General Covid-19 resources for visually impaired users

[kestrell]

There's some redundancy with links I've previously posted, but most haven't been posted before.
Free books, free screen readers, and all sorts of accessible information about Covid-19.

Survey: Flattening the Inaccessibility Curve
Participate in a study investigating experiences of adults who are blind or have low vision during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.afb.org/blog/entry/covid-19-survey

Freedom Scientific is making their screen readers and magnifying programs,
JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion free of charge through June 2020 for anyone living in the U.S. and Canada.
https://www.freedomscientific.com/webinars/connect-and-learn-040220/
Here is more from the announcement:
Special licenses have been created so students and employees working from home have access on their personal computers during the COVID-19 crisis. Each free short-term Home Annual license will expire on June 30, 2020.
Here is a number of recorded webinars about getting started with Jaws and Zoom text
https://www.freedomscientific.com/category/webinar/getting-started-with-freedom-scientific-products/#content

Note that the recorded webinars, such as this
Windows 10 and Jaws webinar
https://www.freedomscientific.com/webinars/windows-10-and-jaws/
are recorded in both MP3 (audio) and MP4 (video and audio) formats, in addition to a transcript.

If you are new to using the Freedom Scientific website and the
FS Software Licensing Portal
https://portal.freedomscientific.com/Home/About#main-content
I recommend checking out the following videos on the Freedom Scientific Training Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/FreedomScientificTraining
which has how to videos that will walk you through registering and downloading Jaws.
Using the software licensing portal and installing your FS software
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9LfdidV3-k
How to play videos on Youtube with Jaws
Kes: FS now has subscription offers, including a $90 a year subscription.
Purchasing a Home or Student Annual License via the FS E-Store
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1lyjIt8giA

Another screen reader option is NVDA, which is a free screen reader, although many blind people use both Jaws and NVDA.
NVDA, like Jaws, also provides braille support.
https://www.nvaccess.org/
The current user guide is here
https://www.nvaccess.org/files/nvda/documentation/userGuide.html
And here is a simple get started guide by WebFriendlyHelp.com
Welcome to NVDA: What you need to know to get started fast
https://webfriendlyhelp.com/how-to-host-your-zoom-meeting/
WebFriendlyHelp.com has another get started guide fo low vision users
Use NVDA and Windows Magnifier Together
https://webfriendlyhelp.com/use-nvda-and-windows-magnifier-together/

The Hadley School for the Blind, along with providing online education for students and adults, offers many
https://hadley.edu/
free online tutorials
https://hadley.edu/InstructionalVideos/
including this instructional video on
Customizing Windows for Low Vision
https://hadley.edu/InstructionalVideos/Customizing_Windows_for_Low_Vision.asp
Hadley also hosts discussion groups,
https://hadley.edu/discussions/
such as the
Hadley Tech It Out discussion group
https://hadley.edu/discussions/TechItOut.asp?utm_source=Discussion+Groups%3A+Tech+It+Out&utm_campaign=a67b165a4a-techitout-q2-2020-survey-ty&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ed7c65917-a67b165a4a-52430178&mc_cid=a67b165a4a&mc_eid=45b596657d

WebAim, a site which tests for web accessibility, found that many state websites providing Covid-19 information possess access hurdles for visually impaired users
https://themarkup.org/2020/04/21/blind-users-struggle-with-state-coronavirus-websites

Apple and the CDC have collaborated to create an accessible Covid-19 website
https://www.apple.com/covid19/
and this app
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1504132184
Read more about the app in this article from Access World
Tips for Coronavirus, Part II
https://www.afb.org/aw/21/5/17041
which also discusses
National Federation for the Blind's Newsline, a free news and periodical reading service, which can be accessed online, or by phone, apps, or smart speaker, such as Alexa.
NFB Newsline is also providing Covid-19 news updates. To learn more and register, go to
https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline
Here are the Alexa instructions
https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline/alexa-instructions

