While I gave kudos to Amazon.com for their free Kindle Apps, a large segment of the population has not been able to read Kindle books because of low or no vision.

Image via Wikipedia

Maybe Amazon heard me whining that I have the free Kindle App for PC but can’t actually read Kindle books.

Because while searching for something else entirely, good news for blind and visually impaired individuals surfaced:

Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free application for your Windows PC. It provides the following accessibility features:

Users need to have screen reading installed on the computer to read external menus. There is an Accessibility Shortcuts page with all the keyboard shortcuts.

Here’s the news from Amazon Kindle reader

Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free, downloadable application that runs on Microsoft Windows. It provides the following accessibility features: Text-to-Speech (TTS) reading, voice-guided menu navigation, large font sizes, high contrast reading mode, keyboard navigation, and accessible shortcuts. The program can be downloaded at www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility.

This news opens a whole new world of reading for people who cannot see well enough to use the free Kindle

Please share the news with all your blind and visually impaired friends and contacts!

First, you may be wondering,

“What is Google Accessible Search and why do I care?”

Google Accessible Search is a project of Google Labs. Its function is to make the worldwide web a friendlier place for those who have low vision or blindness.

The interesting thing is that by making sure your site is friendly for people with “disabilities,” you also make it a friendlier place for all readers. This is a good thing, because overall, being accessible should increase the engagement (involvement) of your readers.

Remember, people have different lerning styles. Some readers would rather listen to your blog while running or driving than read text. Others love videos and prefer to both see and hear the articles on your site. Some just want the post as you wrote it.

As I often teach my students…

“Serve your prospects and customers well and you always win. The more you serve them, the better your results!”

–  Ronda Del Boccio Inspirational Quotes / Success Quotes

As time goes by, it becomes clearer and clearer that the search engines, Google in particular, are rewarding site owners who take good care of their readers. The better the reader experience, the higher search engine you are likely to get for your keywords.

ProfitableStorytelling.com dominates Google Accessible Search for video content reader and holds position 1 for audio content reader.

How to Turn Your Text Blog Posts into Audio

Turn Your Voice into Text and Speak Your Blog Posts 

One way to include audio with text posts is to use a service like CopyTalk, which you’ll find at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/copytalk to record your blog posts.

With CopyTalk, you simply call a designated phone number You speak in up to 4–minute increments (up to 5 “chunks” at a time). Ten you can use the audio and text on  your site.

You receive an audio link, text document and PDF of what you speak into your phone. You would use the text file they send you to craft the text post and include the audio version along with the text post.

Use Odiogo to Turn Your Text Blog into Voice on Autopilot

Odiogo is a free service that turns any RSS feed into audio. that means you can effortlessly burn an audio feed. Then let your readers know that you have an audio content reader available for your blog.

How to Use Google Accessible Search

Google Accessible Search works just like “ordinary” search. You just go to a different address to access it. You’ll find Google Accessible Search at  Labs.Google.com/accessible.

You can compare your site in Google Search and Google Accessible Search simply by opening 2 tabs and running the same search.

There is an Accessible Search FAQ (frequently asked questions) page, and here are a couple of the most likely questions you have. 

How do you decide which sites are “accessible” and which are not?

Broadly, Google defines accessible websites and pages as content that the blind and visually impaired can use and consume using standard online technology, and we’ve worked with a number of organizations to determine which websites and pages meet those criteria.

Our methods for identifying accessible pages and content are always evolving; Currently we take into account several factors, including a given page’s simplicity, how much visual imagery it carries and whether or not its primary purpose is immediately viable with keyboard navigation.

How Can I Make Accessible Search My Default Home Page

Here is the short answer for IE and Firefox. Assuming that you are on the Accessible Search page, the following key sequence: Alt + T, O, Alt + C, Enter should make that your default home page. This sequence is the same for both IE and Firefox.

Here is a more detailed explanation of what the above achieves.

On IE, go to Tools, Internet Options, and under the General tab in the Home Page area, click the “Use Current” button. Note that the General tab is the default tab when Internet Options first comes up.

On Firefox, go to Tools, Options, and under the Main tab in the Startup area, click the “Use Current Pages” button. Note that the Main tab is the default tab when Options first comes up.

