Online Learning Resource: 24 Karat GoldWave! A Training Course for Screen-Reader Users

Are you interested in audio editing with the JAWS screen reader? Check out this online course.

24 Karat GoldWave! A Training Course for Screen-Reader Users.

Introduction.
Many blind people love creating audio content. It is something we can enjoy completely and independently. But how do you get started? Moreover, if you have knowledge of how to undertake simple recording or editing tasks, how do you build on those skills to add effects such as reverb, change the tone of the audio known as graphic equalisation, or apply noise reduction such as for restoring those old vinyl records and tapes?
Fortunately there is not only a training course which can teach these skills but there is also probably the most accessible audio editor we have ever seen: GoldWave.
Our new training course, “24 Karat GoldWave”, will be ideal for those just beginning to learn how to record and process audio content for the first time, through to those people who have some more detailed knowledge. If you use an alternative sound editor, you may like to purchase the training course to learn why GoldWave is streets ahead of the competitors, certainly in terms of accessibility. Put simply, despite its low price point, GoldWave is a simple, easy-to-use, accessible audio production tool, ideal for people who do not want or need to know about the more complex digital audio workstations. Read onto find out about the many features of GoldWave and what you can achieve.
What is GoldWave?
GoldWave is a highly rated, professional digital audio editor. It’s fully loaded to do everything from the simplest recording and editing to the most sophisticated audio processing, restoration, enhancements, and conversions. It is easy to learn and use.
• Play your favourite songs, fast forward and rewind, or change the playback speed so as to learn a song by ear or transcribe dictation.
• Record from any source, such as microphone, line-in, turntable or audio streaming.
• Record speeches or reports, music, your own voice, Set a timer to start recording at a certain day and time. Use level activated recording to continue and pause recording automatically whenever the signal is above or below a given value.
• Edit audio with all the familiar concepts including Cut, Copy, Paste and delete.
• Apply dozens of different audio effects. Adjust bass or treble with the Equalizer. Even out volume levels with Auto Gain. Easily fade in and out background music, add echoes, reverbs, flangers, and much more. Change the pitch of your voice or make it sound mechanical. Preview effects real-time before processing them. Most effects include presets for commonly used settings so you don’t have to be an audio expert.
• Remaster old vinyl or tape recordings. Use Noise Reduction and Pop/Click filters to clean up the audio and take out the buzz, hiss, crackle, and clicks.
• Includes a collection of powerful tools. For example, copy audio directly from an audio CD with the CD Reader tool.
• Contains many keyboard shortcuts for tasks which can be reassigned if necessary to suit your own tastes.
• Freely available script files provide important information required for working on projects.
What Will I Learn?
The course is divided into four sessions, each of which will last 90 minutes. The course not only teaches you how to work with GoldWave, but also to understand important concepts such as good microphone placement, poor and excellent editing, and effective audio mixing. Topics include, but are not restricted to:
• Installing GoldWave and the accompanying script files.
• Configuring GoldWave including the settings specific to recording and playback.
• Customising GoldWave for use with screen-readers.
• Making Your first recording.
• Saving and opening files.
• Playing and navigating through the audio.
• Learning the location of the cursor in hours, minutes and seconds.
• Moving to a specific time in the audio.
• Selecting audio ready for editing.
• Playing the selected audio.
• Cut, copy, paste and delete.
• Making very small audio adjustments.
• Moving between a number of files which are open.
• Copying audio from one file to another.
• Adjusting playback speed.
• Adjusting Volume and Normalising.
• Checking the level metres.
• Trimming.
• Cue Points and how to use them.
• Fading and Crossfading.
• Mixing voice over music.
• Saving recordings to MP3.
• Inserting silence.
• Using Effects to alter sounds in a variety of ways. Changing pitch, volume, graphic equalisation, echo and reverb, Filter.
• Noise Reduction and audio restoration.
• Swapping channels and panning.
• Working with time to ensure audio runs to a specific length.
• Set recording to begin at a specific time of day.
• Extracting the content of CD’s.
How Does GoldWave Compare to Other Audio Editors in Terms of Accessibility and Functionality?
Undeniably, GoldWave is an inexpensive audio production tool and so you may be forgiven for thinking that it does not offer the sophistication of higher priced products. We would suggest otherwise. Not only are many features comparable to similar products, but in terms of accessibility GoldWave outshines them.
The later versions of some of the more popular audio editors are becoming more and more challenging to work with from an accessibility standpoint. Take “Audio Ducking” as an example, the process where a person’s voice can be mixed over music. Many other sound editors do not give you the flexibility and control over this process which GoldWave delivers. Superb results can be achieved in this regard when using this program. Join us and see how it is done!
Who is the Course For?
This course is suited to anyone who has an interest in creating or working with audio content. You should be familiar with how your screen-reader functions together with Windows concepts, such as how to navigate around applications.
By the end of the course, you ought to be able to carry out the simplest of recordings through to creating audio for podcasts, PowerPoint presentations or perhaps to mix together a spot or promo for broadcast on radio. You decide!
There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions regarding the topics under discussion, however this is achieved in a structured manner. This ensures that you can focus on learning the concepts being taught and easily refer back to sections of the archive recording at a later date.
What Happens If I Do Not Have the GoldWave Software?
This is not a problem. A fully functional evaluation copy of GoldWave can be downloaded and installed, details of which will be provided to you when you sign up for the training course.
Should you decide to purchase a copy of GoldWave, a lifetime license for home use is priced $45 or alternatively $15 per year.
Links will also be provided by us for the JAWS scripts mentioned above.
If I Purchase the Course, What Will I Receive?
The course will be delivered online via our accessible Talking Communities server. If you have not used this conferencing software before, you will receive instructions prior to the commencement of the course. This software allows for the delivery of the presentation, including the output from the screen-reading software.
The course will give to you:
• Four lessons starting 15 March 2017. Each lesson will begin at 7 PM UK time, (2 PM Eastern), each Wednesday.
• An audio recording of each lesson in MP3 format.
• Sample files which you can use in your Projects and to work with at a later date.
• Text documentation to reinforce topics covered in the lessons. This will include a comprehensive list of keystrokes so as to achieve all tasks.
• An email list active prior to (and during) the course so you can ask questions outside tuition time.
The proposed dates for the course sessions are as follows:
• 15 March;
• 22 March;
• 29 March;
• 5 April.
If you cannot take part on those dates, you can still gain plenty of benefit, since you will receive all the lessons and accompanying documentation, as well as being able to ask questions through the Email list provided to you.
All recordings, documentation and the Talking Communities chat room are accessed through a secure area of our website which is only available to course participants.
Costing.
The cost of the course is £60 which is currently 72 US dollars.
This is a slight increase from our usual rate due to the production of sample files which are required. Payment should reach us by Wednesday 8 March 2017.
Purchase 24 Karat GoldWave Online.
Alternatively, anyone who would like to take part in the course should register their interest by sending an Email to jaws@hartgen.org, whereupon a fully accessible electronic invoice will be sent to you which can be paid through PayPal or any major credit or debit card. Orders can also be placed by telephone:
• Call us (from within the UK): 02920-850298.
• Call us (from the United States): 415-871-0626.
• Call us (from any other country): (+44)2920-850298.
If you would like to read the views from participants of our previous courses, please Visit our Training area.
Course Prerequisites.
It is important that you have:
• Good keyboarding skills;
• A computer with an internet connection.
• A microphone so as to ask questions within the course.
• JAWS for Windows or the NVDA screen-reader. Please note that our company is exclusively concerned with the JAWS for Windows screen-reader, however there is an Add-On for NVDA and GoldWave. NVDA has been tested extensively with the program and it works well.
• At the very least, a microphone so as to make recordings with GoldWave, or alternatively a more sophisticated environment, such as an audio mixing console. If you do not wish to make recordings, and are content with importing audio including our samples, a microphone may not be necessary.
Summary.
Over many years, GoldWave has proven itself to be a thoroughly usable, productive audio environment in which to work. It has a large feature set, great file compatibility, and plenty of effects and tools for audio restoration. Why not give it a try and learn how to use it from a blind person’s perspective! It’s a Golden Opportunity!

Brian Hartgen
Choose Hartgen Consultancy for high quality JAWS Script Writing, training and our products including J-Say, J-Dictate and Leasey.
Telephone (in the UK) 02920-850298.
Telephone (in the United States of America) 1-415-871-0626.
Telephone (from any other country) +44-2920-820598.
Visit our website for more information!
Follow us on Twitter, HartgenConsult.
Like our Facebook Page.

JAWS Certified 2016.

GTT National Conference Call Summary Notes: White Canes and other Mobility Aids, February 8, 2017

GTT National Conference Call.

Sponsored by the Canadian Council of the Blind

Summary Notes

February 8, 2017.

Questions from previous GTT NatConCall:
How do I find an Insert Key on my small PC laptop:
• To have the Caps Lock Key become an Insert Key do the following; Press Alt + the letter H to access the Help menu of jaws, arrow to the Start-up wizzard, Tab through the dialog box and change keyboard layout to Laptop. Press the Enter Key to save the changes. This will have the Caps Lock Key turned into an Insert Key, which means that pressing it twice quickly will toggle the actual Caps Lock on and off.
• Alternatively, from Staples, London Drugs or Best Buy you can purchase a USB Numeric Keypad that will allow you to access JAWS navigation from the Numpad.
• Some people carry a full-sized external keyboard, however Lap top bags are often not able to hold it all. Weight is also a consideration for some. Albert usually travels with a lap top, scanner and MS Ergo keyboard.
• For Mac desktop and laptops there is available a trackpad instead of using the laptop built-in trackpad. It is approximately the same size as an iPhone/iPod and allows the user to use the regular and familiar swiping gestures to do things such as:
1. Start and stop speech
2. Select an item
3. Read continuously
4. Scroll down by page
5. Turn screen curtain or speech on and off
These are done just like on the i devices so people using them will be familiar with the gestures.