Accessible Covid-19 Statistics Tracker
https://cvstats.net/

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
Covid-19 Updates and Information page
Information made easily accessible without having to process a bunch of #$%^! PDF docs!
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information

If you have an Amazon product which has Alexa, there are
Helpful things Alexa can do during Covid-19
https://smile.amazon.com/b?node=21155035011&ref_=pe_27553540_494457580_sub_aucc_pace_en_us_helpfulAtHome
Alexa, tell me some good news
Alexa, what do I do if I think I have COVID-19?
You can ask Alexa for a series of questions about your travel history, symptoms, and possible exposure. Based on your responses, Alexa will provide CDC guidance given your risk level and symptoms.
Alexa, give me an update on COVID-19
Alexa, call the COVID helpline

Blackboard, which develops educational software, recently launched a free accessibility tool that converts digital course content into accessible formats
https://coolblindtech.com/blackboard-launches-free-accessibility-tool-that-converts-digital-course-content-into-accessible-formats/
Blackboard File Transformer
https://ally.ac/covid19/

In addition to braille,
National Braille Press
www.nbp.org
offers most of its books in a variety of digital formats, including Daisy, e-braille, and Word.
During Covid-19, the following three ebooks are free to download.
Kes: as of May 13, these downloads are still free, despite the cut-off date given on the website.

1. Navigating Healthcare When All They Can See Is that You Can't
https://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/NAV-HEALTH.html
Navigating our complicated health care system is essential for anyone interested in remaining healthy. If you happen to be blind, chances are you are familiar with the misperception by others of what our blindness means.

2. Dinner Delivered
https://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/DELIVERY.html
You've heard the names before: GrubHub, Postmates, Amazon Fresh, Uber Eats. The authors guide you through the ins and outs, the good and the bad, of these services.

3. Getting Visual Assistance with an iPhone
https://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/VIS-ASSIST.html
Technology writer Judy Dixon takes the reader on an app tour of the 10 most user-friendly and accessible apps for getting visual assistance with an iPhone.

This next sale is for two apps used by both visually impaired and sighted people to scan and read printed material.
Voice Dream Reader and Voice Dream Scanner
Voice Dream at Home bundle $9.99
https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/voice-dream-at-home/id1507251875

American Printing House for the Blind At Home
Compilation of learning activities and apps for visually impaired children,
https://www.aph.org/athomewithaph-resources/
including a
virtual ExCel summer camp
https://www.aph.org/virtual-excel-summer-camp/

American Printing House for the Blind has also developed an accessible crossword puzzle app which works with many of the major online crossword puzzles
https://tech.aph.org/pz/
AccessibleWorld has this review with more information
Solving the Great American Puzzle
https://www.afb.org/aw/21/5/17044?utm_source=AFB&utm_campaign=d6999c817a-AW-December-2019_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ec813cd965-d6999c817a-167443477

Want to play a game which will also sharpen your search skills?
A Google a Day
http://www.agoogleaday.com/

Here is a link that provides information about
Accessibility in Google search
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/181196?hl=en

If you are in the Boston area,
VIBUG, the Visually Impaired Boston Users Group,
www.vibug.org
offers both socializing and demonstrations of tech devices and demos. If you become a member, it costs $20 a year, you will have access to the archive of recorded demos. You do not need to live in the Boston area to join.

National Federation of the Blind is offering free Zoom classes and social events
Here is the schedule and information on how to join
http://nfbp.org/zoom-meeting-calendar

NFB of Pennsylvania is offering online training with Jaws, NVDA, iOS, and Smart Home Automation (such as Alexa and Google Home)
Recordings of Zoom tutorials can be found online
http://nfbp.org/archive

American Council for the Blind has this article on
Streaming Video Services Offering Audio Description
https://acb.org/adp/streaming.html#pagebody

Comments

Great curation, Kes

[jesse_the_k]

I'll spread this link far and wide.