Hi Everybody, I think that we need to come up with a list of reasons why blind people should switch to the Mac. You can find plenty of reasons why sighted people should switch, but what about the blind? Yes, Voiceover is certainly one compeling reason, but I am sure there are many more.
Chris Peppel -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Gardenhire Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 4:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Macs and a Viable Alternative for State Agencies to Consider 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. -- Email services by FreedomBox. Surf the Net at the sound of your voice. www.freedombox.info
