Summary Notes
GTT Edmonton Meeting February 8, 2016
The most recent meeting of the Get Together With Technology (GTT) Edmonton Chapter was held February 8 at 7pm at Ascension Lutheran Church 8405 83 Street in Edmonton.
14 people attended.
Special Note: The group observed a minute of silence in memory of a dear friend and member, Harold Schnellert, who passed away January 27, 2016. Harold was the husband of Wendie Schnellert our volunteer treasurer. Harold was also the former president of CCB National. Both Harold and Wendie were instrumental in supporting the start of GTT Edmonton. Our hearts and prayers go out to Wendie and her family. We will all miss Harold.
February Feature Topic – Free Screen Readers
Ximena (pronounced Menna) presented her Apple MAC. Highlights:
• Mac has a screen magnification Zoom feature included (Command, Options + or Command options -) The two buttons next to the space bar and + to zoom in – to zoom out.
• Voice over (the built in talking screen reader) is easily accessed (Command F5). Command key is on either side of the space bar.
• VoiceOver has multiple voices to choose from both male & female.
• The Mac even has Described Video Access through the settings Accessibility menu.
• If you have follow-up questions, Menna may be contacted at ximena.perez@shaw.ca
Russel presented Window Eyes screen reader for PCs. Highlights:
• Window Eyes is a powerful screen reader for Windows PCs.
• You may download Window Eyes for Free if you have a licensed copy of Microsoft Office 2010 or later installed on your computer. You can download it from: http://www.windoweyesforoffice.com/
• Window Eyes provides support for braille.
• eSpeak and the Microsoft Speech Platform are included.
• you can also purchase Eloquence and Vocalizer Expressive voices from any Canadian distributor. There is a list of distributors at the above web site.
• Window Eyes will conveniently unmute your computer if it is muted when you start the program.
• You can easily modify speech rate, volume, and tone using Control+Alt+ arrow keys.
• Window Eyes is a product of AI Squared who also make the Zoomtext screen magnification software.
• If you do not have Microsoft Office you may also purchase Window Eyes from Aroga.
Lorne presented the free screen reader NVDA for PCs. Highlights:
• NVDA (non visual desktop access) is a powerful open source screen reader for Windows PCs.
• It is used by over 60,000 users in over 120 countries and 40 languages.
• The NVDA project was started by two blind programmers in Brisbane, Australia. You can download it free from: http://www.nvaccess.org/
• They request a donation which helps to continue NVDA development especially to make it available in developing countries.
• NVDA keyboard commands are similar to JAWS.
• NVDA provides support for braille.
The built-in text to speech voice is eSpeak.
Other voices including Eloquence and Vocalizer Expressive can be purchased as add-ons.
• There are many other NVDA add-ons developed by programmers around the world to do many additional tasks. You can learn more about the add-ons at: http://addons.nvda-project.org/index.en.html
• Because NVDA is free and used extensively, many Windows software companies now test the accessibility of their programs using NVDA as their benchmark.
After Sight Device
• Mike McWilliams asked members if adding a directional audio indicator to his After Sight device would be of use to help you walk a straight line such as when crossing an intersection or open area. Participants were enthusiastic about adding this feature.
• Mike is also hopeful the object recognition database can be expanded from 1000 to 5000 objects.
• You may contact Mike McWilliams at:403-488-1247 or mike.mcwilliams@after-sight.com
Web: http://www.after-sight.com
Next Meeting (Monday March 14 at 7pm)
• Our member, Owais, will present his HIMS BrailleSense note taker and show the power of computing and using the Internet with Braille.
• Gerry will present the online functions of the Victor Reader Stream new generation including Podcasts, Bookshare, radio, Wikipedia/Wiktionary lookups, and Direct to Player books.
• Send your meeting topic ideas to GTT.Edmonton@gmail.com.
Meeting Location and Logistics
• Ascension Lutheran Church 8405 – 83 Street NW, Edmonton.
• We meet in the basement hall. There is elevator access.
• Enter the church from the back door. There is parking at the back and drop off space for taxis, DATS.
• Meetings are typically every second Monday of the month at 7pm.
• If you have someone helping you your assistant is welcome to remain for the meeting.
GTT Edmonton Team
• Carrie Anton is visually impaired and is the accessibility specialist for Athabasca University.
• Gerry Chevalier is blind. He is retired from HumanWare where he worked as the Product Manager for the Victor Reader line of talking book players.
• Heather MacDonald is the specialist for CNIB career and employment services. She has a wealth of experience helping blind and visually impaired people with the challenges of finding employment.
• Russell Solowoniuk is blind and works with alternative formats and assistive technology at Grant MacEwan University.
• Lorne Webber is blind and is the accessibility specialist for Norquest College.
GTT Edmonton Overview
• GTT Edmonton is a chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB).
• There are GTT groups in Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Northern Ontario, Sydney, Edmonton, Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver, and more to come.
• There is also a national GTT monthly toll free teleconference.
• GTT Edmonton promotes a self-help learning experience by holding monthly meetings to assist participants with assistive technology.
• Each meeting will present a feature technology topic and general question and answer about any other technology.
• Small groups or one on one assistance is possible at the meetings.
• Participants are encouraged to come to each meeting even if they are not interested in the feature topic because questions on any technology are welcome. The more participants the better able we will be equipped with the talent and experience to help each other.