GPS for Mobility:
• Another question was related to the use of GPS devices while travelling in our communities: How do you multitask with mobile GPS devices.
• Some indicated they use their stand-alone and iOS GpS apps, but they turn a lot of the POI and other verbosity off. Maybe just approaching streets need to be spoken while walking.
• When you are in unfamiliar areas, you can quickly turn these things on if you wish.
• Albert likes the clip on speaker from the trekker Maestro. The Breeze one doesn’t seem to work with iPhones. Kim uses the aftershokz headphones and likes them very much.
• If anyone knows of any other available clip on speaker please let us know through the comments on the http://www.GTTProgram.WordPress.com web site.

White Canes and Mobility Preferences:
• Several participants indicated they use Dog Guides, with folded white canes used for locating items or for indoor use.
• Cane Tips people like the roller tip that is like a ball.
• Cyramic tip; sharp sound and because it is hard it never wears out.
• What to do with the cane when signing documents at a counter etc; Stick folded cane in a back pocket or handbag.
• One person indicated that she shoves the cane down her sock.

Do you wash the cane tips when entering your home or public buildings:
• Some people wash their canes regularly, and others only when they’ve gotten particularly dirty.
• Instead of setting a dirty cane on counters/tables, try placing the cane on the floor between your feet when sitting at a restaurant.
• Using the elastic, attach the folded cane to your chair.
• Using the elastic, atach the cane to your purse strap or backpack.
• There are holders/pouches/hooks you can buy for folded mobility canes that attach to your purse-strap or belt.
• Ambutech is one place where White Mobility Cane Holsters, Pouches and Hooks can be purchased.
https://ambutech.com/shop-online/accessories/pouches-holsters-and-hooks

Is it wise to have the elastic attached to your wrist when walking with a mobility cane:
• Most recommended that it isn’t wise to do so.
• It is safer to drop your cane than put it around your wrist in the event it gets caught up by a passing bike or motor vehicle.

What styles of canes are most often used:
• Few on the call use the Rigid cane. It is too cumbersome to store on buses, trains and airplanes. Albert prefers the rigid for most excursions, however uses a folding cane when travelling with sighted guides.
• One can carry folding canes in backpacks or purses when using Dog Guides if needed.
• It was thought by some that drivers seem to be better able to see white canes than Dog Guides. Perhaps it’s because of the increased usage of service dogs.
• Some thought the red stripe at the bottom of the cane is to show drivers that you want to cross the street when it is held out in front of the user horizontal to the ground.
• Some believe that the red stripe at the bottom of the cane is for depicting deaf blindness.
• Some have noted that the cane disappears from view when walking on painted street crossings.

Multi-Coloured Canes:
• Some people use them without issue, and the first time Albert used his the Greyhound Driver in Victoria didn’t recognize it.
• Once colour wears off one user said she cannot buy replacement tape.
• Does a coloured cane really show that you are blind?

BuzzClip and Amutech Glasses:
• No one on the call is currently using BuzzClip or Ambutech glasses, however they have been trialled by some.
• BuzzClip or Ambutech glasses are good for staying abreast of the person in front of you in line-ups, for finding open doorways in malls, locating bus stop sign posts, etc.
• One person who tried the Ambutech glasses while using their white cane thought they were receiving too much information and were distracted by it.
• One participant uses the Mowat sensor, which sends out a beam, or beams that causes the device to vibrate when the user approaches a person or thing. This device is no longer manufactured, however operates on the same principal as the BuzzClip and Ambutech Glasses.

Monoculars for low vision mobility:
• Some people use them for reading the names/numbers on the front of buses and menus/signs on the wall when out in public places.
• One person indicated that she uses the iPhone camera and the magnification app instead of a monocular.
• Kim has heard that SuperVision is a great free magnifyer app for the iPhone.

How to be more visible when travelling with a mobility aid:
• Make sure you are visible with reflecters, flashing lights or other high-visibility wearable devices.
• Some ideas of what is available are, collars for guide dogs in red or blue, continuous or flashing.
• Construction worker high-viz vests have stripes and lots of pockets etc.
• Some people wear helmets or other protective gear in the winter.
• One option is the Ice halo head protection Padded head band. Check the bottom of this document for details on how to order.

How to keep hands warm when travelling with a mobiliby aid in winter:
• Hot pockets in gloves, which can be purchased at cosco, London Drugs and many outdoor/sports stores.
• Someone in Vancouver sews battery operated warmers into gloves, socks, shirts and pants that is operated by a battery pack worn by the user.

Appendix 1:

SAFETY WITH STYLE

Several styles and many colours to choose from!

Ice Halo, the Canadian owned and manufacturer of the innovative head band protection for sports or pleasure. Check out the new styles that now include Halo Hats at http://www.icehalo.com. .

Don’t risk losing ice time in your favourite activity – Don’t hold back your best because of that nagging fear of a nasty fall. Its lightweight, closed cell construction doesn’t make your head hot and the Velcro closures make it adjustable and secure. The choice of material and colour make it easy to find the right one for you. It’s available in team colours, and you can customize with your corporate logo. The Ice Halo is a great way to keep you or your friends and loved ones safer on the ice.

PROTECTIVE HATS

All Pro Hats have an inner vinyl lining of nitrile High Density foam (the same foam used in many Hockey Helmets) to help lessen the impact of a fall. All Halo products have been tested to Hockey helmet standards and exceed the requirements for front, sides and back impacts where padded. The toque and knitted caps have padding wrapping all around the head. The baseball and army caps have padding in the back and sides of the cap for added protection.

Lori Fry continues in her role as representative for the Blind in Canada with Ice Halo and is able to provide discounted prices to curlers or others looking for stylish head protection. Many thanks to Barbara Armstrong, President of Ice Halo for her sponsorship of the 100 Mile House Blind Curling Team and such strong support to the vision impaired and blind community of Canada.

In order to receive special reduced pricing on your order, please contact Lori at 250-395-2452 or ODIFRY@shaw.ca

Guest Article: High Tech Tools for the Visually Impaired

High Tech Tools for the Visually Impaired

Image by Erikawittlieb (via Pixabay)

Assistive technology for those who are visually impaired is a personal topic to me. My sister-in-law has limited vision and recently came to live with my husband and me. We knew had a lot of work to do in order to prepare our old farmhouse for her and her guide dog, but we didn’t know where to start. I’m so glad we did our research, because as it turns out, technology has come a long way in making the home a more accessible place for those who can’t rely on their vision to guide them!

The technology behind things like voice recognition, GPS and speech to text has continued to get more and more advanced. With each advancement comes a wide range of uses for those who are blind or partially-sighted. When preparing your home for a new resident with a visual impairment, it might be useful to explore some of the high tech appliances, applications and gadgets out there to make daily living easier for those with disabilities. Explore these new high-tech products for the blind or visually impaired.

Talking Microwave

Imagine the convenience of a microwave that is just a little bit smarter. This microwave comes equipped with a voice that walks the user through each function and setting for the unit. It comes with the same functionality of a standard microwave including the rotating plate for even cooking as well as the added features for independent use.

Apple Watch and the iPhone

Wearable technology like the Apple Watch can be useful for those with visual impairments when paired with applications for voice recognition, personal GPS, and voice to text. In order for the Apple Watch to work in this manner, it needs to be paired with an iPhone.Personal GPS Apps

Moving to a new area can be challenging for anyone, but for a blind person learning a new apartment building or city block can be especially challenging. Personal GPS applications use the standard GPS technology and customize it for someone with limited vision. An app like Seeing Eye GPS adapts GPS for someone who uses a white cane or a guide dog in the community. LowViz Guide uses GPS technology to assist those with low vision to navigate inside buildings. Nearby Explorer not only provides directions to those who are blind, but also describes surrounding environments in such a way that the user knows what landmarks are in the area. Similarly, Trekker Breeze is a handy GPS device that “speaks” directions, and is a good option for those who don’t have a smartphone and can’t download an assistive app.

Smart Light Bulbs

The average light bulb gets an amazing update in the Smart Light Bulb. These lights can be controlled from a smart application or via programming that includes changing color, brightness, and timers. The bulbs have a variety of features that can be useful for those with visual impairments including being able to adapt light to the user with the best colors of light for the individual, brighter lights as needed and even controlling timed intervals.

Moshi Interactive Voice Response Clock

Instead of using those tiny buttons and hard to control dials to set an alarm clock, Moshi is interactive and voice controlled. The oversized digital read out is great for those with limited vision while the voice activation feature works for the full range of vision abilities.

Recognition Apps

For someone with a visual impairment, something as simple as recognizing color can make dressing independently impossible. While recognition apps started with things like identifying a popular song, they are now being used to turn a smartphone into a tool for identifying color, denominations of money and more. The Color Identifier uses the camera on the smartphone to scan, identify and then verbally share the name of the color scanned.

High tech gadgets are often made in order to make life easier, and this is the case for those with visual impairments. Talking appliances, smartphone apps and even light bulbs with a brain give users a bit more freedom and independence as they navigate through daily life and give them an opportunity to pursue their passions, whatever they may be. Things like recognition software will only continue to expand and open up more possibilities for uses by those with visual impairments.

Submitted by,
Jackie Waters
jackie@hyper-tidy.com

GTT Edmonton Summary Notes, Google Classroom and Computer Training, February 13, 2017

Summary Notes
GTT Edmonton Meeting February 13, 2017

The most recent meeting of the Get Together with Technology (GTT) Edmonton Chapter was held February 13 at 7pm at Ascension Lutheran Church 8405 83 Street in Edmonton.
23 people attended.

