UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Last week, I went to the student disablility service to get some help for my KC. They were very helpful. They have arranged to have the usual enlarged papers and extra time if I require it. Furthermore, they have helped me with the costs of having to print off a hard copy of powerpoint presentations all the time!

The main thing I was offered though was some computer software, Kurzweil 3000. I've read about it on the forum in the past and will be having a demonstartion of it on Friday. It is expensive software, so I don't want to confirm that I want it before I have tried it out. Was wondering if anybody has had any experience with it? All I really know about it is that I can scan pages into the computer and it will read the text out aloud for me. If anybody has used it, how effective is it? The thing that I have been worried about is not being able to use it! The idea of me getting it is to do some studying when my lenses arent in - but how will I use tyhe software if I cant see the screen!

To all other students out there, I would advise you to see your disability service. I was never keen on it.. I avoided seeing them for 3 months before I realised that I should really let them know about my KC just now instead of when (and if) a crisis occurs in the future.

More info on the Kurzweil software: http://www.kurzweiledu.com/kurz3000.aspx

Hey there!

Thanks for this post, my twin sister is looking into sorting something out with her job in work. This post came at a brilliant time!!!

Hoping that the software works out well for you!

Well done! It's just like I always say, if you give people an opportunity to do the right thing, they will usually be glad to help!

Let us know how you get on with your software.

Andrew

Sorry for the late reply, but I have decided to go ahead with the software, which really is excellent. It will allow me to study even without any lenses in (yipee!!). The university will also be providing me with a 22" monitor to allow me to increase the size of everything, which should help. At the moment I am using a 13.3inch screen! I am very grateful that I have been offered this and that it has been made available to me, but I can't help but feel a little guilty - dont know why. Maybe because I have never recieved any support for education like this before... It is pricey stuff, but I'm sure it will help me greatly. I use the computer for pretty much all my studying, and at the moment, I cant even use it properly with just one lens in.

Will let you know how I get on when it arrives.

Amarpal

I felt guilty when my employer and the access to work team got together to provide me with all sorts of toys; I mentioned this to the people from RNIB who came to do a work-place assessment. They chuckled and said that everybody has this response; funny, isn't it?

Well done on the provision of your work-aids. Ten points to Glasgow University!

Andrew