What and Who are Sighted People?

People who use their eyes to receive information about the world are called sighted people or "people who are sighted."

Sighted people enjoy rich full lives, working, playing and raising
families. They run businesses, hold public office and teach your
children!

HOW DO SIGHTED PEOPLE GET AROUND?!
People who are
sighted may walk or ride public transportation, but most choose to
travel long distances by operating their own motor vehicles. They have
gone through many hours of training to learn the "rules of the road" in
order to further their independence. Once that road to freedom has been
mastered, sighted people earn a legal classification and a "Driver's
License" which allows them to operate a private vehicle safely and
independently.

HOW TO ASSIST A SIGHTED PERSON
Sighted
people are accustomed to viewing the world in visual terms. This means
that in many situations, they will not be able to communicate orally and
may resort to pointing or other gesturing. Subtle facial expressions
may also be used to convey feelings in social situations. Calmly alert
the sighted person to his surroundings by speaking slowly, in a normal
tone of voice.

Questions directed at the sighted person help focus attention back on the verbal rather than visual communication.

At times, sighted people may need help finding things, especially when
operating a motor vehicle. Your advance knowledge of routes and
landmarks, particularly bumps in the road, turns and traffic lights,
will assist the "driver" in finding the way quickly and easily. Your
knowledge of building layouts can also assist the sighted person in
navigating complex shopping malls and offices. Sighted people tend to be
very proud and will not ask directly for assistance. Be gentle yet
firm.

HOW DO SIGHTED PEOPLE USE COMPUTERS?!
The person who
is sighted relies exclusively on visual information. His or her
attention span fades quickly when reading long texts. Computer
information is presented in a "Graphical User Interface" or GUI.
Coordination of hands and eyes is often a problem for sighted people, so
the computer mouse, a handy device that slides along the desk top,
saves confusing keystrokes. With one button, the sighted person can move
around his or her computer screen quickly and easily. People who are
sighted are not accustomed to synthetic speech and may have great
difficulty understanding even the clearest synthesizer. Be patient and
prepared to explain many times how your computer equipment works.

HOW DO SIGHTED PEOPLE READ?!

Sighted people read through a system called "Print." this is a series
of images drawn in a two dimensional plain. People who are sighted
generally have a poorly developed sense of touch. Braille is completely
foreign to the sighted person and he or she will take longer to learn
the code and be severely limited by his or her existing visual senses.
Sighted people cannot function well in low lighting conditions and are
generally completely helpless in total darkness. their homes are usually
very brightly lit at great expense, as are businesses that cater to the
sighted consumer.

HOW CAN I SUPPORT A SIGHTED PERSON?!

People who are sighted do not want your charity. They want to live, work
and play along with you. The best thing you can do to support sighted
people in your community is to open yourself to their world. These
people are vital contributing members to society. Take a sighted person
to lunch today!

Be nice to them, Some of my best friends are sighted people.

Online Games for the Blind

Card Games, audio games, accessible games for blind people. Here are a couple great sites to give you the edge in playing with others around the world online.
Go to:
Welcome at AudioGames.net!
or
Blind Gamers

See your computer screen better when you have low vision

There are many ways to adapt your computer to see everything better and these features are already built into a PC.
High contrast and enlarging icons and font are just a few great options to "see" better. There are many many more ways and lessons are at www.yourtechvision.com under the Low Vision Tab

Watch Youtube video at: Low Vision PC tricks

Android Access for the Blind

Welcome to Android Access, your portal to information on accessible Android apps and programs for the blind and visually impaired. We're excited to be a part of the Android community, and look forward to your comments, feedback, and submissions. If you're new to Android, check out our Getting Started page. Keep up to date with the latest reviews and news by following @AndroidAccess on Twitter.
For all those Apps you are looking for that are accessible for the blind, this is the page to go to: Android APPS

How can you program if you're blind? Answered Here

For all those people who are blind and have a great desire to program....you can. This article covers many blind people out there doing what you dream of doing. Here are great examples of possibilities.
Read:

How can you program if you're blind?

Adaptive Math Tools for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Here is a website that will give you all those wonderful tools that blind/low vision kids need in class to help them learn.