February Topics – Google Classroom Demo and Education/Training

Google Classroom Demo
Owais, a junior high school student member of our chapter, demonstrated how he uses the Google Classroom app on his iPhone in conjunction with his BrailleSense. Google Classroom was designed together with teachers to help them save time, keep classes organized, and improve communication with students.
With this tool Owais can keep track of his assignments, post them for teacher review, his teacher can return with edits, and Owais can formally turn in the completed assignment. He can do all the work in braille both creating documents and reviewing them. Owais showed us the remarkable capability of young blind students who are both braille and technology literate.

JAWS Screen Readers and Students
After Owais finished his demo a discussion ensued whether students need to also learn Windows computers with screen readers such as JAWS or whether they can continue their education and employment using only braille notetakers such as the Braillesense or BrailleNote. The consensus from our blind team is that both are needed and students should aim to be familiar with Windows and Microsoft Office during high school and certainly before entering college/university. Also, Windows computers with Office are the most prevalent computers used in business and industry so mastering the Windows environment is essential for future employment.

Funding for JAWS
A question was posed about funding assistance for JAWS. Two possibilities:
1. CNIB. CNIB clients may qualify for the CNIB STEP program funding. If so, the STEP program would pay 75% of the JAWS purchase price which is currently $1185.
2. ASVI. the Alberta Society for the Visually Impaired (ASVI) Northern Alberta Chapter offers funding to provide assistive technology equipment and software for members ages 18 and under, if a qualified professional has recommended it, such as the student’s vision consultant. ASVI is only able to provide this funding through the generous donation of time and effort by its board, parents, and volunteers. Interested parents and individuals are asked to consider helping by volunteering their time by serving on the Executive, or helping at the ASVI fundraisers. More information about the application process can be found here:
http://www.asviedmonton.org/funding.html
P.S. ASVI is seeking volunteers for their upcoming casino fundraiser on March 16-17. Please email info@asviedmonton.org

Educational Materials for our Chapter
We thank the Edmonton Blind Curling Club who have generously provided us a grant that we may use to purchase educational materials and help with training. We will use the grant this year and next to purchase technology related tutorials and text books. Soon we will send a list of possible tutorials and text books to those listed on our email list. You may look through the email and respond to let us know which tutorials or text books might help you. Watch this space!

One-On-One Training
The donation from the Edmonton Blind Curling Club also allows us to provide another training session at the Norquest computer lab. This will happen on March 2. At the February 13 meeting, we registered 3 people for JAWS training and 2 for Zoomtext. We are delighted that the 3 JAWS registrants are all students!

Next Meeting (Monday March 13 at 7pm)
• Currently we have no volunteer demonstrations.
• We will focus on one-on-one training especially iPhone and DAISY players. If you have other training requests email your interests to us so we can try to accommodate you.
• As always, for help with technology bring your devices and/or questions to the meeting.

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 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.
carrie.anton@hotmail.com
• 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.
GTT.Edmonton@gmail.com
• Heather MacDonald is a career and employment specialist with extensive experience helping blind and visually impaired people find employment.
• Russell Solowoniuk is blind and works with alternative formats and assistive technology at Grant MacEwan University.
rsolowoniuk@gmail.com
• Lorne Webber is blind and is the accessibility specialist for Norquest College.
lorne.webber@gmail.com

GTT Edmonton Overview
• GTT Edmonton is a chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB).
• 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.
• There are GTT groups in Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Northern Ontario, Pembroke, Halifax, Sydney, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver, and more to come.
• There is also a national GTT monthly toll free teleconference. You may subscribe to the National GTT blog to get email notices of teleconferences and notes from other GTT chapters. Visit:
http://www.gttprogram.wordpress.com/
There is a form at the bottom of that web page to enter your email.
[End of Document]

GTT National Conference Call Summary Notes, Web browsing with screen readers, January 11, 2017

GTT National Conference Call.

Sponsored by the Canadian Council of the Blind

January 11, 2017

Web browsing with screen readers.

Many people just use their arrow keys to browse the web. This can be good for exploring a page initially, but it is slow and there are many more efficient ways of browsing the web more quickly and easily.
The best web browsers for PC are: google chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or the last version of internet explorer. The Edge Browser is becoming more accessible with Narrator, and to some degree with NVDA.

There are some slight differences with key commands between NVDA, jaws, window eyes and system access which all work well for browsing the web. Please check your screen reader help section for these.

When you do a google search, be as specific as you can with your search terms. Example: look for mystery books by a certain author on amazon. The more specific you are, the easier you can get to the web site you need.

To go directly to the address field to type in the web site name or your search press Alt D. Alt is the key just to the left of your space bar. This works on all screen readers and in all of the different PC browsers.

You can move around on your web site by headings, lists, buttons and much more. These commands vary by screen reader so check your screen reader manual for the short cut keys.

NVDA and jaws have a great command called insert f7 The insert key is the big key on the bottom left of the number pad and f7 is in the top row of keys on your PC.

For NVDA this is called the elements list. It lists anything on the page that you can click on. The great thing about this is that you can press the first letter of the link you need to find and you can get to it more quickly.

For JAWS users there is also an insert f 6 command to list the headings on a page, email message or MS Word document.

For the mac computer, the accessible web browsers are safari and google chrome.

To get into the address bar/search field on the mac, type command l. Command is the key just to the left of the space bar where the ALT key is on the PC.

The mac has what is called a web rotor which is a little like the insert f 7.

To get to this, press VO command which is control and option keys plus u. You can right arrow then through the various options like links, headings, buttons, ETC and arrow down to go through each category.

The mac also has first letter navigation. This is also true on the PC. You can press h for headings, v for visited links, l for links ETC on the mac.

Some of the commands are different for different screen readers but they all have first letter navigation commands.

Remember that in addition to using the letter H to navigate Headers you can press the numbers 1-6 above your letters on the keyboard to go to heading level 1 2 3 ETC. This is the case for all major screen readers on the PC or mac.

The mac and the iPhone also have a very useful button which is in the top left hand corner of the screen for I devices and one of the first things you come across when a web page loads on the mac. It is called the reader button. Firefox also has a Reader function that is accessed by holding down Shift and Control while typing the letter R.

It is not always available but when it is, it is most useful. If you double tap that button, it jumps you right to the main content on your screen, (say the contents of an article for example).

Browsing the web on an I device can also be fast and easy.

If you use voiceover, go to settings, general, accessibility, voiceover, and then to rotor. Here you can check and uncheck what you want in your rotor which is like a menu of common settings you use. You can include many web browsing navigation elements such as: Headings, links, search fields, visited links, buttons, and much more.

When on a web page, you can turn your rotor with a gesture like a radio dial to move between these elements. You can also navigate your rotor by using the up and left arrow and up and right arrows together on your Bluetooth keyboard or space with dots 23 and space with dots 56 on your braille display.

Once you are on the element you want, swipe down with one finger to go to the next heading and up with one finger to go to the previous one. Up or down arrows on the Bluetooth keyboard do this as well. So do dots 3 with space bar or dot 6 with space bar on a braille display.

GTT Program Overview
• GTT was founded in Ottawa by Kim Kilpatrick and Ellen Goodman in 2011.
• Many GTT Groups are chapters of the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB).
• GTT Groups/Chapters promote 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.
• There are GTT groups in Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Northern Ontario, Pembroke, Halifax, Sydney, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver, and more to come.
• There is also a national GTT monthly toll free teleconference. You may subscribe to the National GTT blog to get email notices of teleconferences and notes from other GTT chapters. Visit:
http://www.GTTProgram.WordPress.com/
There is a “Follow” Link at the bottom of that web page to enter your email in order to register.

Respectfully submitted by Kim Kilpatrick and Albert Ruel

Reminder of the next GTT National Conference call tonight February 8 at 7 PM Eastern, 4 Pacific.

This is just a reminder of our GTT national teleconference call which will take place tonight February 8 at 7 PM Eastern, 4 Pacific time.
We had been asked to talk about on line shopping (especially for groceries) but have been asked by some who are away to put this one off until March. Since it is white cane week, I thought we could talk about mobility devices and apps? What type of cane do you use? What type of tip? What colour? Do you use a guide dog? What apps or tricks do you use for getting around?
Here is the call in info.
1-866-740-1260
Passcode 5670311

Screen Reader Resource: System Access Keyboard Commands

Keyboard Command Quick Reference List for System Access
(www.SAToGo.com)

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Global Commands

A Note About the Modifier Key

The System Access Modifier Key can be one of four keys, including the Insert Key, often located near the Home Key on the keyboard, the Caps-lock Key, the 0 Key on the numpad, or the Scroll-lock Key. For your convenience, all these modifier keys are active and you may choose the one which seems most comfortable at any given time.