You can watch ProfitableStorytelling.com using the video content reader feed at www.feeds.feedburner.com/ProfitableStorytellingVideoContentReader

You can listen to ProfitableStorytelling.com at www.Feeds.Feedbrner.com/ProfitableStorytellingAudioContentReader.

Please use the comment form to ask questions so I can serve you well.

Feel free to share this information with your favorite websites. You can do this either by forwarding the link or using the PDF button to create and save a PDF of this article to share.

Accessibility contributes to your blogging success, and…

When your site is accessible, EVERYBODY wins!

Image via Netflix

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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• Assistive Technologies: Visual Impairments (slideshare.net)
• Students Build a Car the Blind Can Drive (neatorama.com)
• Nuance’s Mobile Text-to-Speech Software Lands on Symbian S60 (jkontherun.com)
• Kate’s List of Free Software for Severe Special Education Classrooms (teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com)
• Mac-cessibility Network For The Blind And Visually Impaired Is Launched (themactrack.com)
• How And Why You Should Make Your Blog Accessible To People With Disabilities (davidrisley.com)

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!

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.

read more

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 —>

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

The choice is yours. I know so many people who gritch and whine about the littlest things.

You’ll notice several personal narrative examples in this post and you’ll learn about the story you are telling yourself.

Recently, a friend whined to me that she had to go to Walgreen’s and get reading glasses. She can buy hers for about $10 off a rack.

I said, “Mine cost $500 and I still can’t read as well or as fast as you can. Wanna trade?”

“Point taken,” she replied.

People keep telling me how amazing and inspiring I am. Three people told that to me yesterday. Now if you ask me, I’m not amazing. I don’t have any special mojo or superpower that you can’t develop.

I’ve decided that I’m “inspiring” and “amazing” simply because I’m NOT a quitter, even though, I suppose you could say I have reason to be one.

there are things you take for granted that I either cannot do or have to adapt. I’m not whining or complaining, mind you. In fact, I believe I have it easy.

True, I can’t drive and I have to adapt almost everything I do, but I feel so blessed and grateful because I can walk and sing and work from my little house in the woods.

Watch and listen to this song by Collin Raye, called “Quitters.”

Collin Raye sings “Quitters”.

(Lyrics.com doesn’t have the lyrics to Quitters, but I’ll say what the song is about so that my deaf readers are included. You’ll be able to tell a lot by watching the images of the boy about which Collin Raye is singing.)

This song is about a teenaged boy in a wheelchair. He has hopes and dreams like any of us, and yet he faces WAY more challenges than I do just to get through his day. And though the professionals say he’ll never walk, he plans to prove them wrong.

There is power in your pain, if you choose to be a “justdoit-er” and not a quitter. It is the struggle that makes you stronger, though I imagine sometimes you wish you weren’t being challenged so much.

I’d like to teach you some things that I’ve learned because of being legally blind. Indeed, the secrets of blindness can help YOU have greater vision.

But before I give you 3 specific ways to get off your pity pot and into your new groove, let me ask the question once again.

Are you a quitter or a JustDoIt-er?

Read more —>

How do you easily add audio to your blog, and why do you want to?

You don’t have to be blind or visually impaired to want the computer to talk to you. I know lots of people who like text to speech because they like to listen instead of read. Maybe you’re about to work out but you want to catch up on your favorite blogs or news feeds. maybe you’re in a car and want to maximize your time.

Maybe your hands are full with your child or animal. How about reading with your ears? You will still be able to see the pictures and watch he videos.

And if you’d like to make your blog more accessible to people with different learning styles and to people who have low vision, then having Odiogo read your blog is a must.

Not to mention the fact that so many people use poor contrast, busy backgrounds and all sorts of other distractions on your blog. The text to speech service will make a huge difference.

You can easily get your blog to talk using Odiogo. This FREE service translates your blog’s RSS feed  text to speech.

How do you set up the free Odiogo service?

I now have audio on every single post. There is a “Listen” button at the top of each post. When you click it, you’ll be able to hear the post or save it to your mp3 player ir iTunes.