BMMA - Blind Musicians Mac Access
About the service
Introducing a new service dedicated to help the visually impaired to use their Mac computers, iPhones and iPads. This is all achieved without leaving the comfort of your home.
My work with visually impaired clients has convinced me that a service such as this is necessary, and will be a great help for anyone who currently or would like to learn how to use their Mac device or computer using the screen reader VoiceOver. In my experience, and that of my clients, there are no appropriately trained advisors in the various Apple stores who can help users with this system.
One of the main misunderstandings about such a screen reader program is that it is not based on voice recognition, like 'Siri' is on the iPhone and iPad. The interface is tactile; you access the screen through your hands by using the keyboard, the track pad or the screen.
The service aims are two-fold:
provide training in using VoiceOver
help personalizing the use of VoiceOve
My work with visually impaired clients has convinced me that a service such as this is necessary, and will be a great help for anyone who currently or would like to learn how to use their Mac device or computer using the screen reader VoiceOver. In my experience, and that of my clients, there are no appropriately trained advisors in the various Apple stores who can help users with this system.
One of the main misunderstandings about such a screen reader program is that it is not based on voice recognition, like 'Siri' is on the iPhone and iPad. The interface is tactile; you access the screen through your hands by using the keyboard, the track pad or the screen.
The service aims are two-fold:
provide training in using VoiceOver
help personalizing the use of VoiceOve
TrainingBy using a “remote desktop” program, I will access your computer and be able to monitor your moves with VoiceOver and guide you in a gradual way, with simple exercises that will make you more familiar with the system.
Communicating through the connection of a regular phone line or through audio FaceTime, I will be able to give you instruction and answer any questions. |
PersonalizingVoice Over is a sophisticated app, so it can be customized to your personal needs in many different ways. After consulting with you, I will adjust the settings to enhance your use of the app.
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Sighted HelpFurthermore, although VoiceOver gives you access to most of the areas of your screen, there are a few option/buttons that are difficult to find or are simply not accessible. I will set these for you; this would be call visual or sighted help.
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The applications covered:
It is essential to be familiar with the Finder, as it gives you a basic understanding of how most, if not all applications are structured. It will help you navigate all the dialogue boxes and alerts that will always pop up in the interaction you have with the application.
Also fully accessible, this app is a bit more tricky to use, since webpages are not always designed with the visually impaired in mind. Voice Over has devised a series of tools, such as the Rotor and Web Spots that greatly help the navigating of pages in the browser. I will go through these options and we will devise the best way to use these for your specific needs.
ProTools was the first app to become compatible with VoiceOver therefore is the most accessible. These two music applications are fully accessible and composing, arranging, mixing and editing music are all at your fingertips. Of course, there is a learning curve, but with in-depth knowledge of the software and good keyboard skills, you can be competitive with anyone in the music technology business.
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We all need to stay connected, and the Mail app is fully accessible. You will learn how to read, compose, manage messages, and make the most of the organizing features.
TextEdit, Numbers: theses text-based applications are fully accessible, and VoiceOver has a wide array of tools to navigate and create text documents
Logic X and its consumer version GaraBand came later to compatibility, but is catching fast. These two music applications are fully accessible and composing, arranging, mixing and editing music are all at your fingertips. Of course, there is a learning curve, but with in-depth knowledge of the software and good keyboard skills, you can be competitive with anyone in the music technology business.
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Other Applications
These are some of the applications which, as you become more skillful using VoiceOver, you will be able to explore and become familiar with on all of your computer or devices, all on your own. This is one of the aims this service is geared toward: being there when you need it, with the visually impaired user becoming completely independent.
Cost
***For a limited time the first hour will be Free!*** This will set you up to use the Remote Desktop App and assess your needs.
There are a couple of ways you can use this service:
By time: there is an introductory rate of $45 per hour for the first four hours you use the service. This would mostly be used for training if the user is new to the app.
Per issue: this would be billed at $15 per 20 minute increments. This would be the way you would use the service for personalizing and with help for difficult or inaccessible features.