Take a walk through and watch videos to get a clear understanding on where to go
Adaptive Math Tools for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Virtual Instruction-using Find command in Word, moving around with talking software

Talking software enables blind individuals to move around quickly and easily in Word: find what you want, select, copy and paste into another document.
Watch video at:  Virtual Instruction-using Find command in Word, moving around with talking software

Lessons for what you need, at www.yourtechvision.com

Multiply Impaired Children Can Achieve their goals with the right Technology

Watch Josh. This wonderful young man has goals and desires but no way to get it out until the right piece of technology was introduced to him. Now he is just focusing on learning and achieving.
ALT is a piece of software that cuts down on the multipe key strokes required to accomplish a sophisticated task. If you would like to learn more about this software, contact Rob Nevin at Rob@u-r-able.com

Watch Josh using Alt with teacher Andrea Bodnari: Josh and Alt

Here are other tools also to help any situation: CES 2013: The blind see, the deaf hear, the mute can be heard

For more lessons, go to: www.yourtechvision.com

Join Hangout in Gmail—chat text and video call-virtual instruction

Video chatting and texting is always fun, but gmail hangout offers another wonderful option for virtual instruction too,
Learn how to
find the people to join you
connect to them
text them
video chat-you calling them with video
video chat with them calling you
answer calls
Download this lesson to learn the great secrets to move you around your window with ease:
 Join Hangout in Gmail—chat text and video call-virtual instruction

Watch video on Youtube at: Gmail Hangout

Track Changes with Comments--audio/visual lesson

Whether blind or sighted, learn how to make comments and tracks for editing in Word. Learn the keyboard commands that will quickly and easily move you through a page. In addition, learn how to do revisions and check for spelling and grammar errors throughout the page. This is how my teachers correct my blind student's work, so they can independently see what their grade is along with any comment about their work the teacher has for them. 

Emailing back and forth gives the teacher the work on time and then student grades as fast as their sighted peers. This is an audio/visual lesson--download a copy today

Go to: Track Changes with Comments

Virtual lesson-teaching blind student how to use track changes in Word-how teachers correct

In 9th grade, this student was only using a brailler to braille out all work....a very slow process to get it transcribed, then to the teacher, then back to the student. In 2 months the student has moved to completing all work on a computer, emailing to teacher, teacher corrects and sends back.

Watch on YouTube:

Virtual lesson-teaching blind student how to use track changes in Word-how teachers correct

Virtual Instruction through Skype Sharing and texting

I teach virtually to students around the country daily and around the world weekly. I may start in India, then head to New York, then Ohio, Washington State, back to Kansas and so on throughout a day. Skype texting or Gmail text/chat is always part of the first contact, then sharing of desktop or/and typically using Jaws Tandem to connect and bring up the students computer...Virtually, I go around the world in a day, teaching anyone who is blind and has a desire to reach their goals and dreams...or just someone who wants to become a better computer user.

See an example: Virtual Instruction through Skype Sharing and texting


More information at: www.yourtechvision.com

Navigating a Mac with Voice Over—Move around the desktop

Navigating a Mac—Move around the desktop contains all the information you need to learn how to take control of you Mac machine. Get your lesson at: Navigating a Mac—Move around the desktop
Lessons include:
Helpful Hints:
Navigating the desktop
Finder
Navigating the Finder to find all your content
Start and Stop interacting with content
Interacting with content areas
Find out how to hear the repeat information
Learn shortcuts and gestures on track pad
Using the Dock
About menus and the menu bar
About files and folders
Copying folders and files and other information
About System Preferences
About Spotlight
Clicking the mouse
Using sticky keys
Using slow keys
Using the cursor control keys
Setting the key repeat rate
Using buttons and other controls
Hearing open applications and windows
Switching between applications
Switching between windows
Move a window to the front
Moving windows and objects
Resizing windows and objects
Get your lesson at: Navigating a Mac—Move around the desktop

Mac computer, Voice over and email

Do you want to learn how to use mail on a Mac computer. This will get you moving.
Learn:
The most helpful hints that will help you on the Mac in general
Explore Menus
Setup Email
Create New Email
Major and minor spell check options
Understand pane layout and how to move around groups, lists and information in general
Forward Email
Delete Email
Find a person's email and explore other areas to understand how to do all aspects of mail
Get your lesson at:  Mac computer and email

Mac ipad with Voice Over lessons to get you going

If you were one of the fortunate to get an ipad, phone or Mac product for Christmas, let techvision help you get going.
The lessons you need at: Mac/iTools 
www.yourtechvision.com 

