ROSALES—Eighteen-year old Crisanta Marcelino from Barangay Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City, a visually-impaired person (VIP), has been using a special software that allows a computer to read out content thus allowing the blind to listen to what they could not see.

“All that can be done by a sighted person in a computer can also be done by people like me using such software except maybe in editing pictures or graphics,” Marcelino said, adding that it has been particularly useful for research work related to her studies.

The computer software could soon be adapted for wider use after SM City Rosales took it up for use and possible incorporation into the corporation’s special program for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

SM City Rosales Manager Jersey Mendoza, during the initial information dissemination program held December 7, said while they already have an existing program for PWDs, this was the first time the activity was undertaken for the VIPs in an SM mall.

Mendoza said they will propose that the project be integrated in their programs for PWDs and possibly, a slot in Internet cafés in their malls could be allotted for this purpose or in their Global Pinoy section where desk tops are provided for one hour free internet use of their clients.

Mendoza learned about the software through Jennifer Garcia, a computer instructor VIP working in Area Vocational and Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Dagupan City.

Garcia said this screen reader software, called Job Access with Speech (Jaws) “allows the computer to talk”.

All texts in the computer that are seen by a sighted would be translated into speech, she said.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind experience for those not (yet) knowledgeable about it,” he said.–Eva Visperas

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments