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 2025 is Toby, a senior from Pennsylvania.
Toby was born in China and moved to the U.S. when he was adopted at age 13. He was introduced to JAWS and the Focus 40 when he was 16 and uses both to complete assignments and conduct research. “The most challenging part was learning all the keyboard commands.”
Toby also enjoys coding. Projects he created include a web-based interface for playing chess and a text chat app. “JAWS and the Focus 40 allow me to code independently, which is something I did not have access to before.”
After graduating, Toby plans to attend college and pursue a degree in Computer Science. “My academic journey has been significantly impacted by Freedom Scientific products. I can now complete work faster and accomplish more things.”
In his spare time, Toby enjoys reading historical nonfiction and math textbooks.
Toby encourages others to learn JAWS and the Focus 40, and says their advanced features open up a lot of opportunities. “Learning how to use these products can really change your life and make you more productive.”
Learn more about Toby 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 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, Instagram, Threads, and Mastodon.
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.