Making Beautiful Cards using WORD

For every holiday and occasion, it is great to make your own card and email it to that special someone. Here is the perfect lesson to teach you the tricks you need. More options are under the WORD tab at www.yourtechvision.com

Create your perfect card at:
Creating Beautiful Cards

Skype commands for talking software and emoticons

Skype is an incredible tool for anyone to instantly text each other, video chat, share files and so much more. As a virtual teacher, my students and I use Skype daily to connect. My students ask for help easily using instant messaging and can easily insert emotions as they write...just to make the point clear. When lessons are given, we use video. If they need to show me something, they just aim the camera on what they need me to see. Combine Skype with JAWS tandem and you have a powerful combination of tools to teach virtually.
Here is a list of Skype emotions which can be instantly accessed with JAWS using Shift+CTRL+M
http://www.yourtechvision.com/content/skype-emotions-or-emoticons-send-picture-what-you-want-say

Here is a list of other key commands to use with Skype
Welcome to the JAWS scripts for Skype.
This is a short summary of Skype script commands.  For a complete manual, type JAWSKey+F1 twice quickly.
First, a word about the Skype command key, [ by default:
Many JAWS commands for Skype have two forms:  a single-key-combination form and a key sequence beginning with the Skype Command key.
The Skype Command key can be set from the JAWSKey+V dialog.
To explore the commands available with the Command key, press the Command key and then start using Tab and Shift+Tab to read choices.
This works at sublevels too, such as for conversation commands.
Press Escape when done exploring, or just use one of the available commands..
Below are listed the commands available with these scripts.  Both command forms are listed where available.
Jumping among controls and screen areas:
Press Ctrl+1 or Command t 1 to switch to the Contacts list.
Press Ctrl+2 or Command t 2 to switch to the Conversations list, also called the Inbox.
Press Ctrl+3 or Command t 3 to switch to the live conversation list if there are calls in it.
In a conversation, press Ctrl+4 for the input edit box, Ctrl+5 for the message list, and Ctrl+6 for the contact profile area.  The corresponding Command t sequences also work.
Press Ctrl+7 or Command t 7 to switch to the "Facebook" tab.
Press Ctrl+8 or Command t 8 to switch to the "Skype Home" HTML area of Skype.
To move among screen areas, type F6 or Shift+F6, or equivalently, Ctrl+Accent or Ctrl+Shift+Accent.  Sometimes this can provide a faster path to a control than just repeatedly pressing Tab or Shift+Tab.
Commands for text chats and call management:
To read messages in a conversation window, type Alt+1 for the most recent, Alt+2 for the next most recent, etc.  Type twice to get a virtual viewer containing the message.
Alternatively, use Alt+Left/Right, Alt+Home/End, and Alt+NumPad5 to read through messages sequentially with a remembered current location in each conversation.
To toggle announcement of chat message times with Alt+numbers and Alt+arrows, type F2 or Command c shift+t while in a conversation window.
To hear who is typing in the current conversation window, press F4 or Command c t.
Press F4 twice quickly, or Command C then T twice quickly, to list who is typing when more than one person is typing.
Note that Skype will only indicate when a user is typing if that user did not shut off that indication in his or her profile and if both you and that user
run a new enough Skype version.
Use Ctrl+Shift+M or Command c m to bring up a list of emoticons for selection and insertion into the current chat line.
To switch among open conversations, use Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+Shift+Tab.
To jump to a specific conversation, use Command c and a number, such as 1.
Use Command c l to list conversations with their numbers, or Command c shift+l to hear the list without leaving Command mode so you can then switch to a
conversation with just one key.
To pull up a JAWS list dialog of conversations for selection, use Ctrl+Shift+L or Command c ctrl+l.
To access the dial pad while a call is active, type Ctrl+Shift+D or Command m d.
Skypewatch related commands:
You can choose whether or not to hear Skypewatch announcements via the "Skypewatch messages" option in the JAWS Options dialog (JAWSKey+V) while Skype is
in focus.
If Skypewatch is running, you can repeat any of the most recent ten notifications by typing Command n and then a digit between 1 and 9 or 0.
To hear the most recent Skypewatch notification, you can also type Alt+Shift+F9 or Ctrl+ScrollLock+F9.  This command works from within any application,
not just from within Skype.
Type Alt+Shift+F9 or Ctrl+ScrollLock+F9 twice quickly to toggle on/off the automatic announcement of Skypewatch messages without going into the Verbosity
Options dialog.
General commands:
To announce who is currently in Skype (including online, away, etc.), press Ctrl+Shift+O or Command o c.
You can also get lists of contacts by status:  Command o a for Away, Command o d for Do Not Disturb, Command o n for Not Available, Command o o for Online,
and Command o s for SkypeMe mode.
To adjust various Skype options such as Typing Announcement for conversations, press JAWSKey+V.
To read the Account panel, press Ctrl+Shift+E or Command m e.  Press Ctrl+Shift+E twice to activate the JAWS cursor and move it to the Account panel.
To pick a tool bar item from a list in windows, such as conversations, that have useful tool bars, press JAWSKey+F8 or Command m t.
To recompile all scripts after updating them, press Ctrl+Shift+C or Command m c.  This should not be necessary unless you changed the scripts yourself.
If you are having trouble getting JAWS to work with Skype after reloading JAWS, try typing Ctrl+Shift+S or Command m s to broadcast the fact that a screen
reader is running.