There is no charge for the initial setting up of the remote access and phone/face time.
There are a couple of ways you can use this service:
By time: there is an introductory rate of $45 per hour for the first four hours you use the service. This would mostly be used for training if the user is new to the app.
Per issue: this would be billed at $15 per 20 minute increments. This would be the way you would use the service for personalizing and with help for difficult or inaccessible features.
There is no charge for the initial setting up of the remote access and phone/face time.
Testimonials
I have been a designer and composer for the past 40+ years, and a hard core Mac user for most of that time. After a profound loss of vision, I was suddenly out of commission. I was fortunate enough to have found Marc Wagnon at the Lighthouse Guild Music School in New York City.
Marc is extremely knowledgeable, not only with Logic Pro X, but also with the accessibility features of the Mac. With his help, I got up and running after only a few lessons. He has been an unbelievable help to me. We have worked together in person and also through screen sharing. He’s generous with his time, and is incredibly understanding and patient. Without Marc’s help, I would be at a stand still. He’s given me the skills and confidence to overcome the limitations of my blindness.
I have found Marc’s expertise and in-depth knowledge of the Mac to be exceptional.
Ken Andruk | Composer
Marc is the perfect instructor because he knows VoiceOver as well as he knows the Mac. He taught me how to use ProTools with VoiceOver, and continues to be a great help as I advance. It's wonderful to be just a phone call away for small problems and accessibility issues as they come up, and equally great to be able to set up longer sessions in the privacy of my own home and on my own system. Basically, he's awesome!
Dr. M. Leona Godin
Writer, performer, doctor of philosophy
I am a professional percussionist from Brazil, and have been blind since my mid-twenties. I was never familiar with using a computer until moving to New York. I started taking lessons with Marc Wagnon about ten years ago. It has changed my relationship with computers, and has made me choose to use Mac computers for all of my personal and professional needs. I became more and more familiar with VoiceOver on the Mac, and now use regularly Mail, TextEdit, Safari, and most importantly, I am able to compose music using ProTools.
Marc is a thorough and patient teacher and very knowledgeable about VoiceOver and its application to the different apps. I learned everything I know about the Mac from Marc, and now that he offers his remote service through screen sharing, I will surely learn more.
Vanderlei Pereira
Musician - composer
I have been a designer and composer for the past 40+ years, and a hard core Mac user for most of that time. After a profound loss of vision, I was suddenly out of commission. I was fortunate enough to have found Marc Wagnon at the Lighthouse Guild Music School in New York City.
Marc is extremely knowledgeable, not only with Logic Pro X, but also with the accessibility features of the Mac. With his help, I got up and running after only a few lessons. He has been an unbelievable help to me. We have worked together in person and also through screen sharing. He’s generous with his time, and is incredibly understanding and patient. Without Marc’s help, I would be at a stand still. He’s given me the skills and confidence to overcome the limitations of my blindness.
I have found Marc’s expertise and in-depth knowledge of the Mac to be exceptional.
Ken Andruk | Composer
Marc is the perfect instructor because he knows VoiceOver as well as he knows the Mac. He taught me how to use ProTools with VoiceOver, and continues to be a great help as I advance. It's wonderful to be just a phone call away for small problems and accessibility issues as they come up, and equally great to be able to set up longer sessions in the privacy of my own home and on my own system. Basically, he's awesome!
Dr. M. Leona Godin
Writer, performer, doctor of philosophy
I am a professional percussionist from Brazil, and have been blind since my mid-twenties. I was never familiar with using a computer until moving to New York. I started taking lessons with Marc Wagnon about ten years ago. It has changed my relationship with computers, and has made me choose to use Mac computers for all of my personal and professional needs. I became more and more familiar with VoiceOver on the Mac, and now use regularly Mail, TextEdit, Safari, and most importantly, I am able to compose music using ProTools.
Marc is a thorough and patient teacher and very knowledgeable about VoiceOver and its application to the different apps. I learned everything I know about the Mac from Marc, and now that he offers his remote service through screen sharing, I will surely learn more.
Vanderlei Pereira
Musician - composer