News from the cutting edge of assistive technology
Software updates are typically released because bugs in the software have been repaired, security issue has been identified and patched, and new features have been added. In all cases, these updates are typically bundled together and provided as automatic, recommended, or required updates. In the world of assistive technology, updating your assistive technology software is …
Read More Why keep your Assistive Technology up to date?According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), occupational therapy helps people participate in everyday activities. “Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.” Occupational Therapy and …
Read More What is Occupational Therapy?The April updates of JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion are here! No matter which product you use, you will benefit from our new features and enhancements. This post offers several examples. Change the Wake Word for Voice Assistant By default, Voice Assistant listens for the wake word “Sharky” for JAWS and “Zoomy” for ZoomText and Fusion …
Read More What’s New in the April 2021 Software Updates?Did you know you can use speech and sound schemes so JAWS will alert you to changes on the screen, such as using a deeper voice for bold text? If you have a creative scheme and want to share it with fellow JAWS users, consider taking part in the Freedom Scientific Speech and Sound Schemes …
Read More Freedom Scientific JAWS Speech and Sound Schemes ContestThe eighth module of our JAWS Training for Teachers and AT Instructors is available on our Teaching Resources page. Each module in the series builds upon the last and contains lessons, videos, and a quiz. What’s In Module 8? Module 8, JAWS and Braille provides an overview of setting up a refreshable braille display and …
Read More Module 8 of JAWS Training for Teachers and AT InstructorsThe 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 2021 is Kai, a second grader from California. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kai was not familiar with …
Read More March 2021, Freedom Scientific Student of the MonthOn FSCast 197, a spotlight on a great Twitter app for Windows called TWBlue. We’ll meet its author, Manuel Cortez, and hear the program in action. Then a visit with Michael Hudson, longtime JAWS beta tester and the Director of the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at Michigan State University. Activate link to listen, …
Read More FSCast 197, Manuel Cortez, creator of TWBlue, and Michael Hudson, Director of accessibility Services at Michigan State UniversityDo you use Gmail at home, work, or school? Want access to all its features plus direct access to other Google Workspace applications? Join us Thursday, March 18 at noon Eastern Time for a webinar, “Using JAWS with Gmail in Standard View.” What Is Standard View? Many screen reader users are familiar with the Gmail …
Read More Join Us for Using JAWS with Gmail in Standard ViewOn the archive of the February FSOpenLine, highlights of February software updates, improved compatibility of JAWS with AVG/Avast antivirus, and your calls on a variety of topics including: Using the Canvas and Blackboard learning platforms, JAWS sluggishness in audio editors, excessive chattiness of recent versions of Zoom, and showing UEB attribute markers in Braille. Activate …
Read More FSCast 196 – FSOpenLine, February 2021The seventh module in our JAWS Training for Teachers and AT Instructors is available on our Teaching Resources page. Each module in the series builds upon the last, and contains lessons, videos, and a quiz. What’s in Module 7? Module 7, Using Surf’s Up as a Teaching Tool provides a review of surfing the internet …
Read More Module 7 of JAWS Training for Teachers and AT Instructors