a
> > real problem for people with reading difficulties or mild visual
> impairments
> > who rely on the computer to speak out text for them. It is difficult for
> > standard text-to-speech programs to read them aloud - because you can't
> > highlight the text within a PDF file. As a result, PDF files are
> effectively
> > inaccessible to readers who rely on text-to-speech support for their
> > reading.
> > PDFAloud works as a simple add-in tool bar for Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat
> > Reader and reads any page instantly - with various buttons to activate
> > speech within the PDF document as and when required.
> >
> > I guess the most significant leap with this little program is that it is
> the
> > only tool currently available to read PDF files with synchronised coloured
> > highlighting right there on screen within the original PDF document. This
> > obviously offers struggling students much more direct support with
> > comprehension of the text and relating it to the off-computer print copy
> of
> > the PDF documents. Prior to PDFAloud being available, PDF files had to be
> > converted and read as "text only files" - losing all of their graphics and
> > formatting and not always translating well for pages with complex
> > formatting.
> >
> > At this stage, the program is only available in Australia within textHELP!
> > Read & Write Version 6.0 or Gold ... but if you have these programs
> > installed already - you are able to download the program for free from the
> > textHELP website at http://www.texthelp.com/techdown.asp?section=support
> > <http://www.texthelp.com/techdown.asp?section=support>
> >
> > More info is available on the Spectronics website at
> > http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/library.asp?article=14343
> > <http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/library.asp?article=14343>  or email me
> off
> > the listserv and I am happy to answer any questions.
> >
> > Cheers
> >  ...
> >
> >
> >
> >
>