Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (03/01/90)
Index Number: 7008
Scott, I just happened to see your message to Marty where you were
curious about the way blind persons use computers.
Hope I'm not butting in here, but I thought I'd let you know how my
system works, since Marty is on an Apple, and I am on an IBM compatible.
Actually I have a Toshiba laptop with what is known as the Artic card
installed in it. I use what is known as a "screen reader" program that
allows the computer to speak exactly what is on the screen that a sighted
person would be looking at. I get exactly the same information this way
as you get by looking at the screen.
I teach computing on a freelance basis, teaching Wordperfect, data base
management, MS Dos, and telecommunications. I teach sighted and blind or
low vission students. My oldest student believe it or not was 71, a
sailor, right off the ocean, who'd never even touched a computer before.
He was then in the proccess of starting a part time accounting business,
and needed the computer to do it. He's doing great!
Now, something about myself personally. I am an old lady (38) with two
children ages 4, and 8, both girls, (and they say boys are hard to
handle, haha).
Computing is just one of my many addictions, I also love hiking,
horseback riding, biking, goofing around with my kids, well, I basically
would just like to play, and not work, if that were posible, no, I
actually like my work--just not house work!
Well, Scott, I had better run, have a student comming pretty soon, and
have to get my little one ready to go over to my Mom's while I teach.
See you soon. Hope I satisfied some of your curiousity.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15!Barbara.Akin
Internet: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.orgFloria.Antin@f304.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Floria Antin) (03/22/90)
Index Number: 7241
The other day in the supermarket there was a young blind man shopping
with an aide. I don't know if he regularly has one or if he was
being trained. It started me wondering how people who are blind go
shopping by themselves, especially in a supermarket where items such as
produce are not always in the same place, even for items that are not
moved frequently, how can you know that it is what you want and not
soething else?
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!304!Floria.Antin
Internet: Floria.Antin@f304.n109.z1.fidonet.orgBarbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (03/22/90)
Index Number: 7248
Susan, I use a Toshiba 1200/H lap top computer (IBM compatible) with
Telix as my tellecommunications program.
I just got Check Free, from Check Free Corperation for managing my money,
but haven't installed it as of yet. I'm waiting for Check Free to send me
the manual on disk in Ascii format so I can load it into my word
proccessor and read it. I'll let you know how I like it, once I get it up
and running. What kind of computer and software are you using?
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15!Barbara.Akin
Internet: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.orgBarbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (03/22/90)
Index Number: 7249
Floria, well, the subject of shopping could rather long and involved.
Actually, I have a series of articles that were published in a magazine
for blind women called Our Special on the subject of shopping. Actually,
its not difficult at all, you just have to have a system. I shop, and
havve shopped on my own since I was in junior high!
I do mall shopping, discount house shopping--grocery stores--you name it.
So, I guess to make a long subject rather short, for grocery shopping I
simply type up my list on the computer. Then, when I get to the store, I
have a stock person go around the store with me, checking off the list
with a pen as we go. I like doing it this way, because the stock people
usually also know what's on sale, or what's a good deal, and can inform
me of this. They also know the lay out of the store rather well, so we
usually get done rather quickly, even when shopping as I do for my whole
family. I just follow the cart as they go around the store, and help with
picking the brands I want, etc. Its really Easy, no big deal at all!
If you'd like a copy of my tape, with all the shopping articles on it,
write me here at Insight International Inc
3106, North 42. St.
Phoenix Az. 85018.
I'll be glad to send you a copy.
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Internet: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org