Global Commands

Refresh the display: Modifier+Escape

Open the remote control menu if applicable:
Shift+Modifier+Escape

Read the status bar, if any: Modifier+Page Down

Announce the object with the focus: Modifier+Up Arrow

When in a document, read the document starting at the insertion point; otherwise, read the contents of the foreground window: Modifier+Down Arrow

Read the title of the foreground window:
Modifier+T

Read the contents of the foreground window:
Modifier+W

Click the current help balloon if any: Modifier+B

Activate the SAMNet Desktop: Modifier+D

Activate the System Access menu: Modifier+F

Toggle keyboard help mode: Modifier+H

Pass a key through to the application: Modifier+F3

Shut down System Access: Modifier+F4

Choose a toolbar button from a list: Modifier+F8

Click an icon in the system tray: Modifier+F11

Say the current time and date: Modifier+F12

Stop constant updating of progress indicators:
Control twice quickly

Check laptop battery status: Modifier+Shift+B

Reading and Editing Commands

Move one character to the left: Left Arrow

Select one character to the left: Shift+Left Arrow

Say the current character: Control+Modifier+NumPad
5

Move one character to the right: Right Arrow

Select one character to the right: Shift+Right Arrow

Move to the previous word: Control+Left Arrow

Select the previous word: Control+Shift+Left Arrow

Say the current word: Modifier+NumPad 5

Move to the next word: Control+Right Arrow

Select the next word: Control+Shift+Right Arrow

Move up one line: Up Arrow

Select the previous line: Shift+Up Arrow

Read the current line: Modifier+Up Arrow

Move down one line: Down Arrow

Select the next line: Shift+Down Arrow

Move to the previous sentence: Alt+Up Arrow

Move to the next sentence: Alt+Down Arrow

Move to the previous paragraph: Control+Up Arrow

Move to the next paragraph: Control+Down Arrow

Move up one page: Page Up

Select the previous page of text: Shift+Page Up

Move down one page: Page Down

Select the next page of text: Shift+Page Down

Move to the end of the line: End

Read from the virtual cursor to the end of the
line: Modifier+End

Select text from the current position to the end of the line: Shift+End

Move to the end of the document: Control+End

Select text from the current reading position to the end of the document: Control+Shift+End

Move to the start of the line: Home

Select all text from the current position to the start of the line: Shift+Home

Move to the start of the document: Control+Home

Select all text from the current position to the beginning of the document: Control+Shift+Home

Read from the start of the line to the current
position: Modifier+Home

Select the whole document: Control+A

Table Reading Commands

Read the current table cell: Control+Alt+NumPad 5

Read the first cell in the current table column:
Modifier+C

Read the current table row: Modifier+R

Move to the first column and row in a table:
Control+Alt+Home

Move to the last column and row in a table:
Control+Alt+end

Move to the previous column in a table:
Control+Alt+Left Arrow

Move to the beginning of a row in a table:
Control+Shift+Alt+Left Arrow

Move to the previous row in a table:
Control+Alt+Up Arrow

Move to the top of a column in a table:
Control+Shift+Alt+Up Arrow

Move to the next column in a table:
Control+Alt+Right Arrow

Move to the end of a row in a table:
Control+Shift+Alt+Right Arrow

Move to the next row in a table: Control+Alt+Down Arrow

Move to the bottom of a column in a table:
Control+Shift+Alt+Down Arrow

HTML Navigation Commands

Click the object with the virtual focus: Enter or Space

Move to the next landmark: Semicolon

Move to the prior landmark: Shift+Semicolon

Attempt to automatically label links that aren’t yet labelled: Modifier+A

Move to the next anchor: A

Move to the previous anchor: Shift+A

Move to the next button: B

Move to the previous button: Shift+B

Move to the next drop-down list: D

Move to the previous drop-down list: Shift+D

Move to the next editable text field: E

Move to the previous editable text field: Shift+E

Move to the next form field: F

Move to the previous form field: Shift+F

Move to the next graphic: G

Move to the previous graphic: Shift+G

Move to the next heading: H

Move to the previous heading: Shift+H

Move to next heading at level: 1-6

Move to previous heading at level: Shift+1-6

Move to the next visited link: V

Move to the previous visited link: Shift+V

Move to the next unvisited link: U

Move to the previous unvisited link: Shift+U

Move to the next list item: I

Move to the previous list item: Shift+I

Move to the next bulleted or numbered list: L

Move to the previous bulleted or numbered list:
Shift+L

Move to the top of the current bulleted or numbered list:

Label an image or form field with C-SAW: Alt+L

Move to the next block of plain text: N

Move to the previous block of plain text: Shift+N

Move to the next radio button: R

Move to the previous radio button: Shift+R

Submit C-SAW labels for the current site:
Modifier+S

Move to the next table: T

Move to the previous table: Shift+T

Move to the next checkbox: X

Move to the previous checkbox: Shift+X

Say the current word: Modifier+NumPad 5

Summarize the contents of the page: Modifier+F1

Jump to a heading on this page from a list:
Modifier+F6

Show a list of links on this webpage: Modifier+F7

Microsoft Excel

Activate a chart embedded in the active worksheet:
Modifier+Enter

Read the virtual status bar: Modifier+Page Down

Read the current selection: Modifier+Up Arrow

Read the sheet starting at the current cell:
Modifier+Down Arrow

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+0

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+0

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+1

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+1

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+2

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+2

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+3

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+3

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+4

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+4

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+5

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+5

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+6

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+6

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+7

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+7

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+8

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+8

Create or read a monitor region: Modifier+9

Modify or delete a monitor region:
Shift+Modifier+9

Read the title of the current column: Modifier+C

Read the current column: Alt+Modifier+C

Read the title of the current row: Modifier+R

Read the current row: Alt+Modifier+R

Add or delete a title range: Shift+Modifier+T

Display a dialog containing lists of cells with data, links, totals, and worksheets: Modifier+F7

Microsoft Outlook

Read the From header in a message window: Alt+1

Move the focus to the From header in a message
window: Alt+1 twice quickly

Read the Sent header in a message window: Alt+2

Move the focus to the Sent header in a message
window: Alt+2 twice quickly

Read the To header in a message window: Alt+3

Move the focus to the To header in a message
window: Alt+3 twice quickly

Read the Cc header in a message window: Alt+4

Move the focus to the Cc header in a message
window: Alt+4 twice quickly

Read the Subject header in a message window: Alt+5

Move the focus to the Subject header in a message
window: Alt+5 twice quickly

Choose from the list of attachments, if any:
Modifier+A

Microsoft PowerPoint SlideShow

Move to the end of the line: End

Move to the end of the slide: Control+End

Move to the start of the line: Home

Move to the start of the slide: Control+Home

Move one character to the left: Left Arrow

Move to the previous word: Control+Left Arrow

Move up one line: Up Arrow

Read the current line: Modifier+Up Arrow

Move one character to the right: Right Arrow

Move to the next word: Control+Right Arrow

Move down one line: Down Arrow

Read the slide starting at the virtual cursor:
Modifier+Down Arrow

Read the presenter’s notes for this slide:
Control+Shift+N

Virtual Mouse

Activate or deactivate Virtual Mouse Mode:
Modifier+M

Move to the next clickable object: Tab

Move to the previous clickable object: Shift+Tab

Simulate a left click: Enter

Simulate a right click: Shift+Enter

Deactivate Virtual Mouse: Escape

Simulate a left click: Space

Simulate a right click: Shift+Space

Move to the end of the current text: End

Move to the bottom of the window: Control+End

Move to the start of the current text: Home

Move to the top of the window: Control+Home

Move left one character: Left Arrow

Move left one word: Control+Left Arrow

Move left one object: Alt+Left Arrow

Move up one line: Up Arrow

Announce the object under the cursor: Modifier+Up Arrow

Move right one character: Right Arrow

Move right one word: Control+Right Arrow

Move right one object: Alt+Right Arrow

Move down one line: Down Arrow

Read the contents of the window starting at the
cursor: Modifier+Down Arrow

Automatically label graphics: Alt+A

Label a graphic: Alt+L

Submit a Program Pack for this program: Alt+S

Choose a clickable object from a list: Modifier+F7

Screen Magnification Commands

Increase the screen magnification factor:
Modifier+Plus

Enable screen magnification: Control+Modifier+Plus

Decrease the screen magnification factor:
Modifier+Dash

Disable screen magnification:
Control+Modifier+Dash

Console

Move to the right edge of the window: Modifier+End

Move to the bottom of the window:
Control+Modifier+End

Move to the left edge of the window: Modifier+Home

Move to the top of the window:
Control+Modifier+Home

Move to the previous character: Modifier+Left Arrow

Move to the previous word: Control+Modifier+Left Arrow

Read the current line: Modifier+Up Arrow

Move to the next character: Modifier+Right Arrow

Move to the next word: Control+Modifier+Right Arrow

Read the contents of the console starting at the current position of the reading cursor:
Modifier+Down Arrow

Move to the previous character: NumPad 1

Move to the left edge of the window:
Modifier+NumPad 1

Say the current character: NumPad 2

Move to the bottom of the window: Modifier+NumPad
2

Move to the next character: NumPad 3

Move to the right edge of the window:
Modifier+NumPad 3

Move to the previous word: NumPad 4

Read the current word: NumPad 5

Move to the top of the window: Modifier+NumPad 5

Move to the next word: NumPad 6

Move to the previous line: NumPad 7

Read the current line: NumPad 8

Move to the next line: NumPad 9

Read the contents of the console starting at the current position of the reading cursor:
Modifier+Decimal

Last modified December 08, 2015

GTT Victoria Summary Notes, White Canes and Mobility, February 1, 2017

Get together with Technology (GTT) Victoria
A Chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind

Summary Notes, Wednesday February 1, 2017
GVPL Main branch, Coomunity Meeting Room

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 pm by chair Albert Ruel

Attendance, Kara, Bruce, Brent, Evett, Karen, Sky, Elizabeth Lalonde, Elizabeth Syringe, Joan, Albert and Corry.

Albert welcomed everyone back for another calendar year of the CCB GTT program in Victoria.

BC Transit, Victoria Trekker Breeze Issue:
The meeting started with some discussion and an update on the Local Transit situation, that being that BC Transit has publicly stated that they will have a fully operational GPS system up and running within the next 18 months. The importance of having a fully inclusive system in place was reinforced by several members including Bruce who stated that the readout of stop locations was a must in his world. The question of whether this new system would include a speaker by the front door identifying the bus route name and number. It was agreed that we should communicate to transit the importance of this specific feature to ensure that it is given high priority and does become a reality.

