How I Read Printed Material

As someone who is unable to read printed materials, I have to depend on sighted assistance as well as develop some very interesting strategies in order to get my printed matter read to me. In an ideal world, it would be great if I were able to read all of my material in an electronic format or, failing this, either in Braille or on cassette. However, this is not an ideal world and this is why I often have to depend on other methods.

For starters, if I need to complete an online form on a website, it is preferable to either complete the form online or download it in either Word or text format and then be able to read and complete it. If I am able to complete the form online but not able to download and save it, then that is a problem for me. So many websites allow the user to complete and print the form but for me this is no good. I should be able to complete and download and save in either Word or text format.

If someone emails me documents, then the ideal way for me to read it is to receive it in either text or Word formats. If they send me a PDF format, then I will have problems being able to read it because PDF formats are a huge challenge for those of us who use screen reader technology to read electronic mail. In the case of printed materials, I continue to use two distinct methods. The first is to use my scanner and the second is to depend on sighted assistance.

In the case of the first, scanners often have difficulty being absolutely accurate. If the print is not crisp, or if the contrast between the color of the print and the paper on which it is written is not distinct, then the scanner has difficulty deciphering the text. Some scanners have difficulty deciphering fancy text. That is, fancy fonts. Some credit card and bank statements, utility bills, and manuals are also often difficult to read using a scanner. Images and graphics are also a challenge.

So there you have it; this is how I deal with printed materials. For those of you who are searching for a way to have your printed materials read to you, or if you know of someone who is having difficulty getting their printed materials read to them, I have a url for you to visit: check out www.readthistome.org.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your accessibility and special-needs business consultant, wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and help blind persons to become more independent at being able to read their own printed materials.