Sam Heaton’s Journey with JAWS: A Dive into the World of Screen Readers

Hello everyone! My name is Sam Heaton, the Communications and Engagement Officer at Outlookers. In this blog post, I share the beginning of my journey with JAWS screen reader, detailing my transition from Apple’s VoiceOver and the new possibilities JAWS brings to my daily life.

Embracing Change: My Introduction to JAWS Screen Reader

As a visually impaired professional, navigating the digital world has always been an adventure. Over the years, I’ve relied heavily on Apple products, with VoiceOver on my iPad and iPhone becoming integral to my daily life. Recently, however, an Access to Work claim has opened a new chapter in my journey: using JAWS screen reader on a work laptop.

My first experience with screen readers began in 2014 when I started using VoiceOver on an iPad mini. Back then, I still had some usable vision but wanted to be proactive in learning how to navigate the world with limited sight. Fast forward to 2018, I purchased my first iPhone, and with its smaller screen, I transitioned to using VoiceOver exclusively. Since then, Apple products have been central to my life – from social media and email to travel planning and online banking, shopping, and assistive technology apps.

Despite my familiarity with VoiceOver, the prospect of using JAWS on a work laptop is both exciting and daunting. As I delve into the Freedom Scientific website, I am struck by the sheer number of keystrokes involved. Transitioning from the simplicity of dictation, swiping, and tapping to the complexity of JAWS is a challenge, especially for someone accustomed to Apple’s ecosystem.

As a 45-year-old blind woman, I’m no stranger to relying on memory to navigate life. Juggling blindness with full-time parenting, a busy work and volunteer schedule, and managing a family home has honed my mental mapping abilities. However, as I wonder if my memory has its limits. Nevertheless, I am determined to embrace this change and rise to the challenge of mastering JAWS.

My introduction to JAWS screen reader marks a new phase in my journey as a visually impaired professional. While there is undoubtedly a learning curve ahead, I am excited to explore this powerful tool and expand my digital accessibility skills. Ultimately, embracing change and stepping outside my Apple-centric comfort zone can only help me grow, both professionally and personally.

On Monday, September 8th, with the help of Matthew, an IT trainer, I completed my first formal lesson in learning to use JAWS screen reader. Similar to VoiceOver, JAWS provides audio assistance. As someone accustomed to VoiceOver, I typically have my screen reader on Apple products set to 100%, which may seem unfathomable to those with vision – to the untrained ear, it’s like listening to a high-speed foreign language. However, as I slowly get to grips with JAWS, I am still using the audio voice at a regular pace. I genuinely enjoyed my first lesson.

My main priorities for my learning journey are to be able to open, read, and reply to emails in my various work-related inboxes. I would also like to create basic Word documents. Eventually, I hope to access information within our organisation’s database. It’s definitely going to be an ongoing journey, but I’m excited about the possibilities.

So, what did I achieve during my first lesson? Well, I’m thrilled to say that I can now successfully send a basic email, reply to an email using JAWS, and navigate through my email inbox. Additionally, I can open my email from my laptop’s start menu. To be able to perform some basic tasks using the JAWS screen reader feels phenomenal.

As I continue on this learning journey, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to expand my digital accessibility skills and embrace new technologies. Though the transition may be challenging, I remain eager to explore the potential that JAWS holds for enhancing my professional life and the lives of other visually impaired individuals.

Stay tuned for more updates as I document my journey with JAWS, sharing my progress and experiences along the way. Together, let’s discover the potential that assistive technologies hold for an inclusive and accessible future.