Transit App:
The Transit app was discussed at great length and highly recommended by both Tom and Corry. Although the service does not feature real time tracking yet in Victoria, the app is great for letting you know when you are approaching your desired stop.

GPS Apps:
From there the discussion centered around the various types of GPS apps available, Albert spoke briefly about some of the differences. Data usage was also discussed and tips on how to minimise data requirements were discussed. Mapmywalk and Runtastic are two apps that seam to use minimal data and can be very helpful if you wish to incorporate a fitness component to your daily activities.

White Cane Week:
After a short break, the White Cane was discussed at length (White Cane Week is Feb 5 – 11, 2017). Elizabeth Lalonde gave us a great overview of the various types of canes available and the great work that is going on at the Pacific Training Center in regards to mobility training and cane usage.

iHabilitation:
Tom Decker spoke about a new initiative going on at Ihabilitation, they have purchased a new program called Screen Flow Recorder and will be producing inclusive “how to” videos in the near future. Tom will keep us posted on the progress.

White Canes:
During the final portion, several types of White Canes were passed out and the members had an opportunity to try different types and lengths.

Meeting adjourned at 3:45 PM
Next meeting, Wednesday March 1, 2015
Submitted by Corry Stuive

Newsletter: Braille Literacy Canada, January 2017 Newsletter

[Braille Literacy Canada logo]
Newsletter
January 2017 ● Issue #5

Notice to B LC Members: Save the Date

Our next annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place in Toronto on May 6th, 2017. We recognize that not all members will be able to attend in person, so we will offer some options for participating electronically. These will include appointing a proxy or submitting an electronic ballot. A notice with more details will be sent out to members in the next couple of months. We look forward to seeing you there!

New UEB Listserv

If you are learning, teaching or transcribing Unified English Braille (UEB) and are looking for a place to post questions, Braille Literacy Canada (BLC) invites you to join our UEB listserve. Subscribers can post to the list, and all queries will be answered by code and formatting experts. Information and announcements relevant to UEB will also be forwarded to this list.

To subscribe to the discussion list, visit https://lists.blc-lbc.ca/mailman/listinfo/ueb_lists.blc-lbc.ca

Focus Group Announcement

As many of you may be aware, the federal government is currently undertaking a consultation process to inform the development of new legislation aimed at improving accessibility and removing barriers to the participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society. Public consultation sessions have been held in major cities across the country, but individuals and organizations are also permitted to make written submissions to the process.

The scope of these consultations is wide. Feedback is being sought to help determine the goals of the legislation, the approach it will take to improving accessibility, how standards should be developed, how compliance and enforcement should be handled, and what the government can do to support organizations in becoming accessible. More information on the consultation process generally can be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability/consultations/accessibility-legislation.html.
For more information on the scope and reach of the federal government’s regulatory power, please see:
https://slmc.uottawa.ca/?q=laws_canada_legal.

Braille Literacy Canada intends to submit a position paper to the government outlining the importance of federal organizations ensuring that information is accessible and available in braille. To facilitate this, we would like to hold a consultation session with our members to gather input on what factors should be considered in this submission. Questions to consider may include:

(1) What arguments (academic, theoretical, practical, or otherwise) would you use to justify the importance of having access to braille from federally-regulated organizations for Canadians who are blind or deaf-blind?
(2) Should braille materials be on hand, available upon request, or, within a “reasonable” timeframe? If the latter, what would seem to be a “reasonable”
timeframe?
(3) In the reverse direction, should Canadians who are blind or deaf-blind have the right to submit documentation in braille to federally-regulated bodies?
(4) To what degree, if at all, should the legislation specify the standards to which braille is to be produced? What ‘standards’ should it adopt, and how?
(5) Should we attempt to solidify, through legislation (or regulation), Braille Literacy Canada’s (internationally recognized) role as the preeminent “authority”
for braille standards in Canada? If so, how?

Anyone interested in contributing to this discussion is invited to join us by telephone for a conference call on January 28th, 2016 between 1 and 3pm Eastern (10-noon Pacific, 11am-1pm Mountain, 12-2pm Central, 2-4pm Atlantic) or, alternatively, to submit written comments and feedback to info@blc-lbc.ca
on or before January 28th, 2016.

If you would like to participate in the conference call, please e-mail secretary@blc-lbc.ca
to register. Information on how to join the call will be sent to you a few days before the event.

We look forward to your participation on January 28th! If you have any questions or require further information in the interim, please feel free to email info@blc-lbc.ca.

BLC Committees

As many of you know, the work of BLC is done by committees. Here is a list of our current committees and their responsibilities. New members are always welcome!

For more information please send an email to info@blc-lbc.ca.

The web committee

* Maintains web site and social media and updates content with current events, resources and other items of interest.
* Works with other committees to update content as appropriate.

The membership committee

* Collaborates with the BLC treasurer and the Corporate Secretary to manage membership data.
* Ensures that email reminders are sent to those members who have not renewed their membership.
* Proposes options for increasing membership.

The communications committee

* Proposes options for increasing communication with BLC members and the general public.
* Prepares and distributes the BLC newsletter.

The braille formats committee

* Determines other guidelines that should be reviewed by BLC for use in Canada. Members of this committee must have a thorough knowledge of braille and must be familiar with issues specific to formatting.

The teaching and learning committee

* Conducts research related to braille instruction of children and adults.
* Seeks funding sources to support this research. Committee members should be employed as an educator of visually impaired students or be studying in the field.

The nominations committee

* Seeks candidates to fill vacant positions on the Board of Directors.
* Presents the slate of nominations to BLC members at the Annual General Meeting.

The braille promotion committee

* Proposes and implements activities to promote braille in Canada. The brailler bounce initiative is a project of this committee.
* Plans teleconferences on various braille-related issues.

The French braille standards committee

* Proposes and implements research and/or other projects pertaining to French braille in Canada.

The bylaws committee

* Drafts text for changes to BLC bylaws as appropriate. Previous experience with bylaw revisions is an asset.

Braille Screen Input on iOS Devices
By Natalie Martiniello

For people who are blind or who have low vision, one could argue that the built-in accessibility of Apple’s iPhone and iPad ranks among the most significant developments for our community since the year 2000. Based on universal design, Apple products led the way by demonstrating that technology could and should be accessible to diverse users from the start. Rather than retrofitting, universal design from inception has not only levelled the playingfield for those of us who are blind, but has also benefited users with perfect sight. After all, doesn’t everyone – sighted or blind – use Siri nowadays? And this is the point. When you make things accessible from the start, everyone wins. And the trend is catching on. Though Apple paved the way, other companies are following in their footsteps – Google’s Android, being one.

As someone who is blind and who has also taught clients who are blind, I have seen multiple examples of how this innovative technology can increase independence and opportunities. I have about 7 pages of apps on my iPhone. The true wonder and joy of all of this, for those of us who are braille users, is that all of these apps that are accessible with VoiceOver (the built-in screenreader on Apple products) can be used with a braille display. Suddenly, we have so much more access to braille – for learning, practicing and using it in our everyday lives. With the launch of the Orbit Braille Reader (sold by CNIB in Canada), the first low-cost braille display, access to braille information in this way is about to increase for many more people. Despite what mainstream news at times inaccurately proclaims, technology hasn’t replaced braille – it’s solidified its place in a truly exciting digital age!

As a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, I’ve harnessed the power of this technology with braille learners – many of whom are adults and seniors, when possible. It allows us to access far more material than ever before, and enables braille learners to practice braille in ways that are so meaningful to them – writing a facebook post, a tweet or an iMessage provides instant satisfaction to many, particularly for those who are losing their vision and who are eager to reconnect with the social world. These are just some creative ways one might use a braille display (connected to an I-device) during lessons.

I’d like to use the remainder of this post, however, to describe the use of the on-screen braille keyboard. Since iOS 8, braille users can activate an on-screen braille keyboard that they can use in place of the regular, on-screen QWERTY keyboard that usually appears for typing. Though many blind users, myself included, can and do use the regular on-screen QWERTY keyboard, it can be somewhat cumbersome and time-consuming to use, since the letters need to be located and selected one at a time. The on-screen braille keyboard, in contrast, allows you to form braille letters directly onto the screen, which greatly increases writing speed.

I use the on-screen braille keyboard exclusively for all my iPhone typing, and can type quicker than most of my sighted friends because of it. It’s also a great way for learners to practice braille. Using the on-screen braille keyboard requires them to think about how braille symbols are formed and what dots are included – It can be a great way to reinforce the learning of braille letters while accomplishing meaningful and relevant tasks on an I-device. Plus, the built-in screen reader on Apple products provides instant audio feedback, which is a great motivator and learning support for students!

To activate the on-screen braille keyboard:
1. Select the Settings Application from the Home Screen.
2. Press the “General “button, found within the Settings main menu.
3. Press the “Accessibility” options button.
4. Press the “VoiceOver” options button.
5. Press the “Rotor” options button.
6. Find the Braille Screen Input function.
7. If Voiceover doesn’t say, “Selected,” double-tap on braille-screen input to add it to your rotor.

