Search Paths to Technology

Teams Tip: Efficient Navigation in Microsoft Teams

Teams Tip: Efficient Navigation in Teams

Microsoft Teams is one of several popular learning platforms students and vision professionals are learning to use to learn and interact together in a virtual/...
Graphic of Title Text

Virtual Learning Starter Kit: Quick Assist

Hey everybody, this is now my second post in a new "Virtual Learning Starter Kit" series of posts that I hope to continue with over the course of the school...
Title text with background graphic of a laptop

Virtual Learning Starter Kit: Windows Computers

As we all get ready to go back to school, especially with either the reality or potentiality of teaching virtually from a distance, many of us are having to...
Young girl reading a teacher-created print/braille book with her hands on the braille.

Teacher-Created Resource Library!

Finding Solutions Students in today's classrooms are using digital educational materials - especially now with remote instruction, online courses and virtual...
Screenshot of NIU university map with the virtual cane focus on Holmes Student Center, Bearing 2 O'clock, distance 397 yards.

How to Create Accessible Digital Maps Using SAS Graphics Accelerator and Google Maps

This post was updated on July 3, 2020. Summary This post explains how to create non-visual digital maps that contain points of interest such as intersections...
screenshot of zoom meeting with Dr. Kapperman holding a $20 bill & Dr. Kelly identifying the bill. Text, "How do you use Zoom?"

Using Zoom Video Conferencing Platform to Provide People with Visual Impairments Instant Access to Visual Information

Zoom is becoming a leader in video conferencing worldwide and features an accessible interface for use by people who are visually impaired. Zoom can be used...
Cartoon image of hands on a computer displaying Video conference and text, "Zoom 101 Video Tutorials"

Zoom 101: Basic Steps for Using Zoom

In recent times, there has been a huge increase in the use of video conferencing software.  So many educators and other professionals have been required to...
screenshot of 8 Audible book covers and text, " Amazon's Free Books"

Amazon Children's Books and Audio Stories are Free

During COVID-19 school closures, Amazon has made their books and audio stories for children and students of all ages FREE - no subscription! Books can be...
Logos for 3 companies: Dream Vision Group, Accessibyte Online, and Epic; text, "Tech Support and Free Subscriptions"

Companies/Organizations Providing Support and Free Subscriptions during School Closure

As each state embarks on providing remote instruction to students, many companies are providing free training through video conferencing and webinars, as well...
A mouth speaking with soundwaves

Using Screen Readers in Google Classrooms

Using Screen Readers in Google Classrooms This post is related to a previous post Learning Management Systems in the Age of Pandemic. Our school decided to use...
Graduate in cap and gown with electronic devices he used to learn and graduate, phone, computer, etc.

Learning Management Systems in the Age of Pandemic

Learning Management Systems for the BVI in the Age of Pandemic With the new forced paradigm in this world of distance learning, our school, like almost every...
Screenshot of a keynote slide template with parrot and "my presentation"; additional text, "Virtual Tech Lesson" Presentations"

Tech Lesson Week #1: Presentations (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote)

This is a perfect time for students with visual impairments to learn and master new tech skills; having strong tech skills will have a significant, lasting...
Cartoon image of two teachers standing behind a student who is using a computer; text: "Tech Standards"

Tech Standards for Students with VIB: What's Happening

Students with visual impairments and blindness are successfully using technology in the classroom and it is exciting to see how technology has a positive...
Cartoon boy sitting at a desk looking at a bar chart on his computer and text, "Digital Math Part 2"

Moving Forward with Accessible Digital Math: Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed several unique tech-related skills that students with visual impairments need to fully interact with and understand math...
A to Z Assistive Technology for Low Vision. www.veroniiiica.com

A to Z of Assistive Technology for Low Vision

When I first started exploring the world of assistive technology, I found myself getting frequently overwhelmed with how many different items were available...
Reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh through the starry night and text, "'Twas the Night Before: Comprehension"

'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Teaching Comprehension

As educators, we often teach basic reading skills, such as identifying letters, words, building vocabulary and spelling. However, when was the last time you...
Active Braille, a concave 40-cell refreshable braille display with cursor router keys, a Perkin’s style keyboard with a bar keys

Active Braille

The Active Braille is a forty-cell refreshable braille display with cursor router keys, a Perkin’s style keyboard, two triple action keys, and two spacebar...
Glad I am not a turkey poem.

Screen Reader Tech Activities: Thanksgiving Lesson Plan

How do you start teaching digital literacy skills to young students who are learning technology?  Memorizing a list of commands is B-O-R-I-N-G! How about...
Collage picture of person using computer, headphones Screenreader title and JAWS logo

Screenreader Comparisons

Screenreader Comparisons Since I have recently fielded several inquiries from parents and/or students about which screenreader to obtain/use, this review...
Photo of QBraille XL and text, "So many Braille Displays which one is right for my student?"

So Many Braille Displays, Which One is Right for My Student: Part Seven

NOTE: Please see other posts in this series including: So Many Braille Displays Part One (focusing on the Brailliant BI 40 and BI 80 models) So Many Braille...
High school student wearing glasses typing with one hand while leaning close to view a computer screen.