For Skype script support and announcements, use the SkypeEnglish@emissives.com mailing list.
To launch the Skype Scripts home page, press Ctrl+Shift+W or Command m w.
This command also logs your Skype version, script and JAWS versions, and other information that is helpful to the Skype script author in determining what
configurations to support.
Using Ctrl+Shift+W occasionally helps make sure your specific software configuration will not get accidentally left out of future script updates.
.

Understanding Facial expressions--Training Faces App and game to help you understand facial expressions

Game for individuals with Autism and other special needs to recognize emotions to help improve social skills by recognizing the emotion, the cause behind the emotion and speedup recognition. A percentage of each download goes to Autism charities. Great geography fun as well as you take train trips around the world.
Get this App at Training Faces

For more training materials go to www.yourtechvision.com

Windows 8 access with talking software--keyboard shortcuts

For all those people buying windows 8 and trying to figure out those new keyboard commands using talking software.... here is a nice list to get you going, along with other links to more sites on accessibility.
Windows key: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application
Windows key + C: Access the charms bar
Windows key + Tab: Access the Modern Desktop Taskbar
Windows key + I: Access the Settings charm
Windows key + H: Access the Share charm
Windows key + K: Access the Devices charm
Windows key + Q: Access the Apps Search screen
Windows key + F: Access the Files Search screen
Windows key + W: Access the Settings Search screen
Windows key + P: Access the Second Screen bar
Windows key + Z: Brings up the App Bar when you have a Modern Desktop App running
Windows key + X: Access the Windows Tools Menu
Windows key + O: Lock screen orientation
Windows key + . : Move the screen split to the right
Windows key + Shift + . : Move the screen split to the left
Windows key + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications
Windows key + Shift + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications in reverse order
Windows key + PrtScn: Takes a screenshot of the screen and automatically saves it in the Pictures folder as Screenshot
Windows key + Enter: Launch Narrator        
Windows key + E: Open Computer
Windows key + R: Open the Run dialog box
Windows key + U: Open Ease of Access Center
Windows key + Ctrl + F: Open Find Computers dialog box
Windows key + Pause/Break: Open the System page
Windows key + 1..10: Launch a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows key + Shift + 1..10: Launch a new instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows key + Ctrl + 1..10: Access the last active instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows key + Alt + 1..10: Access the Jump List of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows key + B: Select the first item in the Notification Area and then use the arrow keys to cycle through the items Press Enter to open the selected item
Windows key + Ctrl + B: Access the program that is displaying a message in the Notification Area
Windows key + T: Cycle through the items on the Taskbar
Windows key + M: Minimize all windows
Windows key + Shift + M: Restore all minimized windows
Windows key + D: Show/Hide Desktop (minimize/restore all windows)
Windows key + L: Lock computer
Windows key + Up Arrow: Maximize current window
Windows key + Down Arrow: Minimize/restore current window
Windows key + Home: Minimize all but the current window
Windows key + Left Arrow: Tile window on the left side of the screen
Windows key + Right Arrow: Tile window on the right side of the screen
Windows key + Shift + Up Arrow: Extend current window from the top to the bottom of the screen
Windows key + Shift + Left/Right Arrow: Move the current window from one monitor to the next
Windows key + F1: Launch Windows Help and Support
PageUp: Scroll forward on the Modern Desktop Start screen
PageDown: Scroll backward on the Modern Desktop Start screen
Esc: Close  a charm
Ctrl + Esc: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel: Activate the Semantic Zoom on the Modern Desktop screen
Alt: Display a hidden Menu Bar
Alt + D: Select the Address Bar
Alt + P: Display the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer
Alt + Tab: Cycle forward through open windows
Alt + Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through open windows
Alt + F: Close the current window Open the Shut Down Windows dialog box from the Desktop
Alt + Spacebar: Access the Shortcut menu for current window
Alt + Esc: Cycle between open programs in the order that they were opened
Alt + Enter: Open the Properties dialog box of the selected item
Alt + PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the active Window and
place it in the clipboard
Alt + Up Arrow: Move up one folder level in Windows Explorer
(Like the Up Arrow in XP)
Alt + Left Arrow: Display the previous folder
Alt + Right Arrow: Display the next folder
Shift + Insert: CD/DVD Load CD/DVD without triggering
Autoplay or Autorun
Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the item (rather than
sending it to the Recycle Bin)
Shift + F6: Cycle backward through elements in a window or
dialog box
Shift + F10: Access the context menu for the selected item
Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through elements in a window or
dialog box
Shift + Click: Select a consecutive group of items
Shift + Click on a Taskbar button: Launch a new instance of
a program
Shift + Right-click on a Taskbar button: Access the context
menu for the selected item