Though it’s beyond the scope of this article to explain the Rotor and how it works, I recommend this website which provides a very helpful explanation: http://www.voiceover-easy.net/References/RotorFunctions.aspx

Once you’ve followed the above steps, you’ll also want to configure your braille-screen input to best meet your needs before using it for the first time. Visit this link to learn more about how to select uncontracted or contracted input, six or eight key entry, and the braille code you wish to use when typing. By default, the braille code that is used for Braille Screen Input is Unified English Braille:
http://www.voiceover-easy.net/AdvancedOptions/OtherInputMethods.aspx#section0300

Once you’ve added braille screen input to your rotor and configured the settings for the first time, the braille screen input will now be available to you whenever you’re within a text field and need to type. Simply perform the Rotor gesture to select braille screen input.

How to Type using On-Screen Braille Input: Once activated, there are two options for typing using braille screen input. Table-top mode (when your device is laying flat on any surface) allows you to use your index, middle and ring fingers for typing as if it were a Perkins brailler. Screen-away mode, which I prefer and find more reliable, is preferable for smaller devices (such as the iPhone). To use braille screen input in screen-away mode:

• Activate braille screen input in your rotor
• Hold your iPhone in landscape orientation (that is, with the screen facing away from you, and the home button to the right).
• Hold your iPhone using your thumbs on the top edge and your pinky fingers on the bottom edge of your device. Your Index, Middle, and Ring fingers should now form two vertical columns of three dots just like the dots in the braille cell.
• Imagine this braille cell in front of you before typing, with dots 1, 2 and 3 placed vertically on the left and dots 4, 5 and 6 placed vertically on the right. Press down the fingers that correspond to the dots of the symbol you’d like to form. For example, press down your left index finger (which should be located on the top left of your screen in landscape orientation) to form the letter “A”, and press your left index, right index and right middle fingers together to form the letter “D”.

Try doing the entire alphabet for practice!

Other useful gestures when using braille screen input in screen-away mode:
• Swipe with one finger towards the left to delete the previous letter
• Swipe with one finger towards the right to insert a “space”
• Swipe with two fingers towards the right to move to the next line (VoiceOver will say “new line”)
• Swipe with three fingers towards the left to switch to contracted mode (which allows you to type contractions).
Swipe with three fingers towards the right to move back to uncontracted mode.

Now, you can type in braille on your device wherever you are!

Braille: A Story of Personal Life-Long Empowerment
By Leo Bissonnette, Ph.D.

As we celebrate the contribution of Louis Braille and his impact on our individual lives today, this issue features articles that make a strong case for the value of braille. My story adds to this accumulated statement of empowerment and the need to keep braille relevant in the lives of the blind today.

Like so many others in the blind community, I have listened to audio books since I was able to operate the record player that used to store talking books back in my early childhood. Today I enjoy reading books on my iPhone, using my Victor Reader Stream, or sitting at the computer. As important as the digital age is to me, nothing has even come close to empowering me as a blind person the way braille has.

A Little About Me
I was born with low vision and started my education working in large print. Then my mother, who was quite the advocate in making sure that I received a good education and essential rehabilitation services, felt that braille should be a tool added to my toolbox. So I started learning braille in third grade while attending the Montreal Association School for the Blind. I quickly took to using braille right away, and have used it as my first tool, taken from my toolbox, on a daily basis ever since.
Back to the Present
These days, what with the portability and low cost of ebooks, it seems that braille is struggling to keep its place in the lives of the blind. The high cost of braille displays compounds the problem, making it easier to simply abandon braille, or perhaps relegate it to infrequent use. Does it really matter if Braille becomes a medium that exists only in the memories of older blind people? Is it time to move on to more modern and cost-effective ways of communicating the written word, or should we fight to bring braille back to the forefront of our collective consciousness? Why is braille still relevant today?

I believe braille is essential for good writing. I would not be the proficient speller I am today if I had not read hundreds of thousands of braille words over the course of my life. While any decent screen reader provides the ability to spell words and review lines of text character by character, it is virtually impossible to catch all formatting and spelling errors in a document with speech alone. Anyone who uses text-to-speech software at all knows all too well the frustration of deciphering b’s from d’s, and sorting out all of the words that sound alike but are spelled differently such as there and their.

When I really need to digest something I am reading, I will slow my speech rate down or transfer the content to an SD card for later reading on my braille display. I am constantly amazed at the number of errors I find in documents I am reading in braille that I did not catch with speech alone.

Would I want to go back to the days before I had my iPhone and portable book reader? No way. Am I as likely to use a slate and stylus today as I was 50 years ago—although I still carry one in my brief case just in case I need it? Probably not. Can I imagine what my life would be like if I never again read another line of text in braille? I don’t even want to dwell on the thought!

Exploring Braille Settings on iOS
by Kim Kilpatrick

This will be the first in a series of articles exploring the use of braille displays with iDevices.

In this article, I will briefly describe the braille settings and show you how to pair a refreshable braille display with an iDevice. Braille support for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and iPad Mini is built into the screen reader which comes with your iDevice. This screen reader is called VoiceOver. Most braille displays work well with VoiceOver. You must use Bluetooth to pair a braille display with your iDevice. Unlike other Bluetooth devices (keyboards, headphones, speakers) braille displays are not paired in the Bluetooth settings but are paired in the VoiceOver braille settings.

Braille Settings
In Settings on your iDevice go to General, then Accessibility, then VoiceOver. You can also ask Siri to open VoiceOver settings. Double tap on Braille.

The settings are as follows (double tap each setting to explore its options):
1. Braille Display Output (this is what you read on your display). You can choose from uncontracted 6-dot braille, uncontracted 8-dot braille and contracted braille. Double tap on the one you want.
2. Braille Display Input (what you use when brailling with your display). Again, you can choose from uncontracted 6-dot braille, uncontracted 8-dot braille and contracted braille.
3. Automatic Braille Translation: When this is turned on, it translates braille contractions as you type. When it is off, it waits until you press space to translate the braille.
4. Braille Screen Input: This is for typing braille on the screen of your iDevice. I will discuss this in a future article.
5. Status Cells: This will also be discussed in a later article.
6. Equations Use Nemeth Code: You can toggle this off or on depending on how you feel about Nemeth code.
7. Show on screen keyboard: I will discuss this in a future article.
8. Turn pages when panning: This is also a toggle and I suggest you leave it on as when reading a book it will just keep going to the next page.
9. Braille Translation: In English braille your options are: English (unified), English (US) and English (United Kingdom)
10. Alert display duration: This will be discussed in a future article.
11. Choose a braille display: Verify that Bluetooth is enabled on your iDevice.

Pairing Your Braille Display
Make sure that your braille display is in Bluetooth or pairing mode. How you achieve this varies depending on your display (consult your braille display manual). Then, find your braille display in the list below the heading titled Choose a braille display and double tap on it.

Some displays pair automatically while others require a PIN to be entered. Check your braille display manual for more information.

Once the display is paired, it should stay paired.

When turning off the braille display and/or iDevice, lock the device first, then turn off the display. When turning them back on, turn on the braille display first then unlock your device. They should pair again without you having to do anything in the braille settings.

If you need help using your braille display with your iPhone, or have questions or topics you wish to be covered, let us know.

BLC on Social Media

Braille Literacy Canada is now on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn! Find us there to receive news about BLC and braille, to stay informed, and to join a network of others devoted to braille just like you.

[Twitter]@brllitcan
[Facebook] Braille Literacy Canada/brailleliteracycanada.us10.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=83d7b705ce15164e7d276ebc9&id=5801fede7f&e=50d41d60d5>
[LinkedIn]LinkedIn/brailleliteracycanada.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=83d7b705ce15164e7d276ebc9&id=a06b5e8777&e=50d41d60d5>

Reminder that the rural and northern Ontario GTT teleconference is tonight January 26 at 7 PM eastern.

This is just a reminder of the northern Ontario and rural GTT teleconference taking place January 26 at 7 PM Eastern.
This is an open call with no guest speaker this time.
People are asked to bring any questions, tips, or tech issues to discuss.
Here is the call in info
Time: 7 Pm eastern.
Date: January 26 2017
Call in number 1-866-740-1260
Passcode 5670311

GTT Edmonton Summary Notes, ZT and JAWS Training with Outlook, January 9, 2017

Summary Notes
GTT Edmonton Training Session January 9, 2017

On January 9, a 3 hour training session for JAWS and Zoomtext was provided to 5 members of the Get Together with Technology (GTT) Edmonton Chapter at Norquest College computer lab. Our students were Sonia, Irene, Bob, Bruce, and Claude. Trainers were Carrie, Lyle, Russell, Lorne, and Gerry. Thanks to Lorne who arrange the session at Norquest and did all the software setup on the computers. Thanks also to Heather and Hazel who helped as sighted guides.

All students were enthusiastic about the information they obtained and the exposure to the Zoomtext and JAWS programs. The team believes we should do another training session. We will discuss this at the February meeting.

*Note: A zipped file containing the handouts for using Zoomtext and JAWS in Windows and Outlook referred to below can be found at this Link.

Carrie prepared some handouts for using Zoomtext and JAWS in Windows and Outlook. These handouts are attached to this email. To save all the attachments using Outlook follow these steps:
• While reading this email press Alt+F to reach the file tab of the Outlook ribbon.
• Press down arrow until you reach the Save All attachments item and then press ENTER to activate it.
• A dialog will ask you to confirm that you want to save all the attachments. Press the space bar to activate the OK button.
• A second dialog will open where you can type the path to the folder where you want to save the attachments. Type the folder path or, alternatively, you can Shift+Tab twice to reach a list of folders where you can arrow up and down to select the destination folder. Either way, press Tab until you reach the OK button and then press space to activate it. The five attachments will be saved to the folder you typed or selected.

Next Meeting (Monday February 13 at 7pm)
• At the February meeting Owais has volunteered to demonstrate Google Classroom app.
• We will also discuss the possibility of another training session with Zoomtext and JAWS.
• Then we will continue our one-on-one training with iPhone and DAISY players.
• As always, for help with technology bring your devices and/or questions to the meeting.

