First, here are the most important changes that will affect you right from launch, since they are the hotkeys you are most likely to need straightaway:

Name Key Say all NVDA+a Read current line NVDA+l Read current text selection NVDA+shift+s Report status bar NVDA+shift+end

In addition, among other changes, all of the object navigation, text review, mouse click and synth settings ring commands have changed. Below is the list of hotkeys as presented in the NVDA 2013.1 Commands Quick Reference:

NVDA Touch Gestures Touch Modes To toggle touch modes, perform a 3-finger tap. Basic NVDA commands Name Desktop key Laptop key Touch Description Stop speech Control control 2-finger tap Instantly stops speaking Pause Speech shift shift none Instantly pauses speech. Pressing it again will continue speaking where it left off (if pausing is supported by the current synthesizer) NVDA Menu NVDA+n NVDA+n 2-finger double tap Pops up the NVDA menu to allow you to access preferences, tools and help etc Toggle Speech Mode NVDA+s NVDA+s none Toggles speech mode between speech, beeps and off. Toggle Input Help Mode NVDA+1 NVDA+1 none Pressing any key in this mode will report the key, and the description of any NVDA command associated with it Quit NVDA NVDA+q NVDA+q none Exits NVDA

Pass next key through NVDA+f2 NVDA+f2 none Tells NVDA to pass the next key press straight through to the active application, even if it is normally treeted as an NVDA key command Toggle application sleep mode on and off NVDA+shift+s NVDA+shift+z none sleep mode disables all NVDA commands and speech/braille output for the current application. This is most useful in applications that provide their own speech or screen reading features. Press this command again to disable self voicing mode. Reporting System Information Name key Description Report date/time NVDA+f12 Pressing once reports the current time, pressing twice reports the date Report battery status NVDA+shift+b Reports the battery status i.e. whether AC power is in use or the current charge percentage. Report clipboard text NVDA+c Reports the Text in the clipboard if there is any. Navigating with NVDA Navigating with the System Focus Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Report current focus NVDA+tab NVDA+tab announces the current object or control that has the System focus. Pressing twice will spell the information Report title NVDA+t NVDA+t Reports the title of the currently active window. Pressing twice will spell the information. Pressing three times will copy it to the clipboard Read active window NVDA+b NVDA+b reads all the controls in the currently active window (useful for dialogs) Report Status Bar NVDA+end NVDA+shift+end Reports the Status Bar if NVDA finds one. It also moves the navigator object to this location Navigating with the System Caret Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Say all NVDA+downArrow

NVDA+a Starts reading from the current position of the system caret, moving it along as it goes Read current line NVDA+upArrow NVDA+l Reads the line where the system caret is currently situated. Pressing twice spells the line. Read current text selection NVDA+Shift+upArrow NVDA+shift+s Reads any currently selected text When within a table, the following key commands are also available: Name Key Description Move to previous column control+alt+leftArrow Moves the system caret to the previous column (staying in the same row) Move to next column control+alt+rightArrow Moves the system caret to the next column (staying in the same row) Move to previous row control+alt+upArrow Moves the system caret to the previous row (staying in the same column) Move to next row control+alt+downArrow Moves the system caret to the next row (staying in the same column) Object Navigation Name Desktop key Laptop key Touch Description Report current object NVDA+numpad5 NVDA+shift+o none Reports the current navigator object. Pressing twice spells the information, and pressing 3 times copies this object�s name and value to the clipboard. Move to containing object NVDA+numpad8 NVDA+shift+upArrow flick up (object mode) Moves to the object containing the current navigator object Move to previous object NVDA+numpad4 NVDA+shift+leftArrow flick left (object mode) Moves to the object before the current navigator object Move to next object NVDA+numpad6 NVDA+shift+rightArrow flick right (object mode) Moves to the object after the current navigator object Move to first contained object NVDA+numpad2 NVDA+shift+downArrow flick down (object mode) Moves to the first object contained by the current navigator object

Move to focus object NVDA+numpadMinus NVDA+backspace none Moves to the object that currently has the system focus, and also places the review cursor at the position of the System caret, if it is showing Activate current navigator object NVDA+numpadEnter NVDA+enter double tap Activates the current navigator object (similar to clicking with the mouse or pressing space when it has the system focus) Move System focus or caret to current review position NVDA+shift+numpadMinus NVDA+shift+backspace none pressed once Moves the System focus to the current navigator object, pressed twice moves the system caret to the position of the review cursor Report navigator object dimensions NVDA+numpadDelete NVDA+delete none Reports the current navigator object�s dimensions on screen in per centages (including distance from left and top of screen, and its width and height) Reviewing Text Name Desktop key Laptop key Touch Description Move to top line in review shift+numpad7 NVDA+control+home none Moves the review cursor to the top line of the text Move to previous line in review numpad7 NVDA+upArrow flick up (text mode) Moves the review cursor to the previous line of text Report current line in review numpad8 NVDA+shift+. none Announces the current line of text where the review cursor is positioned. Pressing twice spells the line. Pressing three times spells the line using character descriptions. Move to next line in review numpad9 NVDA+downArrow flick down (text mode) Move the review cursor to the next line of text Move to bottom line in review shift+numpad9 NVDA+control+end none Moves the review cursor to the bottom line of text Move to previous word in review numpad4 NVDA+control+leftArrow

2-finger flick left (text mode) Moves the review cursor to the previous word in the text Report current word in review numpad5 NVDA+control+. none Announces the current word in the text where the review cursor is positioned. Pressing twice spells the word. Pressing three times spells the word using character descriptions. Move to next word in review numpad6 NVDA+control+rightArrow 2-finger flick right (text mode) Move the review cursor to the next word in the text Move to start of line in review shift+numpad1 NVDA+home none Moves the review cursor to the start of the current line in the text Move to previous character in review numpad1 NVDA+leftArrow flick left (text mode) Moves the review cursor to the previous character on the current line in the text Report current character in review numpad2 NVDA+. none Announces the current character on the line of text where the review cursor is positioned. Pressing twice reports a description or example of that character. Pressing three times reports the numeric value of the character in decimal and hexadecimal. Move to next character in review numpad3 NVDA+rightArrow flick right (text mode) Move the review cursor to the next character on the current line of text Move to end of line in review shift+numpad3 NVDA+end none Moves the review cursor to the end of the current line of text Say all with review numpadPlus NVDA+shift+a 3-finger flick down (text mode) Reads from the current position of the review cursor, moving it as it goes Copy from review cursor NVDA+f9 NVDA+f9 none starts copying text from the current position of the review cursor. The actual copy is not performed until you tell NVDA where to copy to Copy to review cursor NVDA+f10 NVDA+f10 none Copies from the position of the review cursor currently set with Copy from review cursor, to the review cursor�s current position. After pressing this key, the t

ext will be copied to the Windows clipboard Report text formatting NVDA+f NVDA+f none Reports the formatting of the text where the review cursor is currently situated Flat Review Name Desktop key Laptop key Touch Description Move to flat review NVDA+numpad7 NVDA+pageUp 2-finger flick up Moves to flat review, placing you at the position of the current navigator object, allowing you to review the screen (or document if you are currently inside one) with the text review commands. Move to object from flat review NVDA+numpad1 NVDA+pageDown 2-finger flick down navigates to the object represented by the text at the current position of the review cursor in flat review Navigating with the Mouse Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Left mouse button click numpadDivide NVDA+[ clicks the left mouse button once. The common double click can be performed by pressing this key twice in quick succession Left mouse button lock shift+numpadDivide NVDA+control+[ Locks the left mouse button down. Press again to release it. To drag the mouse, press this key to lock the left button down and then move the mouse either physically or use one of the other mouse routing commands Right mouse click numpadMultiply NVDA+] Clicks the right mouse button once. Right mouse button lock shift+numpadMultiply NVDA+control+] Locks the right mouse button down. Press again to release it. To drag the mouse, press this key to lock the right button down and then move the mouse either physically or use one of the other mouse routing commands Move mouse to current navigator object NVDA+numpadDivide NVDA+shift+m Moves the mouse to the location of the current navigator object and review cursor Navigate to the object under the mouse NVDA+numpadMultiply NVDA+shift+n

Set the navigator object to the object located at the position of the mouse Browse Mode Name Key Description Toggle browse/focus modes NVDA+space Toggles between focus mode and browse mode Exit focus mode escape switches back to browse mode if focus mode was previously switched to automatically Refresh browse mode document NVDA+f5 Reloads the current document content (useful if certain content seems to be missing from the document) Find NVDA+control+f Pops up a dialog in which you can type some text to find in the current document Find next NVDA+f3 Finds the next occurrence of the text in the document that you previously searched for Find previous NVDA+shift+f3 Finds the previous occurrence of the text in the document you previously searched for open long description NVDA+d Opens a new window containing a long description for the element you are on if it has one. Single Letter Navigation The following keys by themselves jump to the next available element, while adding the shift key causes them to jump to the previous element:� h: heading� l: list� i: list item� t: table� k: link� n: nonLinked text� f: form field� u: unvisited link� v: visited link� e: edit field� b: button� x: checkbox� c: combo box� r: radio button� q: block quote� s: separator� m: frame� g: graphic� d: landmark� o: embedded object� 1 to 6: headings at levels 1 to 6 respectively To move to the beginning or end of containing elements such as lists and tables: Name Key

