Dear AccessWorld readers,
I know the students out there don't want to hear these words, but it's time to think about the start of a new school year.
New classes, new instructors, class projects, presentations, tests, new people, and maybe even a new school or moving away to college bring about uncertainty and new challenges. Uncertainty is not necessarily a bad thing. This time of year can be exciting, too, especially if you prepare in advance.
Pursuing an education can be difficult under the best of circumstances, and doing so as a person with vision loss can increase the challenge.
For the students in our readership: you must take personal responsibility for your education, and you must be your own advocate. It is very important to prepare in advance, speak to instructors, and tell those you'll be working with exactly what types of accommodations will best meet your needs. Your education will have a tremendous impact on every aspect of the rest of your life, so it's crucial that you do everything you can to get the most out of your studies.
Good planning prevents poor performance! It's never too early to begin planning for the next school term, whether you're in elementary school or graduate school. Acquiring and learning to use the mainstream and access technology that best suits your situation, registering as early as possible for classes, obtaining reading lists, and searching out alternative formats should be done as soon as you can. Waiting until the last minute is a recipe for disaster.
It has become an AccessWorld tradition that the July issue be our "Back to School" issue. Thus, the AccessWorld team once again focuses on providing valuable information and resources for students, parents, teachers, and professionals in the vision loss field to help make educational pursuits less stressful and more enjoyable. We are excited to bring you the information in this issue, and we sincerely hope you will find it useful.
As more and more classroom material is going online and the use of Blackboard software is becoming ever-present, new accessibility challenges abound for for students who are blind or visually impaired. In this issue, Jamie Pauls takes a look at the accessibility and usability of Blackboard from both student and instructor perspectives. Whether you are a student or a working professional, everyone needs tools to increase productivity. In this issue, Jamie Pauls also reviews Leasey. Leasey is an access tool for anyone who owns JAWS for Windows (versions 14 and above) who needs extra assistance with learning to use their computer as well as for the experienced computer user who simply would like to have another accessibility tool in their arsenal. Learn how Leasey could be of use to you.
Those students who are looking for a new smartphone to stay connected as they head back to school will want to read Bill Holton's review of the Sprint Galaxy S6 running Galaxy Talkback. If you have been reluctant to try Android, Bill considers the Sprint Galaxy S6 to be "a well-designed, responsive Android phone." Speaking of Android, Bill Holton also reviews the new BARD mobile app for Android, a tool for reading school material as well as books and magazines for pleasure.
Please be sure to check out past "Back to School" issues from AccessWorld. The July issues of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 all contain information that is still pertinent today. When reading these past "Back to School" issues, I encourage you to start with a 2010 article I co-authored, Educational Resources and Tips from AFB's Information and Referral Center.
In this vein, you may also want to check out an article from the 2013 "Back to School" issue, Deborah Kendrick's review of iOS Success: Making the iPad Accessible: A Guide for Teachers and Parents (National Braille Press).
We on the AccessWorld team wish you good luck and good planning as you head back to school!
Sincerely,
Lee Huffman
AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief
American Foundation for the Blind
