The individualized differences for those with low vision cannot be
stressed enough.  When we started our newsletter here at the Chicago
vicug, we originally had a large print version.  We soon found that
nearly all of the large print readers needed a version specific to their
needs.  different people wanted different point sizes.  Different people
wanted different typefaces.  some wanted no spacing between each line.
Others wanted double or triple spacing.  Some wanted narrower margins.
Others didn't.

Our solution?  Promote an electronic format so that people can print the
newsletter using a template that matches their needs.  For those without
computers, we showed our members how to modify settings in a word
processing file.  We also introduced some to low vision evaluations and
magnification aides.  Again, the idea was to help each person identify an
individualized solution that worked recognizing that there really wasn't
a universal one.

Kelly


----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Whatley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 3:58 PM
Subject: Re: Upgrading Monitor and Video Card for better resolution


On Tue, 21 May 2002, Tom Fowle wrote:
> The trick word here is Low Vision.  Just any optometrist or
ophthalmologist
> will not do.

Yes, low vision is the key.  I kept telling my opthalmologist and my
optician that I wanted to see more clearly at arm's length and not just
past the tip of my nose or ver far away.  I went to the Baylor College of
Medicine Low Vision clinic here in Houston.  I talked to the doc a little
while and we tried a few things but it was not what I wanted.  At the
very
end, she finally said, "Well, there is the electronic gadget but it is a
little expensive..."  All I had to hear was one of my favorite phrases:
"electronic gadget". :) I've been using Jordy for two years now and it
has
opened new words for me.  But, Jordy is not for everyone.

Jordy: http://www.enhancedvision.com/jordy.htm

> Again, I strongly recommend you do some homework before spending lots
of
> money on equipment which may well not help.

Yes, one *must* do their homework.  Finding the devices that I now use
took effort to locate.  I had to be determined to find something that
would help.  We live in amazing times for folks who are "handicapped".
There are new advances in ideas and technology almost every day.

Back I 1966, the docs said if I had been born just six months earlier,
doctors could not had done anything for my Cataracts.  Doing eye surgery
on a six motnh old was almost unheard of.  But when my parents fount out
I
had Cataracts, the doctor told them about this new surgery for just my
case.  And recently when I got JOrdy two years ago, it had only been
availible for six to eight months.

I simply saying, if you can't find a satisfactory solution Today, try
again tomorrow.  And even if you do find and get what you feel is
satifactory, still keep on searching.

Later,
Steven


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html