Ctrl + A: Select all items
Ctrl + C: Copy the selected item
Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item
Ctrl + V: Paste the selected item
Ctrl + D: Delete selected item
Ctrl + Z: Undo an action
Ctrl + Y: Redo an action
Ctrl + N: Open a new window in Windows Explorer
Ctrl + W: Close current window in Windows Explorer
Ctrl + E: Select the Search box in the upper right corner of
a window
Ctrl + Shift + N: Create new folder
Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open the Windows Task Manager
Ctrl + Alt + Tab: Use arrow keys to cycle through open
windows
Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Access the Windows Security screen 
Ctrl + Click: Select multiple individual items
Ctrl + Click and drag an item: Copies that item in the same
folder
Ctrl + Shift + Click and drag an item: Creates a shortcut
for that item in the same folder
Ctrl + Tab:  Move
forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move backward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Click on a Taskbar button: Launch a new
instance of a program as an Administrator
Ctrl + Click on a grouped Taskbar button: Cycle through the
instances of a program in the group
F1: Display Help
F2: Rename a file
F3: Open Search
F4: Display the Address Bar list
F5: Refresh display
F6: Cycle forward through elements in a window or dialog box
F7: Display command history in a Command Prompt
F10: Display hidden Menu Bar
F11: Toggle full screen display
Tab: Cycle forward through elements in a window or dialog
box
PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the entire screen and place it
in the clipboard

Home: Move to the top of the active window
End: Move to the bottom of the active window
Delete: Delete the selected item
Backspace: Display the previous folder in Windows
Explorer  Move up one folder level in
Open or Save dialog box
Esc: Close a dialog box

Num Lock Enabled + Plus (+): Display the contents of the
selected folder 
Num Lock Enabled + Minus (-): Collapse the selected folder
Num Lock Enabled + Asterisk (*): Expand all subfolders under
the selected folder    

Press Shift 5 times Turn StickyKeys on or off
 Hold down right Shift
for 8 seconds Turn FilterKeys on or off
 Hold down Num Lock
for 5 seconds Turn ToggleKeys on or off

Other helpful links:

Microsoft Surface RT gesture and keyboard shortcut guide

Windows 8 Accessibility

Windows 8 Accessibility Tutorial Guide

Accessibility in Windows 8

Windows 8 - first look

Great Spelling APP Game using Voice Over and Braille Display for ipad/itools

Three University of North Carolina computer science students created a beginning spelling game app that is totally accessible! Spellgate, a free app, is now in the app store. Zoom and VO work well with the game. They also added an option in settings so that when you use the Refreshable Braille Device (RBD), you can turn off the picture labeling if desired so that the RBD does not spell out the picture label. (Spelling out the picture label provides the answer!) You can also mute VO and the student will have to rely on reading the RBD letters.

The students will continue to work on the game next semester, so please provide your input! They plan to do some fine tuning and hope to add letter recognition (matching letters) and a way for teachers to add their own words.

Click on the link for more information:

http://www.ifreeware.net/download-spellgate.html