Description Move to start of container shift+comma Moves to the start of the container (list, table, etc.) where the caret is positioned Move past end of container comma Moves past the end of the container (list, table, etc.) where the caret is positioned The Elements List Name Key Description Browse mode elements list NVDA+f7 Brings up the Elements list which contains links, headings and landmarks from the current document Embedded Objects Name Key Description Move to containing browse mode document NVDA+control+space Moves the focus out of the current embedded object and into the document that contains it Application Specific NVDA Commands Microsoft Excel Name Key Description Set column headers NVDA+shift+c Pressing this once tells NVDA this is the row that contains column headers, which should be automatically announced when moving between columns below this row. Pressing twice will clear the setting. Set row headers NVDA+shift+r Pressing this once tells NVDA this is the column that contains row headers, which should be automatically announced when moving between rows after this column. Pressing twice will clear the setting. foobar2000 Name Key Description Report remaining time control+shift+r Reports the remaining time of the currently playing track, if any. Miranda IM Name Key Description Report recent message NVDA+control+1-4 Reports one of the recent messages, depending on the number pressed; e.g. NVDA+control+2 reads the second most recent message. Poedit Name Key Description Report Comments Window

control+shift+c Reports any comments in the comments window. Report automatic comments window control+shift+a Reports any comments in the automatic comments window. Configuring NVDA Preferences Voice Settings (NVDA+control+v) Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Punctuation/Symbol Level NVDA+p NVDA+p This allows you to choose the amount of punctuation and other symbols that should be spoken as words. Synth settings ring Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Move to next synth setting NVDA+control+rightArrow NVDA+shift+control+rightArrow Moves to the next available speech setting after the current, wrapping around to the first setting again after the last Move to previous synth setting NVDA+control+leftArrow NVDA+shift+control+leftArrow Moves to the next available speech setting before the current, wrapping around to the last setting after the first Increment current synth setting NVDA+control+upArrow NVDA+shift+control+upArrow increases the current speech setting you are on. E.g. increases the rate, chooses the next voice, increases the volume Decrement current synth setting NVDA+control+downArrow NVDA+shift+control+downArrow decreases the current speech setting you are on. E.g. decreases the rate, chooses the previous voice, decreases the volume Braille Settings Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Braille Tethered to NVDA+control+t NVDA+control+t This option allows you to choose whether the braille display will follow the system focus, or whether it follows the navigator object / review cursor. Keyboard Settings (NVDA+control+k) Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Speak Typed Characters NVDA+2 NVDA+2

When enabled, NVDA will announce all characters you type on the keyboard. Speak Typed Words NVDA+3 NVDA+3 When enabled, NVDA will announce all words you type on the keyboard. Speak Command Keys NVDA+4 NVDA+4 When enabled, NVDA will announce all non-character keys you type on the keyboard. This includes key combinations such as control plus another letter. Mouse Settings (NVDA+control+m) Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Enable mouse tracking NVDA+m NVDA+m When enabled, NVDA will announce the text currently under the mouse pointer, as you move it around the screen. This allows you to find things on the screen, by physically moving the mouse, rather than trying to find them through object navigation. Review Cursor Settings Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Follow System Focus NVDA+7 NVDA+7 When enabled, The review cursor will always be placed in the same object as the current system focus as it changes. Follow System Caret NVDA+6 NVDA+6 When enabled, the review cursor will automatically be moved to the position of the System caret each time it moves. Object Presentation Settings (NVDA+control+o) Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Progress bar output NVDA+u NVDA+u This option controls how NVDA reports progress bar updates to you. Report dynamic content changes NVDA+5 NVDA+5 Toggles the announcement of new content in particular objects such as terminals and the history control in chat programs. Browse Mode Settings (NVDA+control+b) Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Use screen layout NVDA+v NVDA+v This option allows you to specify whether content in browse mode should place c

ontent such as links and other fields on their own line, or if it should keep them in the flow of text as it is visually shown. If the option is enabled then things will stay as they are visually shown, but if it is disabled then fields will be placed on their own line. Saving and Reloading the configuration Name Desktop key Laptop key Description Save configuration NVDA+control+c NVDA+control+c Saves your current configuration so that it is not lost when you exit NVDA Revert configuration NVDA+control+r NVDA+control+r Pressing once resets your configuration to when you last saved it. Pressing three times will reset it back to factory defaults. Supported Braille Displays Freedom Scientific Focus/PAC Mate Series Name Key Scroll braille display back topRouting1 (first cell on display) Scroll braille display forward topRouting20/40/80 (last cell on display) Scroll braille display back leftAdvanceBar Scroll braille display forward rightAdvanceBar Toggle braille tethered to leftGDFButton+rightGDFButton Toggle left wiz wheel action leftWizWheelPress Move back using left wiz wheel action leftWizWheelUp Move forward using left wiz wheel action leftWizWheelDown Toggle right wiz wheel action rightWizWheelPress Move back using right wiz wheel action rightWizWheelUp Move forward using right wiz wheel action rightWizWheelDown Route to braille cell routing backspace key dot7 enter key dot8 shift+tab key brailleSpaceBar+dot1+dot2 tab key brailleSpaceBar+dot4+dot5 upArrow key brailleSpaceBar+dot1 downArrow key brailleSpaceBar+dot4 control+leftArrow key brailleSpaceBar+dot2

control+rightArrow key brailleSpaceBar+dot5 leftArrow brailleSpaceBar+dot3 rightArrow key brailleSpaceBar+dot6 home key brailleSpaceBar+dot1+dot3 end key brailleSpaceBar+dot4+dot6 control+home key brailleSpaceBar+dot1+dot2+dot3 control+end key brailleSpaceBar+dot4+dot5+dot6 alt key brailleSpaceBar+dot1+dot3+dot4 alt+tab key brailleSpaceBar+dot2+dot3+dot4+dot5 escape key brailleSpaceBar+dot1+dot5 windows key brailleSpaceBar+dot2+dot4+dot5+dot6 space key brailleSpaceBar windows+d key (minimize all applications) brailleSpaceBar+dot1+dot2+dot3+dot4+dot5+dot6 Report Current Line brailleSpaceBar+dot1+dot4 NVDA menu brailleSpaceBar+dot1+dot3+dot4+dot5 For newer Focus models that contain rocker bar keys (focus 40, focus 80 and focus blue): Name Key Move braille display to previous line leftRockerBarUp, rightRockerBarUp Move braille display to next line leftRockerBarDown, rightRockerBarDown For Focus 80 only: Name Key Scroll braille display back leftBumperBarUp, rightBumperBarUp Scroll braille display forward leftBumperBarDown, rightBumperBarDown Optelec ALVA BC640/680 Name Key Scroll braille display back t1 Move braille display to previous line t2 Move braille display to next line t4 Scroll braille display forward t5 Route to braille cell routing shift+tab key sp1

alt key sp2 escape key sp3 tab key sp4 upArrow key spUp downArrow key spDown leftArrow key spLeft rightArrow key spRight enter key spEnter NVDA Menu sp1+sp3 windows+d key (minimize all applications) sp1+sp4 windows key sp2+sp3 alt+tab key sp2+sp4 Handy Tech Displays Name Key Scroll braille display back left, up Scroll braille display forward right, down Move braille display to previous line b4 Move braille display to next line b5 Route to braille cell routing shift+tab key esc alt key b2+b4+b5 escape key b4+b6 tab key enter enter key esc+enter upArrow key leftSpace downArrow key rightSpace NVDA Menu b2+b4+b5+b6 Handy Tech configuration b4+b8 MDV Lilli Name Key Scroll braille display backward LF

Scroll braille display forward RG Move braille display to previous line UP Move braille display to next line DN Route to braille cell route shift+tab key SLF tab key SRG alt+tab key SDN alt+shift+tab key SUP Baum/Humanware/APH Braille Displays Name Key Scroll braille display back d2 Scroll braille display forward d5 Move braille display to previous line d1 Move braille display to next line d3 Route to braille cell routing For displays which have a joystick: Name Key upArrow key up downArrow key down leftArrow key left rightArrow key right enter key select hedo ProfiLine USB Name Key Scroll braille display back K1 Scroll braille display forward K3 Move braille display to previous line B2 Move braille display to next line B5 Route to braille cell routing Toggle braille tethered to K2 Say all B6 hedo MobilLine USB

Name Key Scroll braille display back K1 Scroll braille display forward K3 Move braille display to previous line B2 Move braille display to next line B5 Route to braille cell routing Toggle braille tethered to K2 Say all B6 HumanWare Brailliant BI/B Series Name Key Scroll braille display back left Scroll braille display forward right Move braille display to previous line up Move braille display to next line down Route to braille cell routing Toggle braille tethered to up+down upArrow key space+dot1 downArrow key space+dot4 leftArrow key space+dot3 rightArrow key space+dot6 NVDA Menu c1+c3+c4+c5 (command n) shift+tab key space+dot1+dot3 tab key space+dot4+dot6 alt key space+dot1+dot3+dot4 (space+m) escape key space+dot1+dot5 (space+e) enter key dot8 windows+d key (minimize all applications) c1+c4+c5 (command d) windows key space+dot3+dot4 alt+tab key space+dot2+dot3+dot4+dot5 (space+t) Say all c1+c2+c3+c4+c5+c6 HIMS Braille Sense/Braille EDGE Series

