?

I have hoped this might happen for some time.? I have been a member of the two other major JAWS groups for years, and both have unfortunately trended toward "general tech discussion," and there exist more of that type of group than I care to count.

Having a place that actually keeps a tight JAWS focus is a boon to beginners and experts alike!
--

Brian??·?♂??·??????-?Virginia, USA?-?Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631;?M365 Family;?Android 13 (MIUI 14)

I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, even if it leaves much undetermined and unpredictable, to a pretense of exact knowledge that is likely to be false.

?? ~ ?F.A. Hayek

I have hoped this might happen for some time.? I have been a member of the two other major JAWS groups for years, and both have unfortunately trended toward "general tech discussion," and there exist more of that type of group than I care to count.
Having a place that actually keeps a tight JAWS focus is a boon to beginners and experts alike!
--
Brian·♂?·???? - Virginia, USA- Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631; M365 Family; Android 13 (MIUI 14)
/I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, even if it leaves much undetermined and unpredictable, to a pretense of exact knowledge that is likely to be false./
~?F.A. Hayek

Gene,
Not that it is the slightest bit of your business, but I have recently had several referrals for JAWS users who need tutoring.? When you're in the business I am in, which is AT tutoring, you try to keep on top of developments in any of the screen readers you're already familiar with. I don't say this to mimic the moderator's note, either, it's just what one has to do.
I'm also fully sighted, but I don't presume that should make my presence on screen-reader-related groups unwelcome, as we're on those specifically to discuss those technologies, regardless of our visual status.
I also just got my first ZoomText referral in about 6 years or so.? You take 'em as they come, as there are not tons of people out there who can or do screen reader tutoring one on one.? And you "brush up" as needed when one lands in your lap.
--
Brian·♂?·???? - Virginia, USA- Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631; M365 Family; Android 13 (MIUI 14)
/I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, even if it leaves much undetermined and unpredictable, to a pretense of exact knowledge that is likely to be false./
~?F.A. Hayek

Gene,

Not that it is the slightest bit of your business, but I have recently had several referrals for JAWS users who need tutoring.? When you're in the business I am in, which is AT tutoring, you try to keep on top of developments in any of the screen readers you're already familiar with.? I don't say this to mimic the moderator's note, either, it's just what one has to do.

I'm also fully sighted, but I don't presume that should make my presence on screen-reader-related groups unwelcome, as we're on those specifically to discuss those technologies, regardless of our visual status.

I also just got my first ZoomText referral in about 6 years or so.? You take 'em as they come, as there are not tons of people out there who can or do screen reader tutoring one on one.? And you "brush up" as needed when one lands in your lap.
--

Brian · ???? · ?????? - Virginia, USA - Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631; M365 Family; Android 13 (MIUI 14)

I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, even if it leaves much undetermined and unpredictable, to a pretense of exact knowledge that is likely to be false.

~ F.A. Hayek

Gene,
By the way, another reason I haunt this group, and most of the ones about using screen readers on the PC, Android, and iPhone platforms is that I recognize that there is no one more expert in these technologies than those who must use them on their "daily drivers."? I really, really value what I have learned, and how generously that knowledge has been offered, over the years.
And one of the reasons I choose {insert specific program/app here} focused groups over general purpose ones is because of that focus.? They distill things down to "their essence" for what's being discussed.? One of the reasons I'm as strict as I am on the NVDA group about topic focus is not only because it keeps out the clutter, but I think it's critically important for users, and particularly screen reader users, to understand "who controls what."? There are Windows questions, there are screen reader questions, and there are questions about the application programs the screen reader is being used to access.? Knowing that, and thinking about what it is you're about to ask, and which broad category it involves, often gets you more than halfway to a solution.? You know where you need to focus your attention.? Newbies get a lot of hand holding, old-timers do not, and newbies can be given more latitude in straying a bit, but should also be made aware that they are straying and how they've strayed.? It allows them to develop troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.? These groups are not, in my opinion, meant to be personal Q&A venues for information that can be easily obtained either by a group archive search, looking at documentation, or doing a web search.? When someone asks something like, "What is the say all command?," or "How do I make text italic?," or similar (depending on group) I will answer the question, but also include the direct statement that this could have been looked up far more quickly by referring to {insert appropriate documentation here} or by doing a web search. Knowing how to do web searches effectively is a basic skill that everyone should develop, and is the key to the information kingdom of cyberspace.? And now that will branch in to using AI searches like CoPilot under Windows to ask "quick and dirty" questions.
I've learned a ton of tips and tricks for obscure and complicated issues from these focused groups and I've learned enough over time that I can now offer many of them back when "the next cycle" comes up on a particular problem area.
--
Brian·♂?·???? - Virginia, USA- Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build 22631; M365 Family; Android 13 (MIUI 14)
/I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, even if it leaves much undetermined and unpredictable, to a pretense of exact knowledge that is likely to be false./
~?F.A. Hayek

Gene,

By the way, another reason I haunt this group, and most of the ones
about using screen readers on the PC, Android, and iPhone platforms is
that I recognize that there is no one more expert in these
technologies than those who must use them on their "daily drivers." I
really, really value what I have learned, and how generously that
knowledge has been offered, over the years.

And one of the reasons I choose {insert specific program/app here}
focused groups over general purpose ones is because of that focus.
They distill things down to "their essence" for what's being
discussed. One of the reasons I'm as strict as I am on the NVDA group
about topic focus is not only because it keeps out the clutter, but I
think it's critically important for users, and particularly screen
reader users, to understand "who controls what." There are Windows
questions, there are screen reader questions, and there are questions
about the application programs the screen reader is being used to
access. Knowing that, and thinking about what it is you're about to
ask, and which broad category it involves, often gets you more than
halfway to a solution. You know where you need to focus your
attention. Newbies get a lot of hand holding, old-timers do not, and
newbies can be given more latitude in straying a bit, but should also
be made aware that they are straying and how they've strayed. It
allows them to develop troubleshooting and diagnostic skills. These
groups are not, in my opinion, meant to be personal Q&A venues for
information that can be easily obtained either by a group archive
search, looking at documentation, or doing a web search. When someone
asks something like, "What is the say all command?," or "How do I make
text italic?," or similar (depending on
group) I will answer the question, but also include the direct
statement that this could have been looked up far more quickly by
referring to {insert appropriate documentation here} or by doing a web search.
Knowing how to do web searches effectively is a basic skill that
everyone should develop, and is the key to the information kingdom of
cyberspace. And now that will branch in to using AI searches like
CoPilot under Windows to ask "quick and dirty" questions.

I've learned a ton of tips and tricks for obscure and complicated
issues from these focused groups and I've learned enough over time
that I can now offer many of them back when "the next cycle" comes up
on a particular problem area.
--

Brian·♂?·???? - Virginia, USA- Windows 11 Pro, Version 23H2, Build
22631; M365 Family; Android 13 (MIUI 14)

/I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, even if it leaves much
undetermined and unpredictable, to a pretense of exact knowledge that
is likely to be false./

~ F.A. Hayek