Hello,
This is me again.
Today, I was at a meating with the people at the Israeli ministry of education that deal with accessible technologies for the blind and low vision students.
The meating was organized in order to tel us all, I mean the experts in this field, that they are stopping until furthered notice to subsidize and give computers with screen readers on them for us, the students for free like it was until now.
Why do they do that? Because JAWS for Windows, which is the best Hebrew localized screen reader for Windows, the Hebrew version causts 4000$ usd! Even more than in the US! And let's not mension upgrades…
That means that we will have to pearchase these by ourselves, because there are no other good alternatives for us.
And, they want to stop the monopoly of the accessibility product dealers here. They think that they must do only training, and I totally agree on this! And then, they have asked me what to do because they still want people to access tech but not in this expensive way.
I told them that I am now trying to be in contact with Apple in order to add the Hebrew TTS into both iOS and OS X and in order to develop and promote Mac and iOS sails in the accessibility market in Israel.
I told them that right now Apple totally ignores me. The Israeli dealer can not help that much because they are very limited.
I don't think that Apple realizes, I don't want to say mine, but the potential of their products here. I am apsalutly sure, and I will commit to that, that the Mac sails are going to dubble!
The ministry of education don't believe me that there is a free and good screen reader on the Mac. Right now, I thought that this wekk I'll pearchase a MacBookPro but my parents still have not found the money to do that for me.
I want to develop, promote Apple, learn xCode, train people, and make Apple and it's Israeli distributer to sell more here! Because I believe in the technology.
Can someone help me get a Mac? And even more than that, can someone help me to push Apple? I even would not be able to test the Hebrew TTS if it will be added because I don't have a Mac! My parents are not really reach people… And the ministry of education people told me that in the day that I'll come to them, and let them know that the monopoly is ended, they will buy Macs! And I will help both them, iCon Group (the Israeli distributer) and other AT companies to train on Macs and iOS!
This is my dream! Accessibility, anyware, for free, and with Apple!
Can someone wreally help me with these two things? A computer, and to reach Apple to add TTS that they have already? If I will have a Mac, I can maybe even make a company to pearchase the Nuance SDK for Mac and develop Carmit as a standalone voice, that will be very cheaply priced.
I am really ready to fight, and to change the access world in Israel, but I need these 2 things. How can I acheve them? My parents are still trying to look for money to get me a Mac… Apple! Please realize my potential helping you! And our community's potential on your sails!
I will be happy for any help I'll get.
Thanks,
Adi.