Resource: Computers You Can Talk To, Siri, Alexa, Google Now, and Cortana, a Book by Anna Dresner

————————————————————

Computers You Can Talk To

Siri, Alexa, Google Now, and Cortana
by Anna Dresner
In braille (1 vol), BRF, Word, Text, or DAISY: starting at $12.00

Everyone, by now, is at least familiar with Apple?셲 digital voice assistant Siri, whether she’s narrating an Apple television commercial or answering cheeky questions like, “What is the meaning of life?” and “Siri, are you single?” But how much do you know about other voice assistants: Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, or Google Now? They can let you play music and books, control lights and other devices in your home, and, sometimes, buy items just by calling them out (“Alexa, order more paper towels ??quick!”)

With all these options, you may be wondering: What’s all the fuss about? What are talking assistants capable of, and which one or ones are right for you? Maybe you have one or more of these assistants and want to know how to use them more efficiently. If so, you’ve come to the right place! The book is an overview, giving you an idea of what sorts of things you can expect from each assistant. It tells you how to acquire and set up each assistant and, in the case of Amazon’s products, the cost

(http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/TALK.html)

Web Accessibility Advocacy: Letter to West Jet by Peg Mercer

To Whom It May Concern
Disability Assistance, West Jet
disabilityassistance@westjet.com

My name is Peg Mercer and I often travel with West Jet. I am a blind person and use screen-reading software to access information on the computer screen.

I often purchase airline tickets online. For several years, I appreciated the efforts that West Jet took to implement measures of accessibility to their site. The booking page for visually-impaired people was easy to access as the link for it appeared on the home page.

More recently, this booking page for visually impaired people has been moved inside an area under “Accessibility” which makes it harder to locate straightaway. The current issue that is most problematic with this booking page, however, is that now the date fields for choosing departure and return dates are no longer accessible to navigate by those using screen-reading software. The consequence of this current problem is that users of screen-reading software can no longer carry out online bookings on West Jet’s site.

I understand that web site content and design may need updating from time to time. It is very important, however, that the standard of accessibility for all users remain constant and not be compromised as a result of updating. I will add that ideally, accessibility standards need to be built in to the site globally so that accessible design is present in all areas of the site and not restricted to segregated sections of the site. In this way, the site would be easy for anyone to utilize from any page of it.

I trust that West Jet may consult with experts in web design that conform to accessible standards in order that all your site is fully and equally usable by all customers and that the standard does not change when updates are made.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this important matter

Regards,

Peg Mercer
Pmercer51@shaw.ca

Cc: Access for Sight Impaired Consumers
Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians
Canadian Council of the Blind

Notice of forum for CITIZENS with Disabilities Ontario forum Tonight Tuesday January 10 at 7:30 Eastern.

Hi everyone.
See below for a message from Citizens with Disabilities Ontario.
Sorry for the short notice.

Hi Everyone,

Please Circulate Widely, especially for Ontario!

There is room for additional participants!

You are invited to attend a forum on National Accessibility and Inclusion Act, (NAIA), Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM EST, January 10, 2017, in CWDO Auditorium 1.

Your input is requested to inform CWDO’s submission about what the Act should include.

Captioning will be provided for this discussion.

Please use this link:

http://www.conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rs940b83fc7268

When the Auditorium 1 page comes up, please read carefully. You may need to download a plug-in or an App, depending on what technology you are using.

If, for some reason, Auditorium 1 does not work for you, please call to have your input counted.

Thanks to CCD for supporting the teleconference.

Call 1-877-733-5390

Conference Participant Code number is: 2622423515#

Below my name is the notice which has been appearing in our CWDO Newsletters.

We hope you can join us Tuesday evening,

Pat Seed

(807) 473-0909

*CWDO forum on federal consultation

Join us on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 PM to share your views on what should be included in federal government legislation to address accessibility.

The forum will be held in Auditorium 1 in our accessible, online conferencing system. Go to our conference rooms and choose Auditorium 1. First time users – choose the download that matches your computer or phone device.

Please register for the forum on national accessible legislation to let us know you’re coming and to let us know of any accommodation needs you may have to participate in this online discussion (for example, captioning).

*Take our survey on national accessibility laws

The accessibility yardstick could be moved considerably with accessibility legislation that applies to federally-regulated organizations at the federal public service.

CWDO will be submitting a response to the federal government’s consultation and we would like to reflect our members’ views in that response.

Please take CWDO’s survey on national accessibility legislation and let us know what’s important to you.

Read Barrier-Free Canada’s principles and their Discussion Paper about what could be included in the legislation.

Together we are stronger.

Next GTT national conference call on Wednesday January 11 2017 all about web browsing.

Hello everyone and a very happy 2017 to all.
Since the last teleconference, several people have asked for more information about web browsing and how to do it in the most accessible way.
So, this Wednesday January 11 2017, our topic will be web browsing.
Come with. Your tips, tricks and questions.
What is your preferred browser? Do you like to browse on the PC, Mac, Apple or android or a specialized device?
Here is the call in information.
Date:
Wednesday January 11 2017
Time 7 PM Eastern 4 pacific
Call in number 1-866-740-1260
Passcode: 5670311

Assistive Tech Resource: An iPhone 7 with a headphone jack is now just a case away

On 6-Jan-17 08:24 AM VIRN Info [mailto:info@virn.ca] said:

http://www.techradar.com/news/an-iphone-7-with-a-headphone-jack-is-now-just-a-case-away

An iPhone 7 with a headphone jack is now just a case away

By Gerald Lynch

Bringing back what was thought lost

Still crying yourself to sleep at night over the iPhone 7’s lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack? Wipe those tears away – CES 2017 bears wired audio fruit for iPhone fans, thanks to a clever new case.

Incipio’s iPhone 7 bumper case not only protects the edges of your smartphone, but also squeezes a headphone jack alongside its Lightning port in its elongated lip. With it attached to your handset, you’ll be able to use a standard wired pair of headphones without resorting to Apple’s 3.5mm adapter.

Righting a wrong? Or a reductive wraparound?
Sure, you’re swapping out one accessory for another here. But the Incipio OX does have the advantage of letting you both listen to audio over a 3.5mm connection and harge over the Lightning port at the same time.

“We wanted to bring the headphone jack back to the latest iPhone so our customers could still enjoy their favorite pair of traditional headphones without worrying about low-battery and sacrificing device protection,” said Carlos Del Toro, Director of Products, Incipio.

It’s as good a solution as you’re likely to get at this point. Hitting shops in the first quarter of the year for $59.99 (around AU$83 / £50) the OX will come in black, purple and “forest” color options.

New year, new tech – check out all our coverage of CES 2017
straight from Las Vegas, the greatest gadget show on Earth

http://www.techradar.com/news/an-iphone-7-with-a-headphone-jack-is-now-just-a-case-away

Resource: Windows 10 Workshop Notes from an AEBC Workshop held by Teleconference on October 18, 2016

Windows 10 Workshop Notes
Presented by Albert Ruel and Jennifer Jesso
with the AEBC on October 18, 2016
Upgrading to Windows 10
• Windows 10 had a free upgrade period which ended in July, but people with disabilities are still able to upgrade for free
• To upgrade, visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade
• You can also contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk at 1-800-936-5900 – they can answer questions about upgrading and also take over one’s computer to troubleshoot
Screen Reading Software
• Most screen readers are now compatible with Windows 10
• JAWS must be version 16 or above
• Window-Eyes must be version 9.2 or above, and is available free to anyone who has purchased Office 2010 or above or subscribes to Office 365 – see http://www.windoweyesforoffice.com/
• System Access works with Windows 10 as upgrades are included in the purchase
• NVDA is a free, open-source screen reader that supports Windows 10
• Narrator is a screen reader that is included in Windows 10 and has seen vast improvements since previous versions of Windows
• Guide is a product from Dolphin Computer Access that greatly simplifies the user interface and supports Windows 10 with version 9.04 and above
Screen Magnification
• Windows 10 comes with a built-in screen magnification program called Magnifier, which provides full-screen magnification and colour inversion, but no mouse or pointer enhancements and no font smoothing
• ZoomText supports Windows 10 as of version 10.1
• MAGic supports Windows 10 as of version 13
Accessible Software Compatibility
• Kurzweil 1000 supports Windows 10 with version 13 and above – there have been some issues with it converting to trial mode after Windows upgrades and needing to re-register
• OpenBook supports Windows 10 as of version 9.0
• FineReader (a mainstream OCR software) supports Windows 10 as of version 11
• OmniPage (another mainstream OCR application) supports Windows 10 as of version 18
• Be aware that when upgrading you may have problems with drivers for scanners or document cameras, drivers may need to be updated
• Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome are all accessible and work on Windows 10
New Changes in Windows 10
• The Start Menu is back, though it’s more complex than the Start Menu in Windows 7 and includes Web and other search results by default. To learn how to alter/configure your Start Button consider a textbook by CathyAnne Murtha called, ” An Immersion into Windows 10 with JAWS for Windows”.
• The File Explorer app now goes to a Quick Access view instead of Computer when it’s opened with Windows Key + E (this setting can be changed back)
• From the Start Menu one may search for This PC, and a shortcut to the Desktop can be added for easier use. Once again, consider purchasing CathyAnne’s textbook to learn how to add This PC to your Desktop.
• The new Microsoft EDGE browser is not yet fully accessible
• Narrator has been greatly improved and can now function as a capable screen reader, especially on touchscreen devices such as tablets, and when accessing the built-in app called Windows Mail.
• There is a new built-in voice-activated personal assistant named Cortana (similar to Apple’s Siri), though use of Cortana is not yet fully accessible but is still usable. CathyAnne’s textbook covers this topic as well.
Navigation and Keyboard Commands
• Navigation is nearly identical to earlier versions of Windows, with small changes. To learn a wide range of JAWS and Windows Key Commands access the following link: http://doccenter.freedomscientific.com/doccenter/archives/training/jawskeystrokes.htm
• Apps and programs can be set up on the Taskbar and quickly accessed with the Windows key plus numbers 1-0. CathyAnne’s textbook is a great resource for learning how to maximize the use of your Taskbar.
• Ribbons are now the norm in many programs – they are accessible, but different from menu navigation and act slightly differently with different screen readers (to ensure ribbons work in JAWS with shortcuts, make sure Virtual Ribbons is turned off). CathyAnne Murtha offers textbooks for both JAWS and Window-Eyes screen readers.
Productivity
• First-letter navigation works as usual, and the first few letters can be used to jump directly to an item in any list view (including the desktop). CathyAnne’s textbooks can guide you in learning more about First Letter Navigation.
• The spellchecker in Word 2013 and later has changed; the keyboard commands may not work or may work on their own (without holding alt), but spellcheck can also be used directly in the document without the need to launch the spellchecker. CathyAnne’s textbooks can guide you in learning more about spellchecking.
• Quick navigation keys in screen readers such as JAWS and NVDA make online navigation much faster and make it possible to “skim” a webpage; these also work in Word documents, e-mails, and PDFs if activated. The toggle to turn on and off Quick Navigation Keys is Insert + the letter Z. To learn more about QNK check the web page below:
http://doccenter.freedomscientific.com/doccenter/archives/training/jawskeystrokes.htm
Resources
• Top Tech Tidbits is a weekly newsletter with links to technology-related articles:
http://www.flying-blind.com/ttt_enews_archive.html
• AccessWorld is a free newsletter published by AFB six times a year that covers a variety of technology-related topics such as new accessible products:
http://www.afb.org/aw/main.asp
• Get Together with Technology is a technology sharing program run by the CCB, which has extensive archives available on the blog:
https://gttprogram.wordpress.com/
• Freedom Scientific has many webinars on how to use JAWS with various applications, including some focused on Windows 10: http://www.freedomscientific.com/Services/TrainingAndCertification/FreeWebinars
• CathyAnne Murtha produces a range of Windows, Browser, MS Office and screen reader textbooks, one of which is called, An Immersion into Windows 10 with JAWS for Windows. See the link below for a full list of available textbooks:
http://www.blind.training/ati-textbooks/

