Hi, Kathy.
I can't tell you for sure what each of the blind students is doing for
access, though I have heard through the grapevine that one such student was
to be provided with a Windows notebook running a screen reader that works in
that environment. The problem with that solution is that this would
effectively prevent that blind student from participating in at least some
of the classroom exercises that depend on each student using the same
software program.
As for students with other types of visual impairment, I believe that there
is screen magnification software either built into OSX or available from a
third party vendor that will allow at least some of those students to use
their iBooks effectively.
As with your offer to any Apple reps who might subscribe to this list, I'd
also be interested in hearing comments from anyone in the Maine education
community who must deal with this situation or from the people who awarded
the contract to Apple for the iBooks without first having determined if the
product could be used by all students.
Jon
-----Original Message-----
From: Kathleen Cahill [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 10:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Alva ceases development of outspoken and enlarge for mackinto
sh:
Hi Jon;
Yes, I was thinking of Maine and the laptop initiative that went into effect
last year. I sure hope that Alva follows through on its commitment to
developing Out Spoken for OS X but it's hard to know what this means. What
are the blind/visually impaired students with laptops doing now for access?
If Apple cannot support Alva in its efforts to continue development, perhaps
they can encourage another company to take on this piece of the market
through financial incentives or by transferring the source code to some
other company. After all, it is in Apple's best interests to do so --
otherwise, they have computers that are inaccessible to blind or visually
impaired users! How disappointing that the company that once led the way
in accessibility has gotten to this point. Anyone from Apple on the EASI
list and would care to comment?
Kathy
At 10:30 AM 6/11/2003 -0400, you wrote:
Hi, Kathy.
As you may know, the State of Maine purchased Apple iBooks for all public
school 7th graders before the lack of a viable screen reader was understood.
In the ensuing hoopla, Apple went to the trouble of bringing an ALVA
representative to Maine to explain that ALVA would be developing a screen
reader for OSX and that this would allow blind 7th graders to use the same
programs and to participate in the same education activities as their
sighted classmates. The development of that screen reader hasn't yet
happened, and it's not clear if ALVA's announcement means that they will
cease whatever Macintosh screen reader development work is currently in
progress, or if the announcement only applies to future development
projects. At any rate, ALVA's decision certainly isn't encouraging for
blind Macintosh computer users.
Jon
-----Original Message-----
From: Kathleen Cahill [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 10:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Alva ceases development of outspoken and enlarge for
mackintosh:
This is bad news for Mac users who are blind or visually impaired.....is
there any other company stepping in to fill the gap? And what is Apple
doing about this? Think of all the school systems that utilize Macs -- what
will their students do who need these types of assistive technology?
Kathy
At 09:17 AM 6/11/2003 -0400, you wrote:
the full story is at:
http://www.aagi.com/news/news.asp?44
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kathy Cahill
MIT Adaptive Technology (ATIC) lab
77 Mass. Ave. 7-143
Cambridge MA 02139
(617) 253-5111
[log in to unmask]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kathy Cahill
MIT Adaptive Technology (ATIC) lab
77 Mass. Ave. 7-143
Cambridge MA 02139
(617) 253-5111
[log in to unmask]
|
