AssistiveWare Publishing Newsletter for Mac OS X Users with Disabilities

AssistiveWare published the AssistiveWare Newsletter: A newsletter written, edited and designed by Mac OS X users who cannot use a keyboard and/or mouse. Learning InDesign in 2 weeks, Joe Barnick, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), edited and designed the newsletter, collaborating with talented individuals from around the world.

"With this newsletter we want to explore the frontiers of assistive technology, provide a platform to share experiences, and also to inspire people of all abilities to use the opportunities offered by Mac OS X to the fullest," said David Niemeijer, AssistiveWare's CTO. "Assistive technology can be so much more than a closed-box solution for a specific task. There is a whole world of possibilities out there and no reason why, say a switch user, should not use Apple's iChat or edit videos with iMovie just like 'the rest of us'."

In the first issue, Bill Lee shares his experience as a Technology Director working with a student in need of a fresh approach to AT. Video editing takes center stage as Jean-Marc Pepin talks about his exciting hobby. Excellent games for new switch users are covered in "Let the Games Begin", the first installment of a permanent column by game guru, Mike Phillips. Walter Pfrommer gives an informative comparison of various head mice on the market. Finally, Joe Barnick chronicles the pivotal role the Macintosh has in his life, something that many disabled Mac users can relate to.

The AssistiveWare Newsletter is a free download from this Web page. [Bill Fox]