GTT Victoria: Report on Trekker Breeze on BC Transit Busses, December 21, 2016

December 21, 2016

Two: Get Together with Technology (GTT) Victoria Members
RE: Victoria Regional Transit Street Announcements System, Trekker Breeze

We are very pleased to advise that the BC Transit Commission has approved an automatic vehicle locater system for the capital regional district fleet. This new system, once installed will allow BC Transit to implement accessible stop announcement systems that we have discussed in the briefing note you’ve seen earlier this fall. Christy Ridout, Director, Corporate and Strategic Planning for BC Transit has sent a note to us concerning it. We have had a recent discussion with her checking that we’re on the same page, which we appear to be. We’re meeting with her early in January, and we have offered the assistance of our membership as the process unfolds, which she was quite pleased to accept. Please see the full text of that email message below.

The new system will be implemented in Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo and the Comox Valley over the next 18 months, with the Request for Proposals being readied for Mid-January 2017. See the links at the bottom of this note to a couple of Times Colonist articles on the matter.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Have a wonderful Christmas holiday season, and a very safe, happy, healthy and successful New Year. We will continue to report progress as it unfolds.

Greg Koyl and Albert Ruel

From: Ridout, Christy
Date: December 16, 2016 at 4:14:09 PM PST
Subject: Letter regarding Trekker Breeze and Automatic Voice Annunciators
Dear Mr. Koyl and Mr. Ruel,

Your letter to the Victoria Regional Transit Commission was provided to me as the representative of BC Transit’s SmartBus Program.

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to discuss the future of BC Transit’s existing automatic voice annunciator system, Trekker Breeze. Your timing is excellent, given the Commission just recently approved a memorandum of understanding to move to a real-time technology solution for the fleet.

Under BC Transit’s new SmartBus program, Victoria’s conventional fleet of buses will be equipped with automatic vehicle locators by 2018. This technology, which is linked to schedules, will enable real-time tracking of buses in operation. Customers will be able to determine the expected arrival or departure time of their bus from a their selected stop either via BC Transit’s website, a mobile app, or passenger information displays at major locations. The technology will also enable next-stop announcements that are linked to bus stops, not just cross-roads as the Trekker device does now. As a result, the Trekker device will be removed when the real-time technology is installed. Although subject to negotiations with the preferred vendor through a competitive process, it is our desire to also equip all buses with passenger information displays so that upcoming bus stops are not only announced, but textually displayed for customers inside the bus.

While the existing voice annunciation system has assisted us in meeting an immediate need within our transit system, we are confident that our upcoming real-time technology will further enhance our services and better meet the needs of individuals with accessibility challenges.

Please let me know if you have any further questions about this project and I’d be happy to discuss further.

Best regards,

Christy Ridout
Director, Corporate and Strategic Planning

*Note: To read a couple of articles covering this event please access the below links:

Times Colonist Editorial, December 15, 2016:

Times Colonist Article, December 14, 2016:

GTT Victoria Summary Notes, General Discussion, December 7, 2016

Get together with Technology (GTT) Victoria

A Chapter of

The Canadian Council of the Blind

Summary Notes
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Held in the Community Meeting Room of the GVPL Main branch

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 pm by chair Albert Ruel

Attendance, 10 people, Kira, Bruce, Doug, Joan, Karen, Trevor, Yvette, Mike, Albert and Corry.

Over the last few days the poor weather in Victoria has made mobility somewhat difficult thus the reason for the smaller than usual number of attendees. Seeing as only a half dozen participants were there at the meeting outset, it was decided that today’s meeting would be very informal in nature. Let’s just talk, share tips and tricks and solve any problems or concerns you might have, was the decided upon format.

So, we proceeded as a group on that matter and as it turns out the discussion was extremely productive. Questions and discussion ranged in topics including CELA, Victor Stream and podcasts, Windows 10 and the need to upgrade, is it really essential is 7 is doing everything you want?, Siri vs VoiceOver, Texting without sight and getting started with tech.

The group was informed that we are selling 50/50 tickets for the CCB BC/Yukon division and CCB annual memberships are now due for the 2017 club year.

In total, the CCB GTT Victoria club now has 9 members, down substantially from last year. We encourage you to support the GTT initiative by becoming a member if you have not done so already.

It was decided that the January 4, 2017 meeting will be cancelled. the next CCB GTT Victoria meeting will take place just ahead of White Cane Week, on Wednesday February 1st. 2017.

We hope to see you there……For more info contact 250-240-2343, or email us at GTT.Victoria@Gmail.com

Merry Christmas and all the best in 2017 to all and from all at the CCB GTT Victoria chapter.

The Get Together with Technology (GTT) program is an exciting program of the Canadian Council of the Blind. It is designed to help people who are blind, deaf-blind or have low vision to explore low vision and blindness related access technology. You can learn from and discuss assistive technology with others walking the same path of discovery.

The group is made up of blindness related assistive technology users, and those who have an interest in using assistive technology designed to help blind and vision impaired people level the playing field. GTT groups meet monthly to share their passions for assistive technology and to learn what others can offer from their individual perspectives.

In order to get information about upcoming GTT meetings and conference calls as well as meeting notes and resources, please subscribe to the GTT blog. To register please visit the web page below. Look near the bottom of the page for a link called, “Follow“. Press Enter on that link and leave your email address in the edit field that will appear. The final step is to Click on the Submit Button below the Edit Field. You will receive an email message asking you to confirm that you wish to be subscribed, and clicking on the “confirmation” link in that message will complete the process.

https://GTTProgram.Wordpress.com/

GTT Edmonton Summary Notes, Aroga Tech Demo, December 12, 2016

Summary Notes
GTT Edmonton Meeting December 12, 2016

The most recent meeting of the Get Together with Technology (GTT) Edmonton Chapter was held December 12at 7pm at Ascension Lutheran Church 8405 83 Street in Edmonton.
19 people attended.

December Feature Topic – Aroga Tech Exhibit
We were joined by Steve Barclay from Canada’s premiere assistive technology company, Aroga Technologies, who demonstrated and answered questions on 3 assistive devices for blind and low vision people:
• Transformer HD portable magnifier with Wi-Fi and text-to-speech,
• HumanWare’s new Braillenote Touch Android tablet notetaker,
• NuEyes Easy Glasses electronic magnifier
Steve announced that Aroga now has a new financing program for items over $500. More information is available at their web site. Steve also explained that Aroga provides a consulting service for people who need one-on-one assistance with technology in their home. The fee is $90 per hour . For more information you can contact Aroga’s Calgary rep, Arlene Hansen, at:
Toll Free: 1-800-561-6222
Email: ahansen@aroga.com

Next Meeting (Monday February 13 at 7pm)
• As the January meeting time will be devoted to a training session at Norquest computer lab, we will not meet again until February. The students for this training session were selected at the November meeting.
• At the February meeting Owais has volunteered to demonstrate Google Classroom.
• Then we will continue our one-on-one training with iPhone and DAISY players.
• As always, for help with technology bring your devices and/or questions to the meeting.

@GTTProgram

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@GTTProgram

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@GTTProgram

@GTTProgram

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@GTTProgram

@GTTProgram

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