Windows 10 + vision impaired

[Kevin Burland]

I have a client that is vision impaired, she can see somewhat, but a lot less than most. Her computer is Windows 10, with light-up large letter keyboard, A headset for speech recognition, no other helping hardware. As for software the only thing we have setup is Windows built in features, and Cortana for speech recognition. I don't know if she had the budget at the time for any paid software. She can't seam so get Cortana to like her voice. She has her fairly big monitor set to bigger resolutions, and uses audio books, that is about all that I can think of for her current setup.
If we do invest in some paid software what is the best packages to get? I don't think she needs any pro version of software, this is just a home use system. I have heard a lot about the software Dragon Naturally Speaking, is it really "The Best" as the Internet seams to make it out as? As for Dragon, which version do yo get even the home use has two versions? For the category of screen reader I have used some free solutions, but never invested in software. I was just reading an old thread on here about this subject, they talked about a screen reader named JAWS, it that what you recommend? If you have any experience with these particular software titles please post your thoughts. Let me know any software you recommend besides what l already listed. Do you have a guide to fallow, for the best Windows 10 vision impaired setup or how to optimize Windows 10 for this type of setup? I would love to here the community thoughts on this subject.

 

[Metanis]

I was just surfing http://www.freedomscientific.com/ for a client who is nearly blind and wants to go from a 37" monitor to a 50" with screen-reading software. This stuff is so doggone expensive I'm not sure if we'll proceed or not.

 

[Markverhyden]

Has she talked to her Optometrist? Healthcare professionals will know about state and/or federally sponsored things. Her health insurance provider might also help out since some assistive devices might be covered.

Dragon does a great job when someone has clear enunciation. If it's not it needs a lot of training.

 

[Kevin Burland]

Has she talked to her Optometrist?
No, not about her "computer needs."
As for financing of such software, She is member of a local special needs company where she is both a client and an employee for them. I know she has mentioned a little about such expenses to her people, but the subject was never pursued further. I think I would have to provide a written estimate from my company for the cost of providing and installing the software and they may approve her for the cost to be covered, or they would look at the sponsored options spoke of.

 

[TechLady]

I have some blind clients (one with total blindness) running Windows 10. I don't think Dragon is going to cut it--it's not really meant for vision impairment, and it can't help you in the least navigating websites or searches or anything else. I think JAWS will probably be your best bet (and I believe it has a 40 minute mode you can try for free). There are MANY adjustments that can and should be made to Windows and most of them get set when you install the screen reading software. Beyond that, the guys at Freedom Scientific will happily make suggestions and tweak things for you remotely. I'll try to write back with more details when I get a chance.

 

[TechLady]

I was just surfing http://www.freedomscientific.com/ for a client who is nearly blind and wants to go from a 37" monitor to a 50" with screen-reading software. This stuff is so doggone expensive I'm not sure if we'll proceed or not.

For my blind clients it's worth every penny. There is nothing more important to them than getting some independence...most are not real happy with having to ask other people to read every blasted thing to them all the time, like the mail, food contents at the store, etc. etc. There are so many things you take for granted when you have sight.

I'd have them try it as a trial and see how it goes!

 

[HCHTech]

Has she talked to her Optometrist?
No, not about her "computer needs."

Well, she should, IMO. Like @Markverhyden said, the Optometrist is most likely to know what software, equipment and support groups are out there locally. Don't waste this resource.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Besides Jaws, ZoomText is another screen reader my vision-impaired customers have used and liked. No idea re. costs.

 

[TechLady]

Ok, here's more details on things that can help your blind and visually impaired clients:

JAWS is the premier screenreader software, and there is a home version and a pro version. (They bought Window-Eyes and buried it, that was JAWS’s true competition and eventually became the free version I remembered. It is no longer supported and is getting weaker each day with every MS Windows update).

Microsoft does have Narrator which is the free built-in screen reader software. There is also another free screen reader software called NVDA, non-visual desktop access. Dragon Naturally Speaking is not generally used by people with low vision, though some can get away with it.

You may also want to investigate the Zoom Text software Larry mentioned, which is used by many people with residual vision. Both JAWS and Zoom Text are owned by VFO Freedom Scientific.

Many people with some usable low vision have CCTVs--these are stand-alone machines which significantly magnify print.

Highly recommended sites to investigate for additional sources of user related feedback and information:

sdcb.org
nfb.org
acb.org
disabilityresources.org

For guidelines to optimize Windows 10 for a user who is visually impaired, you may want to contact Microsoft’s disability access department directly. Youtube.com is another excellent resource for bringing things up to speed on many tech access issues.

Finally, my blind clients tell me the iPhone is truly the most out of the box accessible phone for users who are visually impaired with its Voice Over function. They really love it.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[oldtimer50]

I have been helping with vision impaired guys and each client is very different from the next in there needs to use a PC, I would say they require a PC monitor or a HD TV of at least 30in nothing smaller but bigger could well be helpful, there is software out their that you can buy but it's not cheap and please please do research first because some software is not compatible with windows 10, all thought the software company will argue this but having installed some of this software it behaves very much like a computer virus.
I have to say Firefox as some useful add-ons that actual work, and if budget is an issue and it mostly is, Android is the best for fonts ,colours and add-on, Microsoft gives you well what I would call the basic necessary, I am experimenting with a version of Linux at the moment and the first results are positive but a long way to go, and these are not the three that are out there, the most challenging is the screen readers they are very limited in what they can do and very hard to understand.
I would says to the likes of Microsoft, Apple, and Google come guys 2017 driver less cars just around the conner and you can't do better than this,
Most importantly remember, listen to what the client says and what they do with there PC and remember what you find easy the client doe's not find so easy . I could go on but I’m typing this very quickly because I have a call to make, sorry for the typo's

 

[mraikes]

I can second Zoomtext as a good tool. I have two almost completely blind customers that use it.