[Athen] Problems Using Kurzweil Read the Web with Canvas

[Gaeir Dietrich]

Screen readers (like JAWS, Window-Eyes, NVDA, etc.) read the entire screen,
announce icons, verbalize menus, and read text-based documents. 

 

Kurzweil, on the other hand, is actually a document reader, rather than a
screen reader. Document readers only read documents (not the entire screen)
and include programs like Kurzweil, WYNN, R&W Gold, ClaroRead, etc.
Kurzweil, in particular, reads text best within its own window and on the
Web only to a limited extent. 

 

The VPAT was referring to actual screen readers, not to all reading
software. A program working with a screen reader does not guarantee that it
will work with other assistive technology.  

 

If you can copy and paste the text into a Kurzweil document, the student
should be able to read it that way-or if you can print the test to PDF and
then bring the PDF into Kurzweil through the KESI Virtual Printer, you may
be able to read it.

 

You can also try downloading a demo copy of Read&Write Gold. R&W provides a
toolbar that "floats" over other programs and can be a bit more flexible
than Kurzweil in reading on the Web.

 

Good luck!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich
High Tech Center Training Unit of the
California Community Colleges
De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
 <http://www.htctu.net/> www.htctu.net 
408-996-6043

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  _____  

From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Larry
Kiser
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2013 8:11 AM
To: athen-list at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Athen] Problems Using Kurzweil Read the Web with Canvas

 

Dear Colleagues:

 

Last week a student attempted to use the Kurzweil Read the Web feature
during an exam delivered through Canvas.  In this instance and during a
follow-up diagnostic session with the student opening a practice quiz,
Kurzweil Read the Web read information on the screen randomly and announced
other information not readily viewable.  During the exam the student was
able to use a Kurzweil taskbar feature, but this was slow because it
required the student to highlight questions with the pointer and drag it to
the taskbar.  I reviewed the VPAT for Canvas, which indicated it was
compatible with screen readers.  I emailed Kurzweil and received the
following response.

 

Kurzweil Response

Kurzweil 3000 and the Read the Web functionality provides limited
recognition outside of the program itself. The current read the web add on,
kesireader.xpi, can only recognized plain text/basic html websites. It is
not uncommon that websites that are generated in use or that contain windows
within windows to have issues recognizing text.  I would recommend that you
update your current version of the Kurzweil 3000 software, update the
kesireader.xpi and test the reader on plain text/basic html websites, should
the problem continue within these websites, we may be able to determine what
the cause is. For more complicated websites, such as script bases
information or test taking websites, I'd recommend that you print them to
Kurzweil 3000 using the KESI Virtual Printer. In the case of a Macintosh,
print the site to PDF and then open that in Kurzweil 3000. This alternative
can provide the student access to the materials for reading, however, they
may need to go back to the website to introduce their answers.

 

 

We are already using the most recent version of K3000.  It is not feasible
to print the exam using the Kesi Virtual Printer as suggested.  Any thoughts
would be helpful.

 

Larry Kiser

Counseling Specialist

Disabilities Resource Center, S-233

Santa Fe College

Gainesville, FL 32606

Phone: 352-395-4429

Fax: 352-395-4100

 

  _____  

Please note that Florida has a broad public records law, and that all
correspondence to or from College employees via email may be subject to
disclosure. 

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