Name Key Scroll braille display back left side scroll down Scroll braille display forward right side scroll down Move braille display to previous line left side scroll up Move braille display to next line right side scroll up Route to braille cell routing shift+tab key dot1+dot2+space alt key dot1+dot3+dot4+Space escape key dot1+dot5+Space tab key dot4+dot5+Space enter key dot8 backspace key dot7 upArrow key dot1+Space downArrow key dot4+Space capsLock dot1+dot3+dot6+space shift+alt+tab key advance2+advance3+advance1 alt+tab key advance2+advance3 end key dot4+dot6+space Control+end key dot4+dot5+dot6+space home key dot1+dot3+space control+home key dot1+dot2+dot3+space leftArrow key dot3+space control+shift+leftArrow key dot2+dot8+space+advance1 control+leftArrow key dot2+space shift+alt+leftArrow key dot2+dot7+advance1 alt+leftArrow key dot2+dot7 rightArrow key dot6+space control+shift+rightArrow key dot5+dot8+space+advance1 control+rightArrow key dot5+space shift+alt+rightArrow key dot5+dot7+advance1

alt+rightArrow key dot5+dot7 pageUp key dot1+dot2+dot6+space control+pageUp key dot1+dot2+dot6+dot8+space control+shift+upArrow key dot2+dot3+dot8+space+advance1 control+upArrow key dot2+dot3+space shift+alt+upArrow key dot2+dot3+dot7+advance1 alt+upArrow key dot2+dot3+dot7 shift+upArrow key left side scroll down + space pageDown key dot3+dot4+dot5+space control+pagedown key dot3+dot4+dot5+dot8+space control+shift+downArrow key dot5+dot6+dot8+space+advance1 control+downArrow key dot5+dot6+space shift+alt+downArrow key dot5+dot6+dot7+advance1 alt+downArrow key dot5+dot6+dot7 shift+downArrow key right side scroll down + space delete key dot1+dot3+dot5+space f1 key dot1+dot2+dot5+space f3 key dot1+dot2+dot4+dot8 f4 key dot7+advance3 windows+b key dot1+dot2+advance1 windows+d key dot1+dot4+dot5+advance1 HIMS SyncBraille Name Key Scroll braille display back left side scroll down Scroll braille display forward right side scroll down Route to braille cell routing Seika Braille Displays Name Key Scroll braille display back left Scroll braille display forward right Move braille display to previous line b3

Move braille display to next line b4 Toggle braille tethered to b5 Say all b6 tab b1 shift+tab b2 alt+tab b1+b2 NVDA Menu left+right Route to braille cell routing Papenmeier BRAILLEX Newer Models Name Key Scroll braille display back left Scroll braille display forward right Move braille display to previous line up Move braille display to next line dn Route to braille cell routing Report current character in review l1 Activate current navigator object l2 Move to flat review/focus r1 Report title l1+up Report Status Bar l2+down Move to containing object up2 Move to first contained object dn2 Move to previous object left2 Move to next object right2 Report text formatting upper routing row Name Key backspace key dot 7 enter key dot 8 escape key space with dot 7 upArrow key space with dot 2 leftArrow key

space with dot 1 rightArrow key space with dot 4 downArrow space with dot 5 control key lt+dot2 alt key lt+dot3 control+escape key space with dot 1 2 3 4 5 6 tab key space with dot 3 7 Papenmeier Braille BRAILLEX Older Models Devices with EAB: Name Key Scroll braille display back left Scroll braille display forward right Move braille display to previous line up Move braille display to next line dn Route to braille cell routing Report current character in review l1 Activate current navigator object l2 Move to flat review / focus r1 Report title l1up Report Status Bar l2down Move to containing object up2 Move to first contained object dn2 Move to next object right2 Move to previous object left2 Report text formatting Upper routing strip BRAILLEX Tiny: Name Key Report current character in review l1 Activate current navigator object l2 Scroll braille display back left Scroll braille display forward right Move braille display to previous line up

Move braille display to next line dn Toggle braille tethered to r2 Move to flat review / focus r1 Move to containing object r1+up Move to first contained object r1+dn Move to previous object r1+left Move to next object r1+right Report text formatting reportf BRAILLEX 2D Screen: Name Key Report current character in review l1 Activate current navigator object l2 Toggle braille tethered to r2 Report text formatting reportf Move braille display to previous line up Scroll braille display back left Move to flat review / focus r1 Scroll braille display forward right Move braille display to next line dn Move to next object left2 Move to containing object up2 Move to first contained object dn2 Move to previous object right2 HumanWare BrailleNote Name Key Scroll braille display back back Scroll braille display forward advance Move braille display to previous line previous Move braille display to next line next Route to braille cell routing Toggle braille tethered to previous+next

Up arrow key space+dot1 Down arrow key space+dot4 Left Arrow key space+dot3 Right arrow key space+dot6 Page up key space+dot1+dot3 Page down key space+dot4+dot6 Home key space+dot1+dot2 End key space+dot4+dot5 Control+home keys space+dot1+dot2+dot3 Control+end keys space+dot4+dot5+dot6 Space key space Enter key space+dot8 Backspace key space+dot7 Tab key space+dot2+dot3+dot4+dot5 (space+t) Shift+tab keys space+dot1+dot2+dot5+dot6 Windows key space+dot2+dot4+dot5+dot6 (space+w) Alt key space+dot1+dot3+dot4 (space+m) Toggle input help space+dot2+dot3+dot6 (space+lower h) BRLTTY Name BRLTTY command Scroll braille display back fwinlt (go left one window) Scroll braille display forward fwinrt (go right one window) Move braille display to previous line lnup (go up one line) Move braille display to next line lndn (go down one line) Route to braille cell route (bring cursor to character)

Also, watch this terrific video by our friends at NVAccess:

http://tinyurl.com/al8q4ec

Follow @NVaccess on Twitter, then go to NVaccess.org and donate!

LL

Posted in AT News, AT tips and tricks. Tags: assistive technology, hotkeys, NVDA, screen reader, updates. No Comments »

Tools of choice in the fight for equal access: sledgehammer vs. constructive engagementMay 20, 2013 � L. Legendary Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com Amongst the many topics listed in my open file of future articles and other writing projects, you would not find the topic about which I am writing today. In fact, even if I was forced to augment the list by including unsavory subject matter such as disabled abuse or institutionalization, I would have avoided adding this topic. Not because I have nothing to say on the matter, but because I�m not so sure I can express myself in a way that is logical and articulate. It seems that the more removed a topic from my personal feelings, the more easily I am able to make a point. Yet, when it�s time for me to write about a topic which is philosophical, and may differ from the opinions of others, I veer off into the land of couching and justifications. Unlike so many who can write using language learned from having been steeped in academia, I have not learned the glib rejection of an argument as illogical, nor have I developed the thick skin necessary to take criticism of my core beliefs and shake it off. As a result, the final version of this post is likely to be a well watered-down version of the original draft. In a way, that�s a real shame, but I try to resist editorializing here, even though that is one purpose of this platform. The problem is, I�m a listener, and a thinker, not an arguer. It isn�t that I stand for nothing, it�s that I�m willing to take into consideration another viewpoint, which may make my own arguments appear weaker.

The day I began this post was a very interesting one for me. I found myself in discussions (or, more accurately, debates), with fellow persons who are blind, who might well have considered themselves to be intellectually or morally authoritative. These are people with whom one can win no argument, as there is no winning, there is only debate for the sport of it. Gratuitous argument is not my way. I love a spirited debate as much as the next person, but only if the exchange is not conducted at the expense of another�s dignity. One learns in marriage, for example, that going straight for the jugular, seeking to crush the spouse as though they are the enemy, reducing the partner by way of condescension and contempt is a fast track to marital dissolution. This, for the academics in my audience who would demand a source, is from Dr Gottman�s research at his Relationship Institute. Dr. John Gottman is the nation�s foremost researcher in marriage and parenting. He often refers to contempt as one of the �four horseman of the apocalypse� when it comes to argument. Admittedly, this is in reference to marriage, and not meant as one of the tools of successful intellectual debate, but I haven�t taken debate class since high school, so I may be at a disadvantage.

What does any of this have to do with a blog about accessibility? Everything, if you follow some of the important issues that affect people with disabilities every day. Within the disability community, there is an ongoing disagreement as to the nature of the techniques that should be used as a way to enforce compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. I found myself unexpectedly involved in such a debate, and just as unexpectedly feeling dissatisfied with the substance of that debate. It�s not that I maintained an opposing viewpoint, rather, it�s that I found that I was in fact, not agreeing strongly enough to suit the people with whom I was having that debate. Wow�I�ve never thought of myself as not feeling something strongly enough before. Typically, I�m advised to adopt a less reactionary position.

