There are many sources for training on assistive technology and software in general. Some take the forms of vendor documentation that has been converted into text, HTML or some other format to make it accessible. Others are designed specifically with the visually impaired user in mind.
Sometimes, a given product is developed by one company but distributed by many. as much as possible, I've tried to list only the vendor, but it isn't always apparent who the vendor is...thus I apologize if this list has some duplication.
You may also want to check out various sites that offer tips and how-to info via e-mail, such as Dummies Daily.
Training, By Topic
- 1-Step Audio Publisher: Audio Tips
- Archiving utilities (like PKZIP, ARJ and LHA): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- ASAP (screen reader): Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know
- Blue Wave (offline mail reader): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Braille: National Braille Press
- Braille 'n Speak (notetaker): Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- CBM (checkbook management): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- Commo (telecommunications): Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Computer Braille: National Braille Press
- Computers, in general: Top Dot Enterprises
- CTS (contact tracking): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Dashboard (desktop management utility): The Empowerment Zone
- DOS: Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Eudora (e-mail): Ferguson Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- Faxit (fax software): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- FrontPage 98: The Empowerment Zone
- HTML (for writing web pages): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), National Braille Press
- Internet : Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Internet Relay Chat (IRC): Ferguson Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- JAWS for Windows (screen reader): Iowa Dept for the Blind
- Keyboarding Skills: PC Typer by American Printing House (demo available); Talking Typer for Windows by American Printing House (demo available);
- Lynx (web browser): Ferguson Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), National Braille Press
- McAfee (virus protection): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Microsoft Access (database): Microsoft, ABWA, Desktalk
- Microsoft Excel (spreadsheet): Microsoft, ABWA, Desktalk
- Microsoft Internet Explorer (web browser): Ferguson Enterprises, ABWA, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- Microsoft Office (suite containing word processor, spreadsheet, etc): Microsoft
- Microsoft Outlook (e-mail, calendaring): The Empowerment Zone
- Microsoft PowerPoint: Microsoft
- Microsoft Word for Windows: Microsoft, ABWA, Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), CrissCross Technologies, National Braille Press, Desktalk
- Netscape Navigator tips (web browser): Ferguson Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- Paradox (database): The Empowerment Zone
- Pine (e-mail): Ferguson Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- Q&A (database and word processor): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- QEdit (text editor / word processor): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Quattro Pro (spreadsheet): The Empowerment Zone
- Quick Reference Guides, on a variety of topics: Iowa Dept for the Blind, National Braille Press
- Readit (text viewing utility): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- RealAudio: Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- Searching the Internet: Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), National Braille Press
- Sidekick (personal information manager): The Empowerment Zone
- Ssfaxer (fax software): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- Talking Directory: Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Telix (telecommunications): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- TinyTalk (screen reader): Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Talk-Me-Thru
- Type 'N Speak: Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below)
- Window-Eyes (screen reader): The Empowerment Zone
- Windows 3.1: The Empowerment Zone, Sarah Morley's WinGuide, ABWA, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), Top Dot Enterprises, CrissCross Technologies
- Windows 95: The Empowerment Zone, Sarah Morley's WinGuide, ABWA, Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), CrissCross Technologies, National Braille Press, Desktalk
- Windows 98: The Empowerment Zone, Microsoft
- Windows Bridge (screen reader): Iowa Dept for the Blind
- Windows NT: The Empowerment Zone
- WinVision (screen reader): Iowa Dept for the Blind, The Empowerment Zone
- WordPerfect (word processor): Top Dot Enterprises, Hear and Know (for contact info, see Vendor section below), The Empowerment Zone, Talk-Me-Thru
Training, by Vendor / Distributor
- ABWA
- Desktalk
- Ferguson Enterprises
- Hear and Know (For a catalog, contact John Harden at 803-796-4887 or e-mail him at jharden@gte.net.
- Iowa Dept for the Blind
- Microsoft
- National Braille Press
- Sarah Morley's WinGuide
- Talk-Me-Thru
- The Empowerment Zone
- Top Dot Enterprises
Assistive Technology for Dummies
The following are offered for those of you who have the need or desire to use assistive technology, but who don't like to reinvent the wheel, bang your head against the wall, or waste dozens or hundreds of hours of your time.
If you have ideas for other topics, or if you have suggestions for making these documents more useful or more user-friendly, please send an e-mail message to webmaster@viguide.com !
- Connecting a Braille Lite or Braille 'N Speak notetaker to a desktop PC.
This document describes how to "see" what is typed on the notetaker's keyboard, by having it (literally) displayed on the screen of another computer. This is useful when a notetaker is being used (or the work of someone using a notetaker is being reviewed) by a person with sight, such as a classroom teacher or aide.
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