Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Mindmap software for Blind users? (self.Blind)
submitted by shazzm
Hi all
I am a sighted IT Trainer. I am attempting to teach one of our legally blind staff (let's call him Jim) how to use Microsoft Teams and OneDrive. Jim is having trouble conceptually remembering how the products are laid out in order to apply the JAWS commands to move through the levels of each product.
Jim said that if i create a mindmap inside a table using text it might help him but, i can't quite put my fingers on the best way to do it. But, I thought: What if i get a visual mind mapping application and map it the way i understand it. Then, convert the visual diagram to text?
So, I am looking for a sighted mindmap tool that may be able to:
a) be read by JAWS
b) create the nodes as heading text that can be exported to word in a heirarchical structure?
I hope that makes sense. Does anybody know of anything like this?
Cheers
I am a sighted IT Trainer. I am attempting to teach one of our legally blind staff (let's call him Jim) how to use Microsoft Teams and OneDrive. Jim is having trouble conceptually remembering how the products are laid out in order to apply the JAWS commands to move through the levels of each product.
Jim said that if i create a mindmap inside a table using text it might help him but, i can't quite put my fingers on the best way to do it. But, I thought: What if i get a visual mind mapping application and map it the way i understand it. Then, convert the visual diagram to text?
So, I am looking for a sighted mindmap tool that may be able to:
a) be read by JAWS
b) create the nodes as heading text that can be exported to word in a heirarchical structure?
I hope that makes sense. Does anybody know of anything like this?
Cheers
Littlegreensurly 2 points 2y ago
I work a lot with screen readers as a content designer and educator and also have a lot of practice using them as a sighted person who has a high chance of losing my sight.
I like to think of tools and apps as binders with tabs when I'm using a screen reader, and I ignore their visual user interface entirely since it's not relevant to blind folks until I get to contrast and size of text design for folks with varying levels of sight. To make sure I'm understanding your question, you're essentially creating a table of contents that lists those binder tabs for Jim, right?
Would it be simpler for you to just start with an outline in word? If you use formatting and style options in word to organize your outline with proper header styles and indents you'll be able to see visually what's going on and Jim will be able to read it with JAWS and browse or search for where certain buttons or functions are located in the structure if he can't find them in the app or program itself. Control F find works a lot better in word than microsoft teams, let me tell ya.
A mindmap based on what the tool looks like probably won't be very helpful for either of you, as the structure that Jim reads and navigates with JAWS isn't what you see. Something that is arranged visually as a top-level button might not be tagged as a top-level button in the structure JAWS reads. But in IT you're likely to know this, I'm just talking out loud.
It'll be easier and make your final product more useful for both you and Jim if you start with what JAWS reads and know what structure and levels Jim has to navigate through and recreate that in word, rather than trying to apply visual logic to it with a mindmap and then converting it to word.
I like to think of tools and apps as binders with tabs when I'm using a screen reader, and I ignore their visual user interface entirely since it's not relevant to blind folks until I get to contrast and size of text design for folks with varying levels of sight. To make sure I'm understanding your question, you're essentially creating a table of contents that lists those binder tabs for Jim, right?
Would it be simpler for you to just start with an outline in word? If you use formatting and style options in word to organize your outline with proper header styles and indents you'll be able to see visually what's going on and Jim will be able to read it with JAWS and browse or search for where certain buttons or functions are located in the structure if he can't find them in the app or program itself. Control F find works a lot better in word than microsoft teams, let me tell ya.
A mindmap based on what the tool looks like probably won't be very helpful for either of you, as the structure that Jim reads and navigates with JAWS isn't what you see. Something that is arranged visually as a top-level button might not be tagged as a top-level button in the structure JAWS reads. But in IT you're likely to know this, I'm just talking out loud.
It'll be easier and make your final product more useful for both you and Jim if you start with what JAWS reads and know what structure and levels Jim has to navigate through and recreate that in word, rather than trying to apply visual logic to it with a mindmap and then converting it to word.
shazzm [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Great! Thanks. I created it in Word with headings and numbering and Jim says it is Magic. The structure allows him to conceptualise what he wants to achieve with where the functions are. Cheers :) Big help!
Littlegreensurly 1 points 2y ago
To clarify, you would need to install JAWS and do a quick tutorial if you don't already know it.
Jess_dillon 1 points 2y ago
Here's a great webinar video on using Teams with a screen reader. $1
BlueZone123 1 points 2y ago
https://youtu.be/hp715YDPtxs
BlueZone123 1 points 2y ago
This link even provides the Microsoft accessibility hotline: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-a-screen-reader-to-explore-and-navigate-microsoft-teams-47614fb0-a583-49f6-84da-6872223e74a0
BlueZone123 1 points 2y ago
The issue is not that he can't visualize the platforms. Jim needs to use his screen reader to navigate in the platform to find opptions.
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