As is so often the case when we fall into the trap of the ease with which to express an opinion in 140 characters, remarks can tend to be more pointed than they

might otherwise be, given more digital real estate. Brevity may be the soul of wit, but it is also the soul of insult and offense.

On May 14th, 2013, there was a full committee hearing on disability and accessible media, called The ADA and Entertainment Technologies: Improving Accessibility from the Movie Screen to Your Mobile Device. The hearing was streamed live. I watched the hearing with great interest, and commented via Twitter as I did so, while encouraging others to watch as well. I found the panel members to be articulate and reasoned in their comments, and I felt that the disability community was well represented by these advocates. The discussion that resulted on Twitter, however, and other discussion held offline, made me realize that I may need to examine my views about advocacy and the methods we use to gain equal access to the world.

Unwilling to go so far as to say, �one attracts more flies with honey,� I will say that my advocacy style has been one of constructive engagement, rather than one that requires use of a sledgehammer. That is not to say I do not own a sledgehammer, or that I see no value in using one, or that there is no place for a sledgehammer in one�s blunt-instrument drawer. Nor do I make any judgements about those who choose to use a hammer, the judicious use of which is admirable.

There is a long history of disagreement in the disability community regarding the best way to fight for equal access. Some believe that forcible compliance through litigation is the only way, since voluntary compliance is practically unheard of. Even with the passage of the ADA in 1990, the consensus in the community seems to be that progress has been slow, and that change has been affected only by way of threat of ruination through legal action. A friend with whom I found myself �debating� pointed out that there are no web site owners, none, who voluntarily comply with accessibility. I was incensed. �That�s ridiculous.� I said. �Name one,� he shot back. I couldn�t.

Surely, I thought, there is a company out there who voluntarily designed their web site to be accessible to people who have disabilities. �Not without the threat of a lawsuit, there isn�t.� My friend commented. �They wouldn�t bother if the law didn�t require it.�

�So, what are you saying?� I demanded. �The only way to have equal access is to hit people over the head with a hammer? what if they don�t know? Isn�t that what raising awareness is all about?�

With the unhurried pace of a predator toying with his prey, my friend said, �Amazon is aware. So are all the big players. But they don�t do anything about it until they have to. Being nice, writing letters, saying �pretty please� has gotten us nowhere. It�s been twenty years.�

�But�but�there�s been progress,� I protested. �It�s a process. We can�t fix everything overnig. What about education? what about winning hearts and minds? Getting people on our side?� I felt my argument losing strength. Partially because at the center of his comment was an implicit accusation that my work is worthless, that I, and others like me, have proved to be a failure, and that all the awareness-raising in the world has not made a bit of difference. In fact, the words �sitting around and singing Kum Ba Yah,� came out of his mouth. Okay, minus 1 point for lack of originality.

He went on to point out a few interesting facts, which I will not bore you with here. I do want to point you to a couple of links from which to gather some statistics, should you ever need to do some research, cite a source, craft an argument. Keep in mind, though, the old joke that goes, �only lawyers and painters can change black to white.� Same goes for statistics. I think, though, that the Justice Department and the United Nations are at least somewhat reliable, so check out

these links:

U. S. Department of Justice Accessibility report:

http://www.justice.gov/crt/508/report/content.php

United Nations Convention on Human Rights and Disability:

http://is.gd/PmlPrU

Ultimately, the question is one of approach. Do we begin to make changes by applying the least intrusive, education-oriented techniques, and only bring out the hammer as a last resort? This negotiated approach can sometimes take years to affect change, as is the case with businesses to which I have personally contacted. Sometimes, the response has been a sympathetic but impotent, �we�re so sorry, but we�re working on it, stay tuned� sort of response, other times it has been to placate me and then utterly ignore my complaint. There have been more than a few times, however, when I have been contacted by someone in the corporate hierarchy, who asked me for help right then and there, to find ways to make changes immediately. One company actually labeled a button within a few minutes of my request. Granted, all I wanted was an alt-tag, which took seconds to add, but they did it right away, then asked me to do some quick testing. Now, that�s responsive. No hammer required.

What about the small business, though, an ecommerce site that serves to be the only contact point for consumers, where the site developer was most likely the business owner�s college-age kid? He certainly cannot afford to hire an accessibility remediation expert, even if he was made aware of the web site usability shortcomings. I�ll just go out on a limb and use myself as an example here. I may regret this, but here I go.

I have a number of web properties, all of which fall into the pathetically inadequate, not one-hundred percent accessible column. Why? Because when I put the sites together, I didn�t know enough about programming to know what to ask for with regard to access, and while I was able to impart a certain amount of education as to alt-tags and headers, I quickly reached the limit of what to instruct my employee to do. Now, I�m in the awkward position of advocating for web accessibility when my own sites are barely navigable at best. As a small business owner, I lack the funds to hire someone to rebuild the sites with say, html5. What is this type of business owner to do?

One question I have to ask is, what is the real point of direct legal action? In my opinion, it should be more about making change, and less about pecuniary interest. Instead of merely filling the coffers of an advocacy organization, why not make those funds available for remediation assistance? That way, businesses who want to comply, yet lack the skills, or resources, can tap into these funds. That way, we can accomplish two things at once.

Back to the argument in favor of the hammer for a moment. In late 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (�FCC� or �Commission�) released a Report and Order implementing provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (�CVAA�) to ensure that people with disabilities have access to advanced communications services (�ACS�). Providers of ACS and manufacturers of equipment used for ACS will be required to make their products and services accessible to people with disabilities, unless it is not �achievable� to do so. Failure to comply results in fines of up to $100,000 per violation, or each day of a continuing violation up to a maximum of $1 million. Obviously, this is meant to be extremely punitive, and while I concede that this requirement is likely to affect only large companies, and that there appears to be a bit of wiggle room here, thanks to the use of the term �achievable,� one wonders if the only beneficiaries will be t

he lawyers and bureaucrats involved in the documentation, certification, and enforcement rules.

My concern about this type of action is that while it may force compliance, it may also create catastrophic hardship for a business that is unable to bear the cost, put established businesses in peril, and further solidify negative attitudes towards people with disabilities and the organizations that represent us as tyrannical or heavy-handed. Yet, perception seems to be the last concern of the advocates in favor of the hammer. Why does it matter what any company thinks of people with disabilities, it�s the law of the land. Comply, or you will be forced to do so.

What is problematic for me with regard to this type of thinking is that one thing we cannot legislate is the attitudinal barriers we must overcome as a result of systemic discrimination. Once the hammer falls, and the business has been litigated into compliance, there is no room left for goodwill. In the world in which I choose to live, I need there to exist compassion, forgiveness, and goodwill. For others, though, goodwill has no place in the framework of this argument.

I�ve built a career speaking to audiences about disability awareness and the need for equal access. I can tell you from personal experience that there is a line that can be crossed, no matter how justified your argument may be, where the group whom you are attempting to convince simply will cease to listen. Once we alienate others by shoving our views down their throat, they may do what they are required to do to make the noise go away, but they won�t like it, and there may be unintended consequences that we may suffer as a result. If you look at the civil rights movement as an example, African Americans are still fighting to overcome discrimination, despite gaining equal access over 40 years ago. What that tells me is that we have an attitudinal problem as well as an accessibility problem. Therefore, I believe there is a place for awareness education as well as constructive engagement as part of a negotiated solution.

The day after the Senate hearing and subsequent �debate,� I received a letter from one of the friends with whom I had a heated verbal exchange. He admitted that my compassionate approach had merit, and that he had been thinking about our conversation, and realized that the awareness component should be included as part of an action plan for developers. He wrote:

�I�ve started sketching out a blog piece about a multi-stage approach to web accessibility that begins with a compassionate approach to site publishers. I agree that we first need to educate. It would probably be good if the highly visible advocacy organizations who are rightfully pushing for accessibility also offered remediation steps on their web sites.

For most web sites, accessibility can be done pretty easily by a novice to both accessibility and web development. From googling around, I could find a number of web validation and repair tools. Some of these are no cost and I�ve no idea how to judge which are good and which aren�t. Nonetheless, NFB, ACB and AFB, as far as I can tell, have nothing on their web sites giving a basic set of steps for a person to try to do their own remediation. I could envision a tutorial for individuals, small businesses, mid-sized and even enormous sites. It should include links to the standards and guidelines but not be filled with the sort of jargon that goes into such things. I guess, I�m admitting that you were more right than I thought yesterday. During our conversation, I added the constructive engagement to my set of steps for approaching web developers; today, I�ve added your awareness component.�

My friend went on to point out that if there was a simple English set of steps for web site remediation, something that anyone who uses WordPress could follow, more of the non-technical site owners would do it. He also wrote:

�I also think that our web consultant friends do the community a disservice. I don�t begrudge them their big hourly rates but I think they intentionally try to maintain a level of mystery surrounding the topic so they can maintain their guru status. None of them has a page on their sites saying, most people cannot afford our services and we work for wealthy businesses with very complicated needs. You, however, can probably do your own site remediation if you follow these simple steps: 1. For WordPress, 2. For Drupal, 3. For Joomla, etc. I think this is the dirty little secret of web accessibility, it�s relatively easy. Obviously, for it to be easy to the gal on the street, though, it needs easy documentation, something that my searches did not find.�

Finally, my friend wrote: �So, yes, awareness is probably even more important than legislation and should certainly come sooner in the process than filing complaints or taking direct legal action through a suit,� he concluded.

