OK, it’s not a catchy sentiment. But this Christmas, rather than sending cards, we’re sending a donation to NV Access – developers of the free NVDA screen reader. If you agree that this will bring more sparkle and cheer than anything we could stick a stamp on, please help us spread the word.
NVDA screen reader gives blind and partially sighted people access to the life-changing benefits of technology – regardless of language, location or financial situation – by being:
Watch this video, then share the joy with anyone who you think could use or support this amazing technology!
The founders of NV Access – who built the charitable company from the ground up – are themselves blind.
Over the past 12 years, NVDA has unlocked access to education, employment and information in general for more than 100,000 people.
Even where people can afford to pay for commercial products, more and more are choosing NVDA – proving that it is free on principle, not on merit.
NVDA makes it more likely that those who commission software and websites will set high accessibility standards, because it makes designing for screen reader use easier and more affordable.
Paul Hilton
Can Studios’ Technical Director
We use NVDA ourselves at Can Studios to help us design elearning and educational software that’s accessible to blind learners. Another reason we feel they deserve our support. (Read more about this work.)
In fact – NVDA makes it more likely that those who commission software and websites will set high accessibility standards, because it makes designing for screen reader use easier and more affordable.
There are computer labs all around school. Thanks to NVDA I can walk in with the rest of my classmates, sit down at any computer and start to use it as any of them would.
Jesus Reyes
Student, US
As developers ourselves, we’re only too aware that because software interacts with other software it either evolves or dies. Because NVDA works with third party programs (like all the populare web browsers and Microsoft Office) it must updated and move on with them.
Without the funds to keep NVDA updated, its users would eventually only be able to use tired, clunky, outdated versions of their favourite computer programs.
So we’ll be supporting NV Access in three ways this Christmas, and beyond:
We hope you’ll agree that a donation to NVDA, and raising awareness of their work, has more sparkle and cheer than any card we could have sent.
NVDA has transformed my life. Although I am still a high school student, I have been able to win Model United Nation conferences, achieve distinctions in mathematics and science related competitive examinations and be academically oriented, largely due to the powers and abilities of NVDA, at no cost.
Bhavya
Student, India