Category: Accessibility

Accessibility

What is a screen reader?

Corrine Schoeb

A screen reader is a piece of software which reads web pages and documents out loud. Originally developed for persons who were visually impaired, it is now often used for a multitude of other reasons. Many who may have learning challenges, concussion syndrome, or those who simply want to listen to their email or a web page while they do something else use screen readers. All Apple products have VoiceOver built in – from iPhones to Mac desktops. Some Android devices have TalkBack. Windows users often use tools like JAWS (available on our public machines), and NVDA. If you are … Continue reading What is a screen reader?

Accessibility, Mobile Devices, People

Navigation Apps for visually impaired

Corrine Schoeb

I struck up a conversation with a fellow conference attendee at the AHEAD 2016 conference who happened to be blind.  We had an interesting conversation about getting around when you are visually impaired and he shared three apps he uses to navigate inside and outside buildings: overTHERE which uses a infrared technology developed more than 30 years ago to help with safer street crossing and recently adapted for mapping BlindSquare which can work with beacons to provide mapping inside buildings AllAccess which can access menus, logos,  and QR codes Continue reading Navigation Apps for visually impaired