Review of Thunder FREE Screen Reader: How Can Blind & Visually Impaired People Use the Computer?

One of my biggest complaints as a blind person using the computer is the expense of the software I need to use it in the same way that “sighties” (people with sight) do The program I bought costs over $600 and you have to update it every year. Nobody would put up w

ith that for software you use everyday. You can get an entire MS Office SUITE for less than that, for goodness sake! And the program I use, Zoomtext, is the less functional cousin of JAWS, which is twice the price but performs better in some areas.

Well now there is a FREE screen reading software that I’ve been trying out, and it’s quite good. It’s called the Thunder Screen Reader. Get it at ScreenReader.net. Below is a video that shows you some of what Thunder can do, but before you watch it, I have to say it performs just about as well as my costly program. Sometimes it finks out and freezes, and a couple of times I’ve had to hit the on/off button to shut down because I couldn’t do a thing on my screen. Most of the time, however, the program forms well.

I would love for you to tell anyone you know who has poor eyesight or is blind about this free software.

Last night I really put THunder to the test. I used it in conjunction with the Firefox Browser to go into Netflix. WOW was I impressed! That is not an easy site to deal with if your eyesight is limited, but Thunder allowed me to search for movies, add them to my queue, give ratings and do everything else I wanted to do, including load up a movie to watch instantly, all using the keyboard! (especially the Tab adn arrow keys). Zoomtext geta a D for sites like that and Thunder gets an A+.

There is also a program called Webbie from Webbie.com that you can use along with Thunder. Webbie lets you enlarge the words and also get rid of webpage clutter. That program will take away all pictures, videos, graphics, etc., so it’s a bit shocking if you’re used to a typical webpage. However if you just want to read things and cut the clutter, Webbie is a good choice. But this may make it much easier for you to access the web. Interestingly, the Thunder website is harder to navigate using Thunder than Netflix.com

One peculiar thing about Webbie, and I have no idea why they did it this way, is that there are a few special functions that you must be sighted enough to locate. There are some buttons across the top of the screen, but they do not have keyboard commands. Perhaps the developers will realize we all don’t have sighted assistance to come hit 1 key for us, and they’ll make keyboard shurtcut commands to access those features.

Thunder and Webbie aren’t perfect, but neither is JAWS or Zoomtext, and these free programs are definitely an economic stimulus package for the blind and visually impaired. I am truly dedicated to assisting the creators of the program in getting Thudner more widely recognized. It is a true life-saver for anyone who is blind or visually impaired and wants to stay current with computer technology.

Kudos to the creators of Thunder!

My review: 4.8 out of 5 stars.

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Staying In Touch with Dial2Do.com: How Can You Tweet, Email, Set a Reminder & Check Your Calendar Without Typing?

I’ve found a wonderful resource thanks to my good friend Gina Gaudio Graves. Let me tell you how it has made my work easier and how it will do the same for YOU.

Imagine being away from your computer and wanting to communicate with a group of clients, perhaps to remind them of an upcoming coaching call. What do you do? If you’re me, you use Dial2Do. Pick up the cell phone, call in and tell it “email” then after the prompt asking email who, say the name of the group, leave your message and you’re done. In and out in under a minute. No Getting to a computer, logging into your auto-responder, gong to the right group, formatting and sending the message.

Say you want to check your email and you’re not at a computer. Even if you have one of the nicer phones that has internet service, you may be in an internet dead zone. You can listen to your emails  With Dial2Do, you can – and you can also reply. For me, this is a big deal. When I’m at a conference, I’m not at a computer very much at all (maybe a few minutes at the end of the day if the net is free). Now, I can check for emails and reply to the important ones anytime I have a few minutes to listen using this powerful service.

I forgot to mention – Dial2Do is free.

Say you want to check your tweets. Rhonda Cort the Magnetic Woman, one of my dear friends, just said her cell phone doesn’t support twitter, so she has to wait until she’s at a computer. So would I if not for Dial2Do. The minute I told her about this service, she signed up and got started.

You can do tasks like this all using the phone and your ears:

• Listen to email
• Send email
• Listen to tweets
• Write a tweet
• Listen to calendar
• Add an appointment
• Listen to the weather
• Set a reminder
• and more.

All absolutely free. Go on over to Dial2Do.com and register now.

I LOVE technology!

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Prisoners and Puppies Learning From Each Other

Service dogs provide invaluable assistance and companionship to their owners, but training them is typically a lengthy and expensive task.

More than a decade ago, Gloria Gilbert Stoga had the inspiration to pair prison inmates with eight-week-old dogs and allow them to learn from each other.

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Ronda’s Rant: The Great (not so great) Cell Phone Adventure, Or Why Is It So Hard to Make a Cell Phone Talk?

Unless you’re blind or visually impaired, or unless you have some other adaptive need, you cannot imagine how difficult it is to get a cell phone.

Anyone else can walk into the store, pick out the phone you want, and go about your business.

Not me.

Making a cell phone talk is a tall order – or, I should say, an expensive and frustrating one.

I spent 3 hours in a T-Mobile store trying to get a T-Mobile G1 “Google Phone”. That was a huge waste of time. The software that supposedly makes the phone talk requires you to have eyesight in order to make it work.

I’m now officially on the war path with regards to adaptive technology for cell phones.

This is ridiculous. It’s 2009. The American’s with Disabilities Act has been in effect for a LONG time. It shouldn’t be this hard, nor should you have to “settle” for something because the adaptations you could get (only on certain phones by certain providers when the moon is in a certain position in the heavens and the cow jumps over the moon!

I filed a complaint with the FCC about the T-Mobile G1 phone issue. What happened?

Keep reading —>
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Watch This Empowering Story by Collin Raye – Quitters – Mar 22,2009

Collin Raye song Quitters will really get you thinking. You might feel sad and/or you might feel inspired. but you WILL feel.

This is the song. Collin Raye sings “Quitters”, in which you’ll witness some excellent personal narrative examples. Yes, I have to give you a bit of a storytelling lesson, as your own life experiences (personal narrative examples) are the fuel for you growing your own influence. Your stories can empower both you and other people.  Watch this.

Collin Raye | Ronda Del Boccio | Blind Mentor | The Story Lady | empowering stories | personal narrative examples | Quitters | disability | accessibility

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