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The Albert A. Ruel Road to Blindness
A 21 year old man stood on the beach at the Sproat Lake Provincial Park with friends early in May of 1977, and upon gazing across the lake found the Gulf Oil sign missing from the dock-side filling station there. When this fact was shared with his companions they glanced at him with puzzled looks and said, “No Albert, the sign is still there”.
That was the beginning of a road through confusion, anger, isolation, loneliness and discovery for me. It all began with a visit to a local Optometrist who could see that my vision wasn’t right, but that corrective lenses wouldn’t help. He then referred me to a General Practitioner, where I received a clean bill of health and an additional referral. This time to an Ophthalmologist. Immediately upon peering through the dilated pupils, Dr. McKerricher was able to see the problem, Retinal Vasculitis.
Now, you would think that all would start to improve at this point, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. You see, CNIB, from 1918 until 1985 only served the needs of people who were “Legally Blind”, a level of vision loss I wouldn’t reach until November of 1979. The words of Dr. McKerricher still echo in my mind today, “Albert, I don’t know what has caused this and nothing we’ve tried is helping to stop it, and you’re not blind enough for me to refer you to CNIB”!
In the middle of this transition from 20/20 vision to “Legally Blind” came the Motor Vehicle Branch and it’s rules of the road. On August 3, 1978 I drove a car for the last time as my vision had reached the level at which operating a motor vehicle became too dangerous, further intensifying feelings of fear, isolation and anger. Sadly, through this period the only available guidance and support was through family and friends, but not the experienced professionals I needed at the time. Although these support systems are critically important they can often be smothering and facilitating, rather than encouraging and supportive.
With gratitude, and some trepidation I finally was able to access CNIB services in November of 1979, and the world opened up then. There I was able to meet other blind people and receive the daily living and mobility skills required to live independently in this sighted world. I learned elementary braille and began to discover technology as necessary tools of independence.
Thankfully, in 1985 CNIB’s National Board altered the course of service to visually impaired Canadians forever. They added a third prong to their Mission Statement, “To promote sight enhancement services”. This opened the door to all Canadians who were beginning to lose sight, as well as those who had a fear of vision loss to access the full range of CNIB Support and Rehabilitation Services. So now, whether it’s someone’s Mother who is experiencing Macular Degeneration, or an Uncle experiencing the affects of Glaucoma, all have the ability to seek information, guidance and support as all involved deal with the fear and anxiety that accompanies such life altering experiences.
With the help of professional Rehabilitation Workers and Employment Counselors I was able to continue traveling independently within my own community, and even more remarkably anywhere in the world I desired to go. I managed to attend College in Nanaimo and New Westminster, as well as traveling to the Mayo Clinic and to doctor’s appointments in Nanaimo and Vancouver without assistance. All of this while living with some usable vision, but not yet needing a white cane for travel.
During the mid 1980’s I was a stay-at-home Dad and did all that was required of that challenging work, from changing diapers to preparing meals, and from cutting the grass to maintaining our home. I even took a woodworking course through Alberni’s Adult Education program and built and restored several pieces of furniture. Of course the 1958 Chevy Impala in the garage was my pride and joy, and I devised ways to do much of the work it required.
I also joined and participated in many community activities, like the local Car Club, and a disability support group that catered to the needs of people with many different disabilities. Of course, continued participation in family life remained of critical importance through this period.
In 1989 a secondary condition began to extinguish the vision that remained, which set into motion a new stream of professional rehabilitation services and supports. By the spring of 1990 Glaucoma had turned out the lights completely, and the darkness I had feared so desperately was upon me. Strangely though, I found this to be a great relief rather than the tragedy I had imagined it would be.
Through several professional rehabilitation sessions, and by joining peer mentoring and advocacy groups I was able to come to terms with this strange feeling, and to learn additional skills and strategies for living with no visual cues of the world around me. This is also about the time that I decided to explore CNIB as an employer, and to see if I could provide the sort of guidance and support to others that had been my pleasure to receive. Those 14 years were a wonderful experience of ongoing discovery for me, as teaching may be the best way to solidify one’s own learning. In other words, those we assist through this transition in turn help us all as we develop best practices and improved service.
Following a 14 year career with CNIB I also served the blind community as the first National Equality Director employed by the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC), and as a Basic Computer Literacy Trainer with the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB). Most recently I have enjoyed coordinating the CCB’s newly launched Get Together with Technology Program in Western Canada, which brings to the fore my passion for assistive technology and the power of peer mentoring.
Without sight I have continued to travel far and wide, with trips to Conventions of and for the Blind in Anaheim California and Melbourne Australia, as well as to many events and activities in Toronto and Vancouver. Of course my work has taken me to many communities throughout Western Canada, and most particularly nearly all regions of BC and on Vancouver Island. None of which would have been possible without the services and support of organizations like CCB, AEBC and CNIB.
For most people blindness generates a fear of extended movement, both within one’s home and community, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Independence comes from personal desire and increased skill. Many community organizations can assist with both through their mentoring and skill development programs. I remember always that life has little to do with what happens to me and 100% what I do about/with it. There is a quote I like to use from the National Federation of the Blind in the USA, “With adequate skill development and opportunity blindness can be reduced to the level of a nuisance”, and nothing could be closer to the truth.
Helen Keller said many years ago, “There is nothing more tragic than someone who has sight, but no vision”. She also challenged the Lions Clubs of the world to become the “Knights of the Blind, and to take up the crusade against darkness”. I too joined a Lions Club in 1992 and continue to work on the crusade that Helen Keller began in the 1920-s.
View all posts by Albert Ruel