The Freedom Scientific Student of the Month Program features K-12 students living in the U.S. who are blind or visually impaired and use Freedom Scientific technology to achieve educational goals. The Student of the Month for March 2024 is Arushi, a senior from Washington State.
Arushi, who has been using JAWS since the 8th grade, said she learned it on her own out of necessity. “I had no knowledge of JAWS but decided to take a Python coding class. I needed to learn how to use JAWS to succeed in that class.”
She continued learning JAWS during the pandemic while completing her schoolwork online. “I had no support for learning JAWS, and I was taking a lot of visual classes like geography and geometry. I had to figure out how to keep up while learning JAWS and using it with apps and websites.”
Arushi said her favorite subjects in school are Advanced Placement (AP) computer science and AP U.S. Government. “I took art and creative writing classes before the 8th grade. I didn’t know I could access technology classes, but I took a chance and found it was very possible with JAWS.”
Once she discovered her aptitude for technology, Arushi started a local chapter of Women in STEM. Members share ideas for potential majors and career paths in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
After graduating, Arushi plans to attend college and major in Computer Science. “Coding has opened up a realm of possibilities for blind people. If not for coding, we would not have access to apps and the internet. I would like to contribute to advancing accessibility.”
Arushi said her dream job would be as a software developer either creating accessibility tools or improving the accessibility of websites or software. “I have found a great combination using JAWS and refreshable braille. Having both together helps with taking standardized tests in school and is especially helpful when coding.”
In her spare time, Arushi enjoys listening to music and reading both fiction and nonfiction. She encourages others to embrace technology and use the tools available to them. “It’s never too late to start learning JAWS. It’s life-changing.”
Learn more about Arushi in this video.
Nominate a Student
Complete our nomination form to self-nominate or nominate a student. Visit the Freedom Scientific Student of the Month page for details and watch our blog in April for the next winner and that student’s story.
Winners receive a $300 Amazon gift card and a five-year license for JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion. Their story will be featured by Freedom Scientific on our blog and social media—X, (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
In partnership with Computers for the Blind, each winner can also receive a free, refurbished computer along with a free one-year Home Annual license of JAWS or ZoomText, which is already installed. Learn more about Computers for the Blind and their partnership with Freedom Scientific on their order page.
Have questions? Send an email to training@vispero.com.