let's be a little more accurate here.
We, blind or visually impaired, can most certainly use the DStar system and 
DStar radios.
However, programming a DStar radio is fairly tricky without sight, and yes, 
the dongle and DStar software is not currently accessible.
Kind of like saying we can't use a cell phone without a screen reader.
Of course we can, but our access and user functionality is limited to very 
basic functions.
It would be simple enough to have another DStar ham in the area program the 
radio.  In fact, the DStar users group around here offers that to new DStar 
users anyway, and they're all sighted.
You can set up the memory channels in a DStar radio for the various gateways 
and reflectors and what not.
So, say you want to frequent 4 or 5 different reflectors I think they call 
them, you can program the info for each separate reflector into different 
memory channels, even if you use the same repeater frequency to access them.
If you don't understand the DStar system, none of this will make sence to 
you.  However, there are ways around the high quantity of visual information 
related to using DStar.
But yes, radios are almost prohibitively expensive still...$900 near enough 
for a DStar enabled mobile...and absolutely no speech synths availible on 
DStar capable radios.
although I think one of the new, or soon to be released Icom high end rigs 
that will do DStar will support a speech synth.  I don't remember the model, 
but it was a high end HF to 70CM radio that was supposed to be DStar 
capable, and had a speech option.

73
Colin, V A6BS
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carolyn Johnson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 2:36 AM
Subject: Re: d-star radios


> Hi,
>
> D-star isn't what it's cracked up to be, and no, we can't use it. It's
> rather expensive. We had some hams in the area that went gunho over it, 
> and
> it fizzled out very quickly.
>
> Carolyn kj4vt
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Butch Bussen" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 6:27 PM
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: d-star radios
>
>> The club here is getting a grant from icom and jputting up a d-star
>> system.  Anyone ever messed with this and is it possible for a blind
>> person?
>> 73
>> Butch
>> WA0VJR
>> Node 3148
>> Wallace, ks.
>>
>>
>>
>> BTW, is there much choice in radios?
>> 73
>> Butch
>> WA0VJR
>> Node 3148
>> Wallace, ks.