Macs and a Viable Alternative for State Agencies to Consider

[Richard Gardenhire]

Josh, I changed the subject line a bit to ask about another argument 
that has been used by our agency here in Alaska.  Are there any 
statistics that show a percentage increase or decrease in the number of 
blind and visually-impaired people--professional or otherwise, who have 
made the switch from Windows to Macs, with the development of 
Voiceover?  I would be curious as to what percentage, on a national 
scale, for example, use their Macs for their professional line of work? 
According to what I have been told by people who work in the Alaska 
school districts, for instance, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley districts 
use more Macs, per capita, of any community in Alaska, including 
Anchorage; however, that number is changing as more bush and rural 
schools are using them in their schools.  The number of blind students 
being exposed to the Mac and VoiceOver is increasing, but that's a 
slow, painstaking work in progress, because our counselors are heavily 
influenced by Windows screen manufacturers to continue pushing their 
products.  Our school districts here in Alaska are facing budget cuts, 
as are a lot of school districts throught the country, and our 
Anchorage store gets inquiries from Division of Voc Rehab, asking how 
viable VoiceOver is?  In fact, one of the counselors for the blind set 
up an appointment to meet with me on behalf of a client who they are 
serving, who wants to use his computer for his vending business, as 
well as music.  At last count, I know of eight, blind/visually-impaired 
Mac users in the state of Alaska--three in Anchorage, one in Juneau, 
two on the Kenai )pronounced Keen Eye0 Peninsula, and three in 
Fairbanks.  That number has probably changed, for the upcoming 
University of Alaska-Anchorage fall enrollment.  I would be curious to 
know how other states are faring?  Richie Gardenhire, Anchorage, 
Alaska.  I stand corrected; there are only two, in Fairbanks, and a 
student in the Fairbanks School District who is learning to use one.

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