Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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starting master's degree in English and Creative writing; Need some tips (self.Blind)
submitted by ParakeetYeeet
Hi everyone, hope you are all well. I'm a 29 year old guy with severe macular degeneration who is starting my master's degree in English and Creative writing in a few weeks.
I am struggling to generate ideas as to how I can best take notes, namely during fictional books. I've considered audio notes or just Microsoft word but I didn't know if there was a better option.
I am struggling to generate ideas as to how I can best take notes, namely during fictional books. I've considered audio notes or just Microsoft word but I didn't know if there was a better option.
Rethunker 1 points 11m ago
A few thoughts:
1. Keep practicing your Braille! Even if you have to stick to Grade 1, do that. A used Perkins Brailler may be inexpensive; I just would recommend moving it around much.
2. If you have an iPhone, try using the Braille typing. I believe there’s a feature or app for a Braille on Android as well.
3. Use the audio recorder app on your phone.
4. Learn some memorization techniques. Even for fully sighted writers this is a good idea. At some point you may have more ideas that you can write down quickly enough. Being able to “pin” ideas to key words will help you remember the ideas until you can record them.
5. Consider planning your creative idea sessions when you’re at home. That way you could use a better quality microphone for audio recording.
6. Try a Tap Strap for one-handed typing: the alphabet you have to learn is weird, but using the Tap Strap could allow you to type one-handed while your phone, tablet, laptop, or other device sits.
1. Keep practicing your Braille! Even if you have to stick to Grade 1, do that. A used Perkins Brailler may be inexpensive; I just would recommend moving it around much.
2. If you have an iPhone, try using the Braille typing. I believe there’s a feature or app for a Braille on Android as well.
3. Use the audio recorder app on your phone.
4. Learn some memorization techniques. Even for fully sighted writers this is a good idea. At some point you may have more ideas that you can write down quickly enough. Being able to “pin” ideas to key words will help you remember the ideas until you can record them.
5. Consider planning your creative idea sessions when you’re at home. That way you could use a better quality microphone for audio recording.
6. Try a Tap Strap for one-handed typing: the alphabet you have to learn is weird, but using the Tap Strap could allow you to type one-handed while your phone, tablet, laptop, or other device sits.
ukifrit 1 points 11m ago
I'd use voice dream reader or Bookworm to anotate PDFs and other digital files. That's what I do as an undergraduate actually.
ParakeetYeeet [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Interesting. I'll have to check that stuff out thank you!
ukifrit 1 points 11m ago
Voice dream reader is called Leger reader on android I think. Bookworm is a windows program.
ParakeetYeeet [OP] 2 points 11m ago
Oh awesome! Thank you so much
SiriuslyGranger 1 points 11m ago
Most ebooks type thing will allow you to make notes.
ParakeetYeeet [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Oh really? I'll have to explore audible more
Thank you.
Thank you.
SiriuslyGranger 1 points 11m ago
Not audible but was more thinking of ibooks and kindle and others.
ParakeetYeeet [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Oh okay. Wait. How can I listen to k kindle books? It doesn't seem to work well with talkback
SiriuslyGranger 1 points 11m ago
Not to sure I think it should work.
Gavin_Runeblade 1 points 11m ago
Victor Reader Stream. Best for notes I know of.
https://store.humanware.com/hus/victor-reader-stream-2.html
You can not only insert notes and bookmarks, you can play them back when listening to the text or not, or just listen to your highlighted sections, etc.
https://store.humanware.com/hus/victor-reader-stream-2.html
You can not only insert notes and bookmarks, you can play them back when listening to the text or not, or just listen to your highlighted sections, etc.
AnElusiveDreamer 1 points 11m ago
Voice Dream Reader is really helpful. I use it all the time, and I’m almost done with my masters degree in English literature.
ukifrit 1 points 11m ago
How do you deal with it's organizing solution? I find it the most non intuitive thing ever, as a mostly Windows user.
ParakeetYeeet [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Oh wow, that's awesome. I'll look into it. Any tips going into the program?
manilaborn 1 points 11m ago
I used to use an app called Notability on iOS that would link my typed notes to an audio recording so that when I tapped on the note it would play that portion of the audio connected to the lecture, meeting or text to speech
ParakeetYeeet [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Hmm I'm on Android but I'll try to find something similar. Thanks!
DannyMTZ956 1 points 11m ago
What technology do you have? Do you know Braille? Can you read large print? Are you using only audio?
ParakeetYeeet [OP] 2 points 11m ago
I can read very large print, but I listen to audio only for most things. I have jaws and zoomtext but I mostly use jaws. I know very little braille as I'm recently blind.
retrolental_morose 1 points 11m ago
Adobe Digital editions and Kindle on windows both allow you to make notes and highlights within your books.
I'd also recommendmaking good use of any structured notetakeing software, of course. :)
I'd also recommendmaking good use of any structured notetakeing software, of course. :)
ukifrit 1 points 11m ago
Adobe Digital Edition had a weird bug which prevented me to anotate or even highlight text on it's latest version. Has it changed? Or is there any solution to this?
retrolental_morose 2 points 11m ago
Sorry, I haven't used it since uni. :(
thatblindgirl 1 points 11m ago
I would typically hand write using a fake black marker or tape my notes along with adding bookmarks to my book share books so I could refer back to the text. Congratulations and good luck with your program!
CosmicBunny97 1 points 11m ago
One way I can think of doing it is using Kindle for PC. You can select the text to highlight it and add notes from there, as well as refer back to them.
ukifrit 1 points 11m ago
I don't find kindle to be the most intuitive solution. It's worth trying for OP though.
CosmicBunny97 1 points 11m ago
I agree, it can be a little clunky, but I find it the best solution for taking notes if you're a screen reader user compared to constantly pausing an audiobook (so far).
ukifrit 1 points 11m ago
Have you tried Bookworm? I find it to be the best activelly developed book reader for windows. Taking notes and highlighting is super easy, and you can export the whole stuff afterwards. It has it's bugs and weirdnesses, but it is still on Alpha so it's fine. I haven't faced any crashes or data losses while using it, so I don't mind an issue here or there.
ParakeetYeeet [OP] 1 points 11m ago
Thanks!! I have to use audiobooks unfortunately
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