Great. One down, six billion to go.

The irony here is that my use of constructive engagement with regard to this conversation netted a fought-for result. This proved to be the case on Twitter as well, when an exchange began with, �hammer all the way,� and finally concluded, 18 direct messages later, with �constructive engagement is the only way.� Maybe mine is a velvet hammer.

To see a replay of the Senate hearing, go here:

http://tinyurl.com/aqf5dm4

For your own edification, here is a link to a timeline of disability rights by Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_disability_rights_in_the_United_States

LL

Posted in Activism and advocacy, AT articles. Tags: accessibility, ADA, CVAA, disability, technology, web standards. 1 Comment »

Boo! Come on, you know you want to. Check out Audioboo, an audio sharing platformMay 17, 2013 � L. Legendary Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com What on Earth is Audioboo? Audioboo is a sharing platform that allows users to record and post audio on the fly, from anywhere, using just about any device. Individuals from morning deejays, and random deejay wannabees, to big companies like The Guardian, use Audioboo to post and share their content. you can follow your favorites to hear short installments of audio �boos,� as they are called. The service is free to use for everyone, as long as you are willing to limit the length of your recordings to 3 minutes. If you need more time, you can pay for a monthly subscription, and get 30 minutes per recording. As you browse the site, you can read the show notes and profile info of the person who recorded the boo, and you can subscribe to, or follow, their offerings.

You can also download an app for your IOS device. The original app, simply called Audioboo, can be downloaded from the Apple app store. There is another version of the app, meant to be an update, called Audioboo2, which you will also find i

n the app store. There seems to be only superficial differences between the two apps, and of the two, I prefer the original, since it seems slightly more straightforward. I have no idea, however, how long Audioboo plans to continue to support the original app.

For my small business, Elegant Insights Braille Creations, (@ElegantInsights), I plan to use Audioboo as a sort of audio catalog. I will provide company news, product descriptions, style tips and vision-related convention and events news. You can follow my boos here:

http://www.audioboo.fm/ElegantInsights

Here�s another fun tip: Do you like to listen to podcasts? If you have an Apple device and like to download and listen to favorite podcasts using Downcast or another podcatcher, you can hear the Elegant Insights Audio catalog, or any of your favorites, as a podcast! In fact, if you are reading this on your Apple device right now, just tap on this link:

http://audioboo.fm/users/1248733/boos.rss

and your favorite podcatcher should recognize the feed URL, open, and subscribe you automatically. Now, whenever I publish a new recording, it will automatically download into your device along with your other podcasts. It doesn�t get much easier than that. Audioboo provides the RSS feed URL, as well as the URL to the user profile page for users who want to follow their favorites on multiple device types and platforms.

If you don�t have an Apple device, and none of the above appeals to you, fret not. you won�t be left out. I�ve attached the Audioboo account to Twitter, so if you follow me @ElegantInsights on Twitter, you�ll see the tweets with the link to the recording in your Twitterstream. Just click the link, and you can hear me right from Twitter. You can also share your boos on Facebook. Audioboo currently does not support FB business pages, but you can attach your own audioboos to your FB profile page for your family and friends.

Randy Rusnak, (@thebigr), long-time audio engineer, co-host and producer of the Accessible Devices podcast (www.accessibledevices.com), has used Audioboo for years. Randy is certified by the State of Minnesota as a technology instructor, and he uses Audioboo to augment his podcasts by offering short tips and reviews of a variety of assistive technologies.

Recently, he posted a terrific boo in counterpoint to the excellent �Siri vs. Google voice� showdown as published by Applevis. You can hear the Applevis podcast here:

http://www.applevis.com/podcast/episodes/siri-versus-google-voice-search-which-better

and then listen to Randy�s satirical version here:

http://t.co/7LnR7C5V82

You can follow Randy�s boos by going here:

http://www.audioboo.fm/thebigr and click follow.

While Audioboo has been around for several years, I only recently became aware of it when I spotted Randy�s uploads on Twitter. Then, I read an article about Audioboo recently published in the Sacramento Bee, describing how Audioboo is rapidly becoming a social platform of choice amongst the blind and visually impaired c

ommunity. Read it here:

http://is.gd/R6I1zm

A great feature of Audioboo is that you can not only publish to a group of followers, but you can send private direct messages as well. Uploading a recording is easiest when done using an Apple device, but you can record and upload directly on the Audioboo web site. The apss and web site are accessible and support Voice Over on your IOS device.

Hope to hear from you soon!

LL

Posted in AT articles, AT Reviews, Cool Tools, Social Media Mania. Tags: accessibility, apps, audio, Audioboo, IOS, recording, social media. No Comments »

Blogging Against Disablism 2013: The Adversity of AnythingMay 1, 2013 � L. Legendary Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com I was sitting across the desk from my high-school advisor, who was officiously scrutinizing the completed applications I intended to submit to the universities of my choice. She sat back, and, peering at me over her horn-rimmed, half glasses, she announced, �You may as well go to the local community college, and not bother with this. From where I sit, Miss�uh,.� she paused, distractedly shuffling through papers, trying to find my name, then continued: �Laura, is it? Because I doubt you�ll ever amount to�anything.�

Later, while attending the four-year university of my choice, and thinking ahead as to my career, I aggressively sought full-time, gainful employment. Overcoming the barriers imposed by small minds required a patience I didn�t know I possessed. Sitting in the office of a potential employer, I was asked, �Come on, now. What can you people really do? if you can�t see, how can you really do�anything?�

After being invited to speak at my City Hall to a group of officials conducting a workshop on community access, the meeting facilitator briefly interviewed each speaker as to their credentials, for the benefit of the attendees. As the only speaker on the panel who was disabled, I was advocating for reasonable accommodations as per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each speaker was asked about their vocation and qualifications. Upon turning to me, she said, �And what is it that you like to do with your time, dear? What is it that you do for work? Or, do you do anything?�

Sometimes, when we hear stories of people who have overcome adversity, we hear tales of epic struggles, like those we see in movies. Much of the time, though, what stands in our way can be subtler, not so much a battle as a series of slights, or the persistent pressure we might experience through chronic adverse circumstances, such as poverty or isolation. To overcome the adversity of anything, you need to know your strengths, identify allies, seek out heroes and be open to the idea that you are your best advocate.

Identify your strongest supporters. you may be disheartened to realize that this may not include family, or even close friends. While this can be devastating to anyone seeking self-sufficiency, keep in mind that your loved one�s lack of support may be due to reasons that have less to do with you or your decision to become independent. Sometimes, we become so deeply entrenched in our expected roles,

especially in families or close relationships, that when we make changes, this can inadvertently cause the role of the other person to become redefined. If, for example, your spouse or loved one has become accustomed to managing certain aspects of your life, she may feel she is fulfilling a purpose. One friend confided in me, after deciding to move from the East coast to the West coast that his mother wailed, �Now, what am I supposed to do?� Sometimes, we find out the hard way that our families are not our best support system. If this is the case for you, then find support elsewhere. Seek out friends, peer counseling, outreach services, a like-minded online social network.

Find the people who are doing what you want to do, and contact them directly to learn how they overcame barriers. Don�t be intimidated. If you are rejected or dismissed, realize that is not the kind of person you want to emulate, and any advice they would offer would only be tainted by their ego, and not offered generously in the spirit of elevating others. Try to keep in mind, though, that not everyone wants to be the �poster child� for disability, and that their non-responsiveness may be due to the fact that they, too, are still finding their own way forward. Once, I wrote to a high profile entrepreneur who dominated his industry, and who shared my particular form of vision loss. Since I admired this person a great deal, I not only wrote to him, but attempted to meet with him in hope of learning how he had conquered the attitudinal barriers I knew he faced everyday, and a further hope that he might offer some sage advice. Unfortunately, I never heard a word from him, and I was deeply disappointed. Later, I learned that he carefully guarded his public persona, to the degree that he micro-managed the means by which he interacted with people, to the point that he insisted he never be seen using a white cane, and that he was always seated or situated in place first in any meeting conditions, so that he should never appear weak or disadvantaged in any way.

Consider disability-specific education or retraining. When it became necessary for me to begin using a white cane, my department of services for the blind vocational rehabilitation counselor insisted I attend a school for blind adults. at first, I refused. I was strongly independent, and in my opinion, attending a school for the blind would only define me as a person who was blind, a label I desperately wished to avoid. It took quite a bit of convincing before I agreed to go. I won�t go so far as to say I arrived kicking and screaming, but I was not exactly willing to embrace the situation. My attendance at the school for the blind completely changed my life. It is where I learned my love of advocacy, it was the genesis of my passion for educating others. It is where I learned the meaning of dignity and what it means to ascend to meet your circumstances. I expected to learn Braille, independent living and cane mobility skills. but it was what I had not expected to learn, from which I benefited the most.