Preparing a Low Vision Student to Use a Screen Reader

This is the second post in the screen reader for low vision series. The first post, Screen Reader for Low Vision Students? Includes common indicators that a...
Ipad displaying Chapter 3 of A Very Wimpy Kid with two-fingers making the Read All VoiceOver gesture.

Screen Reader for Low Vision Students?

For a variety of reasons, students who have functional vision are often resistant to using a screen reader. Should these students be introduced to a screen...
Windows logo and text, "Windows 10 Accessibility Update"

Windows 10 May Update

Developers continuously work on improving their software. Windows 10 (May 2019 release) has numerous accessibility improvements including: Bigger, brighter...
Graphic of title text: JAWS Topics: Navigating Menu Bars

JAWS Topics: Navigating Menu Bars

In this post, I am going to build upon the basic navigation skills outlined in my previous JAWS Topics post.  We will be providing some information on how to...
Graphic of blog title: JAWS Topics: Basic Navigation

JAWS Topics: Basic Navigation

In order to become an independent screen reader user on the computer, you will need to know how to navigate.  Today, I will discuss the most basic skills for...
Photo of Braille Beetle and text, "So Many Braille Displays, Which One is Right for My Student? Smart Beetle.

So Many Braille Displays, Which One is Right for My Student? Part Four

NOTE: Please see other posts in this series including So Many Braille Displays Part One (focusing on the Brailliant BI 40 and BI 80 models) So Many Braille...
Photo of Smiling man sitting at the help desk with text, "Sam's Story: Tech Support"

Be My Eyes: Microsoft Tech Support Story

Sam is a tech support agent at the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk, where he answers calls from customers who are blind or have low-vision calling through the...
4 photos of hands holding devices with text, "I have VI technology, now what? Finding solutions for learning how to use tech."

I Have VI Technology, Now What?

I had the pleasure of presenting at the 2019 DC/MD annual AER conference.  My presentation focused on common issues that TVIs and service providers faced when...
Photo of person's feet with slippers lounging next to table with coffee & smart phone lit up on table in front of the fireplace

Reading Efficiently with a Screen Reader: Reading by Paragraphs

Just as there are many types of books to read, there are also many reasons to read. Reading a textbook or technical article for school/work requires full...
Screenshot of Headings setting in the rotor.

Reading Efficiently with a Screen Reader: Headings

Educational content is strategicially organized and formatted into sections. This helps readers to quickly find specific things and to mentally organize the...
Keyboard with text, "All about that Base(line): Strategies on Getting your student's baseline typing speed."

All About that Base(Line): Strategies on Getting your Student's Baseline Typing Speed

NOTE: Please see these related articles on touch typing skills and resources: Starting from Scratch: Where Do I Start When Teaching My Visually Impaired...
Image of a stop watch with text, "Teaching 600 WPM: Part 4".

How to teach your students to read at 600 words per minute – Part 4

Let the student drive It is important to let your student be the person interacting with the device during practice sessions. The ability to control when...
Photo of stop watch with text, "Teaching 600 WPM: Part 3"

How to teach your students to read at 600 words per minute – Part 3

Use content that fascinates The most important criterion for choosing content that your student will use to practice reading speed is the degree to which the...
Image of a stop watch with text, "Teaching 600 WPM: Part 2".

How to teach your students to read at 600 words per minute – Part 2

Before we discuss tools, I must clarify that our goal is to increase your student’s auditory reading speed. Residual vision should not be used during this...
12 safe alternatives to the Bird Box Challenge. www.veroniiiica.com

12 Safe Alternatives to the Bird Box Challenge

In recent times, I have seen a new social media trend flooding my timeline called the Bird Box Challenge (#BirdBoxChallenge). The concept of the challenge is...
Excel worksheet showing "Define Name" function open on the menu bar

Excel Accessibility: Screenreader speaking of Row and Column Headers in Excel

Excel Accessibility: Screenreader speaking of Row and Column Headers in Excel Since I was assigned to teach a class this spring semester that is graphics...
Image of a stop watch with text, "Teaching 600 WPM: Part 1".

How to teach your students to read at 600 words per minute – Part 1

This series on increasing auditory reading speed is based on a master-apprentice model. In this case, successful professionals with visual impairments like me...
Windows 10 image with text, "Windows 10 update"

Upcoming Windows 10 software updates

Windows 10 Insiders share information about Windows 10 Build 18298 and the upcoming major Windows 10 upgrade. Windows Insiders is a program for Windows users...
Using assistive technology with Hour of Code. www.veroniiiica.com

Using Assistive Technology with Hour of Code

Today is a special day, because thousands of students from all around the world are going to be introduced to computer science for the first time with Hour of...
Office Lens Logo with text, "Office Lens Screen Reader Commands"

Office Lens Commands and Software Updates for Screen Readers

Office Lens converts print to accessible digital materials. Office Lens is the built-in camera available in OneNote (a Microsoft  Office 365 product) that...

Pages