PDF purgatory

So I am trying to figure out how to use ABBY Fine Reader 10, a scanning/ocr program which other blind people use but which is confusing the hell out of me, and today I finally decided to read the manual. The problem is that it is in PDF, which, for screenr reader users, means it has to be opened up and reformatted before the screen reader can access it.

So I opened it up in Adobe and sat around drinking coffee and staring into space and when it wqas finally all reformmated (say 10 minutes later), I went to save it as a text file, but no, I didn't have that privilege.

In a huff, I closed it and went to do something else, and then realized that ABBY 10 has a PDF converter.

I'm still waiting for that file to be converted.

So if sighted people ever wonder why blind computer users get cranky about PDF docs, it's because we have spent hours of our lives waiting for PDF docs to be formatted to something that we can more easily/quickly read/navigate.

One of the positive feedback comments I received for Arisia's access services was converting the PDF docs to .doc and letting people download them from a USB at the Info Desk (though really, the kudos go to LJ user SelkieChick, who had that brilliant idea and did all the work).

WGBH to offer free webinar for describing science content

The following was posted to a mailing list by a representative of WGBH's National Center for Accessible Media:

The WGBH National Center for Accessible Media is offering additional dates for our web-based training on "Effective Practices for Description of Science Content Within Digital Talking Books." We are offering free online training on the dates listed below. In addition, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering training in person at the CSUN Conference on March
26th for those attending the conference.

The guidelines cover description of a variety of information types, including bar charts, line graphs, Venn diagrams, tables, pie charts, flow
charts and complex diagrams and illustrations. A resource section is also included, providing links to many organizations, tools and standards which all contribute to generating more accessible STEM materials. The guidelines are available online at:
http://ncam.wgbh.org/experience_learn/educational_media/stemdx

Our CSUN presentation is session BLV-2015, Friday, March 26, 2010 - 9:20 -10:20 AM PST in Room Emma AB. You can save a seat at the session once you are registered for the conference.

The free webinars last an hour and a half, and offer the same training at each session. (It is not a multi-part course.) You can register for the time most convenient for you by sending an email to stemdescription@wgbh.org

Training times are:
* Wednesday, February 10th, 1 pm to 2:30 pm, US Eastern time
* Thursday, March 11th, 12 noon to 1:30 pm, US Eastern time
* Wednesday, April 7th, 2 pm to 3:30 pm, US Eastern time

Additional dates will be offered later in 2010. These sessions are available at no cost thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation (grant #0833608).

Weaving class in Boston area welcomes PWD

Sent by: VSA Arts of Massachusetts

2010 Winter FREESTYLE WEAVING Workshops in Boston
by Saori Worcester

Do you enjoy weaving?

Did you always want to learn how to weave?

Then this is one opportunity you do not want to miss!

Weave a Project and Take It Home!

Weaving classes runs on Sundays from 1-3pm.
Choose one or more sessions!
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Hey, I got a certificate!

Sorry for all the posts today, but it hsould balance out when I am offline next week post-surgery. I am psyched because I just received a certificate from Bookshare.org for donating 50+ books to their collection
( and they have a cool naming scheme )