Overcoming adversity doesn�t always mean that the barriers are external. Sometimes, it is the inner conflict, our personal narrative, playing on the endless loop of our subconscious, that holds us back. Those private, negative messages may have begun early in childhood, through social conditioning, parental expectations, or catalytic events. If it were true that time heals all wounds, then psychologists� offices wouldn�t be filled with adults seeking to heal childhood hurts. Our jails wouldn�t be filled with precious human beings who couldn�t find a productive way to cope with their circumstances and manage their lives. Social media wouldn�t be a labyrinth of nonexistent personas desperately seeking to manifest the celebrity, excitement, success, or attention that is missing from their real lives. It is when we permit ourselves to be defined by the external that we are weakened, because we are then vulnerable to the vicissitudes of opinion. It is perhaps the greatest struggle in our lives that we must find out who we are, and live our lives on our own terms, with our own sense of purpose. It is only then that you will be able to overcome the adversity of anything.

About the author: Laura Legendary is a speaker, author, and educator specializin

g in disability awareness, accessibility, advocacy, and assistive technology. Learn more at her flagship site, Eloquent Insights, www.eloquentinsights.com. More recently, Laura has been working on a start-up enterprise, Elegant Insights Braille Creations. To read product descriptions and sign up on the mailing list, go to www.elegantinsightsjewelry.com, or find the Elegant Insights page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Elegant.Insights.

You are welcome to leave a comment or link to your own BADD 2013 submission in the comments section. Please use the accessible contact form on the blog home page if you would like to write to me directly.

Previous BADD posts:

2010: You Don�t Look Blind

http://tinyurl.com/26dam92

2011: It�s on Aisle 5

http://tinyurl.com/d5m9egg

2012: Your Ingenius Life

http://tinyurl.com/cyp36wg

Thanks for reading, and fight on.

LL

Posted in Activism and advocacy. Tags: adversity, advocacy, BADD2013, disability, Disablism, inclusion. No Comments »

Need access to better nutrition? There�s an app for thatApril 26, 2013 � L. Legendary Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com Kel Smith, author of the just-released �Digital Outcasts,� and about whom you will soon read more here on the Accessible Insights Blog, has been reaching out to his fans, friends and colleagues in an effort to bring attention to a great cause. Just this morning, Kel sent out information about his project, and I was so eager to get the details to my readers that I asked Kel if I could post excerpted content of his email below. Want to make a real difference in the health and well-being of people with limited access to nutritious food? Read on to find out how.

Kel�s project is called Aisle Won. For screen reader users, note that the spelling is w o n, as opposed to the numeral one. It�s a combination mobile app and outreach program to connect people living in �food deserts� with sources of healthy, affordable food. Kel has been developing this for the past year or so, and just launched the pilot. Now, he is reaching out to folks to help spread the word.

Kel writes: �An estimated 23.5 million Americans live in food deserts and rely on unhealthy sources of nutrition, such as corner bodegas and fast food restaurants. To say that this is a health problem of growing national concern would be an understatement. For people with disabilities who cannot leave their homes, it�s an even greater burden.�

Here�s how it works: shoppers place an order and check a map to see where locally-

grown produce is available in their neighborhood. They can maximize purchases according to individual budgetary and dietary needs. They can also peruse recipes that are delicious and easy to prepare. Local urban farms, then, expand their reach into more areas. Everybody wins.

Anikto completely self-funded the first pilot, now being launched in the Clifton Park section of northeast Baltimore. �We have participating support from the Mayor�s Civic Works office and a six-acre plot called Real Food Farm.� Smith says. �To get Aisle Won to the next level, though, I�ve launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. Wednesday was the first day and we already gathered 10% of our goal!�

So � if you follow nutrition literacy, are interested in urban farming, or just appreciate the importance of healthy eating � then please go to:

http://igg.me/at/aisle-won/x/3047094 where you�ll see details of the campaign, which will be live for 40 days. Please contribute to this delicious cause!

Connect with Kel:

215.285.2274 Kel.Smith@anikto.com

http://anikto.com

@KelSmith on Twitter@DigitalOutcasts for info on Kel�s new book.�Digital Outcasts: Moving Technology Forward Without Leaving People Behind�

http://digital-outcasts.com

Posted in Accessible experts, Activism and advocacy. Tags: accessibility, advocacy, apps, awareness, disability, nutrition. No Comments »

Maintain situational awareness while accessing audio input with AfterShokzApril 23, 2013 � L. Legendary Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com Sometimes, a good sales pitch can begin with a story. What follows is a story about someone I met at the recent CSUN13 conference. If you can stay with me until the end, I will try to make it worth your while.

One morning during the conference week while sitting alone at the Grand Hyatt Starbucks, at a tiny table adjacent to the busy lobby coffee bar, a voice said, �Excuse me, Mind if I join you?�

I looked up. �Of course not,� I answered, hurriedly clearing away the detritus of my coffee and muffin. �Thanks,� he said. �Tables are at a premium here.�

We introduced ourselves, and he asked if I was attending the conference. I said yes, then realized that I had not noticed that he was using a service dog, nor did he seem to have a white cane. �Are you?� I asked. �Are you exhibiting? A vendor?�

�Not exactly,� he explained. �But I�m here to market my product to the blind community. Here. Let me show you.� Then, he placed something on the table in front of me. �It�s a pair of headphones,� he said.

I picked up a feather-light, super-streamlined piece of gear, noticing immediate

ly that it resembled no pair of headphones I had ever seen. �They�re called bone-conduction headphones,� he continued. �Let me put them on you.� He placed the headphones around the back of my neck, placing what would normally be the portion worn over the ears at my temporal bone instead. Then, I experienced a surreal sensation. I was hearing both full volume music coming from the headphones, along with the ambient noise of the crowded coffee shop. I could�feel�the sound, while not only hearing it, but also being fully aware of the activity around me.

Dennis Taussig is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer VP of AfterShokz, a company that has produced the world�s first open ear bone -conduction headphones for runners, cyclists, sports enthusiasts, and now, thanks to the blind community, an ingenious application for us, too. Originally, the technology was created by VoxTech, one of the leading companies in the world to supply this technology to the military. Dennis worked on a number of projects with the principle of Voxtech, and one day Dennis was contacted to find out if a consumer version of this technology was possible. Within months, a company was formed, and AfterShokz made it�s debut at the Consumer Electronics show )International CES in January, 2012. AfterShokz bone- conduction headphones are ideal for anyone who wants to maintain situational awareness while still listening to important audio cues, such as that which is provided by text-to-speech GPS navigation devices. You can travel to your destination while hearing instructions from your iPad or iPhone, listen to music or a podcast while on a bus, or work out at the gym to your favorite motivational guru and still hear the tap of your white cane, the driver call out your bus stop, or your personal trainer counting off the reps. It�s a fascinating product, and Dennis credits the blind community with providing the ideas that expanded the business. �I was getting calls from people who are blind,� says Taussig. �And they kept asking if the headphones could be used with their Bluetooth devices for navigation.� Since his exposure to the disability community, Dennis has gone �all in� with respect to his commitment to accessibility. He volunteers at Syracuse University working with disabled students, and he has assisted educators to enable their blind students to learn math by providing the headphones so that the students can hear their screen reader and the professor at the same time. �They�re not cut off from the teacher, nor the teacher from them,� Dennis explains. The sonification lab at Georgia Tech has conducted a study on teaching systems for blind students, who are learning math graphing using audio. AfterShokz is providing equipment for the testing, enabling the students to hear the sonification and teacher at the same time. Dennis wants these headphones to be available to all of us, and he is so emphatic that they should not be financially out of reach that he has permitted me to offer my readers a generous discount towards the purchase of AfterShokz. Go to the AfterShokz web site at www.aftershokz.com and choose from one of several models. If you�d like to be able to make/take calls, order the Sportz M2 which features a microphone. If you require a headset that isBluetooth compatible, choose Bluez. Enter LL40 at checkout, and you�ll get 40% off the price. No, I do not financially benefit, I just want my readers to experience the AfterShokz phenomenon. Since I know my geek friends love a good technical specifications deck, just write to me using the accessible contact form on the page, and I�ll send you product data sheets on the different models, along with spec info. Don�t forget to enter LL40 when you check out to save some serious coin. LL

Posted in Accessible travel, AT Reviews, Cool Tools. Tags: accessibility, AfterShokz, audio, bone-conduction, disability, headphones, technology. No Comments »

Blogging Against Disablism Day is May 1st, 2013April 19, 2013 � L. Legendary Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com It�s time to start thinking about your contribution to the annual, international, �Blogging Against Disablism� day. Each year for the past several years, I�ve submitted an article associated with this event. Blogging Against Disablism Day, or BADD for short, is a way bloggers from around the world raise their voices in a concert of commentary about discrimination, disability, ability, inclusion, employment, trials, triumphs, and what it means to experience life with a disability from a singularly profound point of view�your own.

