It's hard enough getting real stats on the state of America's blind population, let alone getting figures on what type of computers they use and how.
I am actually a huge a proponent of State commissions and departments of rehab looking at Macintosh as a viable alternative. In truth, I have successfuly convinced my State to do so, as I was in need of a machine for my post-grad work. Frankly, the best way to help anyone approaching a state for a computer is to devise talking points that they can use... However, such talking points must also address the actual pit falls of using the Mac. In fact, a friend of mine working in the VoiceOver team once said that if I get a Mac, push comes to shuv it would make an excellent PC, because as it stood it was hard to claim that for the blind, Mac OS X with VoiceOver is a viable or equivelent alternative to Windows. Most College students have to use Office. In fact, upon finding out that there were a number of packages for statistical analysis, not available on the Mac, I was relegated to Excel on the Mac, which I discovered was inaccessible. To deal with this problem, I had to use my PC. These are the pit-falls one must address with a rehab counselor. Nevertheless, I am willing to work with someone to develop possible talking points that could be of help to prospective college mac users who are blind. Abdul -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Panarese Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 9:56 PM To: General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by the blind Subject: Re: Macs and a Viable Alternative for State Agencies to Consider Hi Richie, I was actually curious about that. Someone asked me this question recently on the phone. I wonder if there is data out there or a method of determining this information? I'm sure there is general Windows switcher stats, but I doubt specifically targeting blind users has been done. Take Care John D. Panarese Managing Director Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc. 9 Nolan Court Hauppauge, NY 11788 Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479 Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA, PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS, DUXBURY, SEROTEK AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS AGENT MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING On Jun 18, 2007, at 4:48 PM, Richard Gardenhire wrote: > 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 >
