Smart Phones: Intuitive - Inclusive - Personal

Smart phones have revolutionized access to information and the conduct of the business in daily life for everyone including people with non-standard eyesight.

These devices are very intuitive. How we use them is personal and their presence usually becomes prominent in our daily lives. You must own the device to learn to use it and you must be willing to work at it on your own. You must dare to try new things and search for information yourself. This is the only way to truly learn to use one of these devices.

Once you have obtained the device your intellectual journey can begin. Below I have listed some links to help you get started. Happy exploring.

Android

The first link below is an introduction to using Android phones for people with low vision or no vision who want their phone to speak.

Eyes-Free Android Accessibility

Accessibility Gestures

Talk Back and Magnification Accessibility in Android 4.3+

Apple

Apple Accessibility

Configuring IOS Accessibility Features

Apple Vis

BTW - Take a look at what Google is doing about accessibility

Google Accessibility

And one thing leads to another. Sometimes the best part of reaching a goal is the road traveled to get there! Have a good trip.

Accessibility, Universal Design, & Technology

As most people know by now all products produced by Apple / Macintosh are accessible for people with disabilities right out of the box. Apple understands the concept of Universal Design (UD) and has included accessibility in the design of all software and devices. Just as new buildings and public facilities are equipped with wider doorways, accessible bathrooms, ramps, and curb cuts from day one, Mac computers, iphones, ipods, and ipads are equipped with screen magnification, voice over, text to speech, and other accessibility features FROM DAY ONE. No extra charge for these features that enable people with low vision or blindness, motor impairments, or other disabilities to access the Apple products. This is only fair and extremely liberating for those of us who are tired of paying extra just because we happen to have a disability.

Yes, Apple understands UD. The question is when will companies that make adaptive software and devices get the picture? Adaptive Technology (AT) companies have to target such a specialized market (sometimes less than one or two percent of the overall population) that the prices of their products are ridiculously high. Basic economics, supply and demand, we get it! But this is a huge problem for consumers with disabilities who, as a group, typically experience much higher unemployment rates and have less overall income than their nondisabled peers.

The standard response to this issue (the high price of adaptive technology) is that people with disabilities can get the adaptive technology they need through Vocational Rehabilitation Services, local schools, or grants. In some cases this is true. In fact, without these government programs and the legal requirements placed on local public school systems, I'm not sure that AT companies could survive. However, this argument does not address the equal opportunity issue and leaves several important questions unanswered. What about those who don't qualify for any services? Why should this burden be placed on the shoulders of people with disabilities and taxpayers? The American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other civil rights legislation requir places of business, education, newly built structures, transit systems, and other facilities or entities targeting the general public to be accessible. Why not electronic products and services that target the general public? The technology is available!

This issue will eventually have to be legislated and the companies that recognize this and become proactive now will be much better off in the long run. Apple / Macintosh is a large company making mainstream devices and began designing accessibility features into their products in an attempt to meet the needs of as many consumers as possible. I challenge one of the companies making adaptive technology to follow Apple's lead from the other side of the spectrum. One of these AT companies could take their best package of adaptations and put them into an appealing mainstream device that targets all consumers with a lower more reasonable price. The AT company that comes out with what the Japanese call "common use devices" first, will run way ahead of the competition.

Its a Small World After All

Thanks to everyone who attended our first "Eye-Connect" workshop. I have posted the presentation used in the workshop below.

Hi Steve, great blog, thanks for all your work!

Mark Your Calendars: Lets Connect!

Hello and welcome to Eye-Connect. My name is Stephen Sullivan. I am an Instructional Designer and currently work as an Adaptive Technology Specialist with the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB). I am located at the AIDB Regional Center in Mobile, Alabama. I've been working with students and colleagues throughout Lower Alabama (LA) for more than 20 years on issues related to serving students K-12 who have what I like to call, "Nonstandard vision." A group of us got together recently and decided to start "Eye-Connect," as a way of getting people who serve this population engaged in the sharing of information and ideas.

Preparing students for today's highly technical and continuously changing work and educational environments presents both opportunities and challenges. The plentiful availability of physical, virtual, and informational technologies is staggering and sometimes overwhelming. Yet unidentified solutions in the mainstream and a variety of specialized adaptations loom large only requiring discovery to minimize differences and neutralize once impenetrable barriers to success. These can only be realized through networking and the free flow of information and ideas among all stakeholders.

On August 7, 2013 we will be offering a "hands on" workshop entitled "Its A Small World After All." Participants will learn to use free Internet resources such as Google tools, social networking, and a variety of other digital technologies for the purpose of developing their own professional learning network. This workshop is intended for all who wish to attend but will be centered on developing the Eye-Connect digital community. Some computers will be available on site for the completion of activities but participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own devices.

The workshop will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at:

AIDB - Mobile Regional Center
1050 Government Street
Mobile, Alabama 36604
(251) 432-7777
steve.sullivan119@gmail.com

Certificates of completion will be provided for anyone seeking professional development credit.

Please Click Here and complete the online form to register.

As mentioned above, this blog is just getting started and is a work in progress. Resources will be added regularly. Please comment and offer your ideas. We look forward to seeing you in August