Write an essay, post it on your blog or web site, and on May 1st, read posts from other bloggers from all over the world who are sharing their stories. First, though, go to the BADD 2013 page and make a comment that you intend to participate. Your article will be linked to, and also tweeted, throughout the day. You can follow @BADDtweets for news and info about the event, and be sure to use hashtag #BADD2013 when you tweet about your post, or RT that of others. Come back here to the Accessible Insights Blog to read my offering, and feel free to link to your own post in the comments section here, too.

Read more about the event here:

http://blobolobolob.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/blogging-against-disablism-day-2013.html

See you May 1st!

LL

Author�s note: As an update to the above, I urge you to go to the BADD page and read the entry. As a result of a Twitter conversation that involved the use of the word �disablism,� I must point out that, in the post describing the event, there is a well-written explanation of the need for �linguistic amnesty.� The author makes the point that everyone brings to the table differing values as to effective and inclusive language, some of which may be off-putting or offensive to others. I almost asked permission to quote the text in it�s entirety, because I found it to be so valuable, but I�d rather you go to the BADD post and read it for yourself. it�s important that we do not allow ourselves to get bogged down by one another�s choice of words. I�m not saying it�s trivial, I just think we need to allow for a wide latitude on a day involving submissions from around the world, from places where use of what we might consider to be arcane terms may still be the norm. ~ LL

Posted in Accessible events, Activism and advocacy, Social Media Mania. Tags: accessibility, ADA, advocacy, awareness, disability, employment, inclusion, technology. No Comments »

Answering some FAQ�s about the AT Work jobs boardApril 17, 2013 � L. Legendary

Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com One specific area of interest which has always been near and dear to my heart is the subject of disability and employment. In the past, I have been an employee in a corporate, retail, and commissioned sales settings. More recently, I have been an employer, and as a result of this varied background, I feel I have a fairly good view of the work search landscape. My efforts to advocate for people who have disabilities have not only consisted of direct hiring, but also offering advice to individuals seeking gainful employment. One of my most recent attempts at outreach in this area has been to set up a job board page, which is attach to my web site.

The job board site is not unlike many you�ve probably seen. many webmasters have added job board sites as a way to monetize their site or blog, or to add another �sticky� feature to their site so as to encourage more site visits or page views. Whatever the reason, many of the site owners who use these job board services use one of several that offer a site owner a variation of a main site, which is part of a larger network of jobs in a massive database. This is done by making available search niches that can be narrowed by region, state, job type, or any number of subcategories. Once you choose an area of interest that you believe will be relevant to your site visitors or site content, you can then �carve out� your little piece of the jobs database and create a jobs board page that is customized for your audience.

The job board itself is not monetized, in that they feature no ads. At least, the one I use does not feature ads. typically, work search is free to job seekers, and the fields that are populated with jobs come from the massive database of jobs that are collected from all over the web. The owner of the job board site can solicit for relevant postings from employers who are offering opportunities in that particular niche. In other words, if you have a job board site offering work in the hospitality industry, you might invite potential employers who are hiring for concierge or housekeeping or reservation positions to advertise those opportunities on your page. you can then charge the employer to place the ad.

On my own jobs board site, AT Work, I post jobs related to technology that require skills in the areas of accessible web development, 508 compliance testing, orientation and mobility specialists, educators or trainers who specialize in accessibility or disability awareness. Not all of the opportunities on my jobs board have been posted to my site specifically, some have come from the jobs database at large. On my site, employers can post a job for $39 which is significantly less than what Linked In or other career site and work search classifies charge.

The AT Work accessibility jobs board [http://tinyurl.com/6f5btoz] represents my little portion of the database. Additionally, I use the @Accessible_Jobs Twitter account to post tweets about career management, resume writing, economic news, work search tips, and general encouragement to followers seeking work. The jobs board isn�t specifically for people who are blind or otherwise disabled to find employment, rather, it�s for individuals who work in the field of accessible web development, usability, and so on.

Recently, I received a tweet asking how one might go about pursuing one of these job tweets, and if they are �real� jobs. The question inspired the realization that I haven�t written about the job board since I installed it around two years ago, and I thought it was time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

1: Are the jobs �real� jobs?

Yes. Though not all of the opportunities are posted directly through my page, they are real job opportunities. Employers have to pay a fee to post a job. When t

hey post a job opening with me directly, I frequently have an email exchange with them, so as to learn a bit more about the job being offered. For the employers who are actually paying the $39 to post on my site, I spend more time promoting that job. I might retweet it a number of times throughout the posting period, I�ll retweet it to my other Twitter accounts, or I�ll attempt to call your attention to it in some other way. I do all I can to assist the employer in finding the right person for the job, so as to ensure a win-win for all concerned.

2: How do I apply?

If you click on the link associated with the job tweet, you will be taken to a �more information� page, where you�ll see the job description and other relevant information. The company may be hiring for multiple positions, so you may be able to click a link that will take you further into the company Human Resources pages, where you can see a full list of all the jobs, whether or not in your area of expertise.

3: Do you tweet every job available on your site?

No. Since the job tweets are only served up to Twitter on a schedule that I specify, you�ll only see the newest job listings posted about every six hours. I did this so as to minimize cluttering up a follower�s Twitter stream. I�ve seen those Twitter feeds that spit out updates once every minute or two, and they drive me crazy. Typically, I unfollow them. I have no desire to irritate my followers.

4: How can I see a more complete list of available jobs?

Go directly to the At Work jobs board site. you can get to it by going to the Accessible Insights web site [http://www.accessibleinsights.info], which I recommend you do with your hand covering your eyes, as I have not updated the site in a long time, it has languished in a code graveyard, where it awaits a defibrillator or stem cell treatment. Click on the link that pertains to work search, and you�ll get there. Or, just go directly to the job board, bypassing the abomination that passes for my web site, which you will find by going to:

http://jobs.accessibleinsights.info/a/jbb/find-jobs

Incidentally, I�d like to hire someone to overhaul the site, so if you know someone�

5: I don�t see much that interests me there, how can I see more job listings?

At the bottom of the job listings page, there are a few search boxes that you can use to specify some particulars, such as full- or part-time jobs, jobs in related fields, or jobs in a specific geographical region. The AT Work jobs board only posts opportunities that are available in the U. S.

6: How does an employer post a job?

By clicking on the �post a job� link. The process is simple and straightforward. an employer can post detailed information, and the additional info can be accessed by job seekers who click on the �more info� link on the listings page.

7: Can you help me get a job?

I do not work in human resources, nor am I a work search consultant or headhunter. I am in no way associated with the Employment Services Department with the U. S. government, or any other employment agency. However, I�ll do all I can to assist you in your work search efforts, even if that means promoting your skills and expertise by featuring you as a �job seeker of the week.� You can read more about t

hat here: [http://tinyurl.com/7o3ru8h].

I�m also happy to offer tips on work search, interviewing, and networking. As a long-time employer of workers in a variety of work environments, I can certainly assist with everything from skills assessment to resume writing. Or, if you just need someone to listen to your work-search misery and offer encouragement, I can do that, too.

For additional information or questions about any of the above, feel free to use the accessible contact form on the blog page. Always a pleasure to share my accessible insights with you.

LL

Posted in Accessible Answers, AT Work. No Comments »

From stone tablet to a bite of the AppleApril 9, 2013 � L. Legendary Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com If you are among those who follow me on Twitter, you are likely already well acquainted with my recent changeover from one mobile phone platform to another. My intention to do this, as well as my reluctance, has long been a topic of discussion among my friends and fellow geeks. I�ve taken quite a bit of good-natured ribbing from people who, for nearly two years, have wondered how on Earth I can claim any expertise in accessibility, when clearly I am using technology from the Jurassic period. What follows is a short exposition on my long-overdue transition from the Windows Smartphone-based Motorola Q to the Apple iPhone 5.

The Moto Q, which my friends have dubbed The Stone Tablet, has been my only mobile device since 2007. To the dubiously named �Smartphone� operating system, I added Mobile Speak, a text-to-speech program by Code Factory. One feature I really liked about the Moto Q was the tactile qwerty keyboard, which made text entry easy. It seemed that most of the new devices were making use of touch screen technology. How could text entry be easy with a touch screen? I wondered. It�s not that I was unaware of the tidal wave of Apple products sweeping over the globe, it�s that I didn�t care. One could hardly avoid the constant din of Apple zealots, though, especially those for whom accessibility is a priority. But my setup served the purpose, it worked for me, and I had no real desire to give it up�that is, until the phone began to suffer from the ravages of old age, and yes, obsolescence.

For a variety of reasons, one of which was the necessity of accepting credit card payments when exhibiting my Elegant Insights Braille Creations jewelry at conferences and trade shows, I decided to at least entertain the possibility of switching to an Apple device, although I had no idea which one. My first foray into an Apple store was over a year ago at holiday time, when I stopped into my local Apple Store to buy a loved one a gift card. While there, I decided to ask the Apple associate to show me an iPad, which seemed like the best option for me at the time, and maybe get a demonstration of Voice Over, the text-to-speech feature built into Apple devices that makes using a touch screen possible for users who are blind.

