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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Speaking as someone with a degree in architecture who used to teach AutoCad, who is also a graphic designer who teaches Adobe InDesign, and who is also a programmer:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I don’t think it’s possible for someone who is blind to fully be able to use a program like AutoCad (same goes for graphic design software, such as Adobe InDesign). The problem is not just JAWS and Autocad. It’s the nature of the products being designed. These programs are used to create products that are dependent upon how their components come together, intersect, and work with each other and right now, that is all visual information that can’t be interpreted by any software. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Maybe someday in the future that capability will be developed, somewhat similar to how driverless cars are now being developed and blind passengers will be able to operate them as well as sighted passengers. But for programs like AutoCad and InDesign, we’re not there yet in the software industry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>I always feel crappy when a blind or low-vision conference attendee is in my accessible InDesign sessions because I have to tell them that we don’t have software that’s accessible for them. Although people with other disabilities can learn to use this type of visual design software, we’re a long way off from having tools that blind people can use to “see” what they are designing. (Although I do encourage everyone to take my class because they’ll get a better understanding of the constraints we designers have when creating accessible documents and that in itself is invaluable.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I believe that this is one key reason why this type of design software is usually exempt (or partially exempt) from VPAT requirements.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>--Bevi Chagnon<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:#D9D9D9'>— — —<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>Bevi Chagnon </span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>| </span><a href="http://www.pubcom.com/"><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>www.<b>PubCom</b>.com</span></a><span style='font-size:9.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:4.0pt'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>Technologists, Consultants, Trainers, Designers, and Developers<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>for publishing & communication<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:4.0pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>| Acrobat PDF | Print | EPUBS | Sec. 508 Accessibility |<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:#D9D9D9'>— — —<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> athen-list [<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman13.u.washington.edu">mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman13.u.washington.edu</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Despins, Nicole<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 15, 2017 1:28 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [Athen] AutoCad & Visually Impaired Student<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Does anyone have any experience working with a blind student using AutoCad? I am working with a blind student who is taking an Intro to Engineering class and having a lot of trouble with AutoCad accessibility. On AutoCad’s VPAT it states that the software provides information to the user via the Microsoft Active Accessibility application. The best information that I could find was that the Microsoft Active Accessibility is now the built in Ease of Access Center. AutoCad doesn’t work with JAWS and the narrator in the Ease of Access Center doesn’t make it very accessible either. Anyone have any experience working with a blind or visually impaired student using AutoCad?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nicole Despins<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Assistive Technology Specialist/Math Liaison<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Diablo Valley College<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>925-969-2186<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>