We will meet on Thursday September 17th @ Quilogy. They are located at 10350 Ormsby Park Place. Doors will open at 6:30. This month we will feature a speaker meeting. The topic being:

Access to Web Content Using Screen Reader Technology

Abstract:
Since the early 1980's computer users who were blind have relied on special software to transform text on a computer display into synthesized speech or refreshable Braille. The software that provides this service-screen reader software-has evolved to become highly sophisticated and capable of working with many mainstream applications.

With the advent and growth of Web-based applications and services many features have been built into screen readers to allow blind users to access the information and user interface objects used by many web-based applications. In spite of their sophistication, screen readers work better with some web-based services than others. Often the choices developers make in designing and deploying their web content and applications makes a significant difference in how well a screen reader and its user are able to access and use their site.

In this presentation we will:

(1) Explore some of the inner workings of popular screen readers and the features they provide to users.
(2) Explore screen reader features that make accessing web-based content-web browsers-possible and in some cases easy for blind computer users.
(3) explore what factors in a web-based application's design that make it more or less easily used by a blind user employing a screen reader.

Speaker Bio:
Keith Creasy is a programmer at American Printing House for the Blind. He has developed such products as the popular "Talking Typer for Windows", a braille translator, and Book Wizard. The latter is a system for producing and playing the new generation of "Digital Talking Books".

Keith is a native of Tennessee and graduated from Austin Peay State University in 1980 with a BS in Music Education. He moved to Louisville in 1982 and attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and took graduate corses in business, education, and programming at the University of Louisville.

Keith Also worked for the Kentucky Department for the Blind for nine years as a technology instructor, computer programmer, and manager of assistive technology services.

Keith's other interests include cycling, barbershop quartet singing, and keeping up with his four children.