Upon explaining my request to the associate, I was greeted by an awkward silence, and, according to my companion, a blank stare. �I don�t know what that voice thing is,� the young employee said, �I don�t think an iPad does that.�

�All of your products have Voice Over,� I declared, as confidently as I could, not e

ntirely sure if that was true. �It�s built into the iPad, and if I knew how to bring it up, I�d show you.� Okay, now that was a bald-faced lie, I had never so much as held an iPad or IPhone in my hands, and I just really wanted to see one. But he never so much as let me touch one, since he began to back away, realizing that he would be unable to assist me, and the store was packed with people whom he could assist. I left the store empty-handed, except for the aforementioned gift card.

My interest was more recently piqued, though, when a friend showed me a variety of tablet sizes and models at a recent conference. I marveled at the full-size tablet, which seemed to be nothing more than a wafer-thin sheet of glass, reminiscent of a tray on which I�d served cheese at a dinner party.

After polling some tweeps and conducting a bit of my own research, I decided that in fact the device that would be best for me was the iPhone. While I had really enjoyed paying only $40 a month for my ancient cell service plan, I realized that having the phone combined with the iPad features would solve the most of my problems and meet the most of my needs. So, for my birthday, I decided to buy myself the gift of an iPhone 5.

Before it arrived in the mail, I gathered as many articles, podcasts, and user�s guides as I could get my hands on, and began to prepare for what I was sure would be a steep learning curve. Between the new operating system, the touch screen gestures, and a new speech interface to learn, the entire Apple IOS lexicon loomed large and intimidating before me.

Cutting to the chase, it took only a few days, once I got up and running, to master the device. Now, I can confidently claim fluency. However, it was the part of the process that occurred prior to the �after I got up and running,� part that I want to make note of here, simply as a way to help others who may be considering a similar switch. There are a few things you ought to know, and these things can make the difference between delight and utter frustration when it�s time to pull the device out of the packaging.

The first thing you ought to know is, people who know nothing about Apple devices really do know absolutely nothing. There isn�t much that can compare the Apple user experience to other devices that are made by other manufacturers, so do not under any circumstances listen to anyone who does not actually use an Apple product. This may include, but may not be limited to, cellular service providers.

Just to give you one example of what I mean by this, realize that there is a difference between activating the new cellular phone service plan, and activating the device. You may think this point to be obvious, but one hapless Sprint customer service associate who was unlucky enough to answer my call did not. Further, I was told, in response to my question about where I might find the serial number that is required to complete the setup process, I was told that it is located inside the phone. I was told to remove the back panel of the battery compartment, and enter into the phone the numbers printed on the decal.

In case you don�t know, you cannot remove the back of the iPhone. There is no battery compartment from which to remove the back panel, the serial number is either printed somewhere on the packaging, or it is on file with the cellular service provider from which you ordered the phone.

You should also know that it is possible to set up the device yourself, right out of the box, without sighted assistance. However, if you are a person who is easily frustrated, know that there is an easy way to accomplish this, and a hard way. I was determined to get my phone working on my own, but if you know you have a short fuse, just do it the easy way�take the device to an Apple store or the store that supports the cellular service provider, and have them set it up for you

. At the time, I had no access to a nearby store, so unless I wanted to wait for someone who was available and willing to drive me some distance, I had few options. I was impatient to get going. Ultimately, though, doing it my way may have actually taken longer than waiting for four wheels and a couple of eyeballs.

Setting up the phone requires quite a bit of data entry, and if you are unfamiliar with how text entry is achieved on an Apple device, it also requires quite a bit of patience. Text entry was a matter of some concern to me, but as it turned out, I caught on quickly, and was able to enter the required information easily enough. What I found frustrating was that I wasn�t always entirely sure I understood what the phone was asking me to do. To express this idea in terms of the English language, the Apple dialect is a bit unfamiliar, word choice, usage, and syntax is different than what I had been accustomed to when using the �stone tablet.�

If you have not yet decided to change your outdated technology to an Apple device, are reluctant, or maybe just reject all things Apple out of hand, one reason you may feel this way could be due to your concerns about privacy. If you are among those still clinging fast to the illusion of privacy, I�m sympathetic. You should know that the moment you complete the setup process of the new Apple device, you have slipped from the edge and are now freefalling into the Apple abyss. You should carefully and thoroughly read the terms and conditions of use, as well as the Apple Corporation privacy policy, and that of the �artificial intelligence� assistant, Siri. Furthermore, you should scrutinize the TOS and privacy policies of any apps you download, whether free or paid. Frankly, I had to delete a number of apps, simply because their privacy policy, a misnomer if I ever heard one, made my skin crawl. If you have not already done so, and you are a blind user who has downloaded some of those object identification apps, you should take the time to learn what happens to the images of the items you photograph. It�s a little disturbing. If you are taking pictures of documents and mail for text recognition,place or object identification purposes, don�t think for a minute that you are the only one privy to the contents of that photo. Same goes for your use of the voice dictation features. There�s more, but I�ll let you make that horrifying discovery on your own.

I�ll say this for my new iPhone: Since it arrived, it has seldom left my side. I have never been one to keep my cell phone strapped to my person, I have never enjoyed using a cell phone, I dislike talking on one, I don�t like the way it makes voices sound, it�s harder to hear, it gets hot in your hand, and other than the few times it has been extremely convenient that I�ve had one, I find the overall experience of using a cell phone to be mostly dissatisfying. Since I�ve loaded up my IPhone 5, however, I�ve come to think of it as simply a hand-held computer that happens to sport a phone. I can easily see a day when I will, as eagerly as everyone else, anticipate the latest release of IOS, the newest app to drop, or the sleekest, lightest, most feature-rich iteration of the device itself. So�What�s next?

LL

Posted in AT articles, AT Reviews, AT tips and tricks. Tags: accessibility, Apple, iPhone, Mobile, technology, VoiceOver. No Comments »

Help build an inclusive Twittersphere with Easy Chirp 2April 8, 2013 � L. Legendary Listen to this article. Powered by Odiogo.com For those of you who follow these things, you already know that Twitter (www.twitter.com), the social media micro-blogging platform, is making changes to its Application Programming Interface (API). For those of you who have no idea what th

at means, or why it�s significant, allow me to get you up to speed.

According to Wikipedia, An application programming interface (API) is a �protocol intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other. An API is a library that may include specification for routines, data structures, object classes, and variables.� If you want to read more, go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_programming_interface

Twitter has only had a single version of the API in its entire history. Now, they want to make changes, and update to version 1.1. They have announced new developer �rules of the road,� and have outlined the proposed changes here:

https://dev.twitter.com/blog/changes-coming-to-twitter-api

The changes will affect all third-party applications that interact with Twitter, such as those you might use as an accessible alternative to the main Twitter web site. Some of these third-party Twitter clients have already completed the necessary adjustments, while others may not even bother, and may simply disappear. Time is running short, however, because Twitter has announced the �sunset� of version 1.0 of the API here:

https://dev.twitter.com/blog/api-v1-retirement-final-dates

Ever since I first discovered Twitter, I�ve been using the accessible alternative created by Dennis Lembree. Originally called Accessible Twitter, the web-based version now goes by the name Easy Chirp. Due to the changes made by Twitter to the API, Dennis has been forced to reinvent Easy Chirp, soon to be Easy Chirp 2. Dennis needs your help. He has started a kickstarter profile, and needs your pledges. The money raised will be used to compensate the experts Dennis has hired to assist with the project. As usual, when making a contribution to a Kickstarter project, you will receive a thank-you gift commensurate with the amount of your donation. See more info here:

Help build an inclusive Twittersphere: http://tinyurl.com/c9fsj5v

�I created Easy Chirp over four years ago and am touched by the support it�s received from the community. Now it must be rebuilt due to the Twitter API change, and I hope to collaborate this time with a few other developers.� Lembree says.

Dennis plans some new features and additional streamlining to make Easy Chirp 2 even faster and more accessible. It will continue to support keyboard-only users, will work without Javascript, and will be better optimized for mobile devices. Of course, it will still feature the user-friendly interface you�ve come to expect, useable by people who have a variety of disabilities, and who use a variety of assistive technologies.

Says Lembree: �To me, Easy Chirp exemplifies what a web app should be: platform agnostic, accessible, and simple. It provides a unique and necessary service in the social media space.�

There is no shortage of Twitter clients in the market, which can be used with different operating systems and device types. I use Easy Chirp for my own reasons, not the least of which is that I know Dennis, like him, trust him, and appreciate his work. If you have used Easy Chirp in the past, but have never clicked on that �donate� button just below the sign-in link on the Easy Chirp home page, then scrape a few coins out from between the sofa cushions and send them Dennis�s way. We�ll be tweeting at one another again before it�s time to fly south for the winter.

Pledge to the Easy Chirp 2 Kickstarter here:

Http://www.kickstarter.com and perform a search, or go directly to the Easy Chirp 2 project page here: http://tinyurl.com/c9fsj5v

For all things Twitter API, go here:

https://dev.twitter.com/docs/api

You can follow Easy Chirp: @EasyChirp for updates, or you can follow me @Accessible_Info on Twitter as well.

LL

Posted in Accessible experts, AT articles, AT News, Cool Tools, Social Media Mania. Tags: accessibility, disability, inclusion, Kickstarter, technology, Twitter. No Comments »

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