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today I taught a young student in a college, who has until now, had a sighted helper do everything for them in Logic. this is not out of laziness, it's out of not knowing how to use MacOS, VoiceOver and Logic without sighted assistance.
This was their fourth lesson and just being able to see their progression is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.
The helper was in the room and looking/listening to what I was showing the student, but not participating. Showing people that so many things can be done without a mouse and purely with a keyboard is eye-opening for them (no pun intended) and I always really enjoy getting to show the world that although we're blind, we are in fact, capable.
At the end of the lesson I said to the student that 'This is the road to you being not just a back-seat driver, but one who drives the car where it needs to go. Only you can fully realise your ideas, telling others how you want your music played is never the same thing.'
I hope it works.
@FreakyFwoof Excellent. Here's a similar story.
Where my partner grew up, there isn't exactly an abundance of money, education for disabled people, positive attitudes about it, and so on. She had a student who had gone blind very late in life, and all their family could afford was a cheap Chromebook.
Now: You and I know that ChromeVox is an objectively bad screen reader in many ways, and would struggle to use ChromeOS as a daily driver. Nevertheless, within a very short period of time, he was keeping up with the news, streaming music, and listening to audiobooks. The joy when he would turn up for a lesson and say something like, "I want to show you this piece of music or video I found," rather than "I couldn't do X this week," was quite infectious.
He's now consistently scaring the crap out of all the ableist folks in the town by refusing to stay at home, walking everywhere, and generally not giving a fuck.
Not sure if this counts as #NoonScrolling given that I wrote it, but it is only 4 PM.
@jscholes @FreakyFwoof It's 0:04 over here so at least for me it definitely does.
@jscholes It does, and I would have added my thing to it but I didn't have the time. I love this.
@FreakyFwoof I completely negated it with my depressing next post, but glad you enjoyed this one.
@FreakyFwoof It is absolutely baffling and sad that people get all the way to college and nobody thinks to try and figure out how they use computers. My mother managed it. So many things could just be solved by sighted people moving away from "You can't possibly do this," and toward "Is this possible?" But all the same, I'm glad you are that person and especially glad the helper is receptive and knows when to sit in the back seat and be quiet.
@simon @FreakyFwoof I've been exposed to computer use off and on throughout my life, but I've never learned the vastness of what computers can do, and how helpful they can be to you. When I had a computer, someone was always there to do things for me. They felt it was easier to just do it for me, instead of showing me how to do it myself. I couldn't do basic things like update my computer, or set up games. I didn't really even know how to use google. When I got down here to Illinois, I was talking to @pooch754 about all the things I don't know how to do with computers. I've been here for a little over a year, and thanks to his unending patients, and for the people here on mastodon, there's a whole new world opened up to me. I thought I couldn't learn this technological way of thinking, but now I feel like I'm thriving, and am always wanting to learn more.
@RaineyDay @simon @FreakyFwoof You've got this. Al it takes is time and a wilingness to learn, and a teacher who isn't afraid of thinking outside the box.
@pooch754 @RaineyDay @simon Yes, can agree with this. I've taught absolute beginners and also advanced people who knew a lot already, everyone's different and everyone can learn if they want to. You do, thus you will.
@FreakyFwoof @pooch754 @simon I'm super excited to keep using my skills, and learn new ones.
@FreakyFwoof I enjoy training others on access tech. To see them go from thinking they can't do something to actively doing and enjoying it is very gratifying.
@FreakyFwoof That is so empowering!
@FreakyFwoof Glad you are teaching others! :)
@FreakyFwoof well done there pal