Freedom Scientific Training Podcast

Explore the power of Voice Assistant in JAWS and ZoomText—your hands-free way to navigate, control, and interact with your computer using simple spoken commands. In this training, we break down how Voice Assistant works, including wake word activation ("Hey Sharky" or "Hey Zoomy"), keyboard alternatives, and the audible cues that guide each interaction. You'll hear real examples of commands in action—from adjusting speech rate and checking the time, to opening applications and selecting text with precision. We also walk through key features like Keyboard Help for learning shortcuts, Voice Assistant settings for customization, and where to find a complete list of supported commands. Whether you're new to JAWS or looking to streamline your workflow, this session highlights how Voice Assistant can make everyday tasks faster, easier, and more accessible. For additional resources and a full command list, visit Freedom Scientific's training page and explore everything Voice Assistant has to offer.

In this episode of the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast, Liz and Rachel demonstrate how Microsoft Copilot works within Microsoft 365 when used with JAWS. They walk through practical examples in Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint, showing how AI can help draft emails, summarize documents and email threads, analyze spreadsheet data, and generate presentation notes. 03_06 Archive, The Power of Pro… Along the way, they explain the differences between Copilot versions included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, how Copilot integrates with desktop apps, and tips for navigating the Copilot pane with JAWS. If you're looking for ways to use AI to work more efficiently in Microsoft Office, this episode offers a helpful introduction and real-world demonstrations. 03_06 Archive, The Power of Pro…

In this episode of the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast, Liz and Rachel continue the Learn AI webinar series with a deep dive into Claude, an AI assistant developed by Anthropic and available at Claude. Designed for users of JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion, this session explores how Claude can support long-form thinking, research, organization, and real-world problem solving — all with accessibility in mind. Liz walks through navigating the Claude web interface with the keyboard, managing multiple prompts, combining tasks into streamlined workflows, and building repeatable processes using features like Skills and model selection (Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku). Through a practical example, she demonstrates how to research Bluetooth headsets under $200, generate comparison tables, outline a guide, and refine results before exporting a final document. Rachel then shifts to a hands-on accessibility scenario, uploading an image of a stove control panel and prompting Claude to suggest tactile labeling strategies for blind and low vision users. She demonstrates file uploads, prompt refinement, material recommendations, and even generating a visual mockup — highlighting how AI can assist with everyday decision-making and creative problem solving. Throughout the webinar, you'll learn: How to navigate Claude efficiently with JAWS Tips for structuring effective prompts How to combine research, comparison, and writing tasks When and how to refine responses before creating downloadable documents Creative ways to use AI for visual analysis and practical accessibility projects Whether you're experimenting with AI for the first time or looking to build more advanced workflows, this episode shows how Claude can help you move from idea to execution — all while maintaining accessibility and control over the process. For more webinars, tutorials, and training resources, visit: FreedomScientific.com/Training

In this recorded training, Liz walks through five practical scenarios for using FS Companion—soon to be renamed Vispero Companion—with JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion to work more efficiently and independently. You'll learn how to: Ask FS Companion general questions to better understand JAWS and available learning resources Identify and learn features even when you don't know their names (like Picture Smart AI) Look up specific keyboard commands quickly and accurately Perform single, targeted tasks in applications like Microsoft Word Keep an ongoing conversation open while completing multi-step tasks such as Find and Replace, formatting text, and document setup Liz also demonstrates how FS Companion delivers step-by-step, keyboard-driven instructions for Microsoft and Google applications, making it an effective learning and productivity tool for screen reader users. This session is ideal for new and experienced JAWS users looking to save time, reduce guesswork, and get more value out of built-in AI assistance.

In this episode of the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast, Liz, Rachel, and Justin share practical tips to help you work more efficiently with Braille and JAWS in celebration of Braille Literacy Month. You'll learn how to use BrailleIn for direct text entry, customize Braille input and output, read notifications using flash messages, and streamline reading with Auto Advance. The team also demonstrates powerful productivity tools like Split Braille for multitasking and content review, plus an overview of the Braille Math Editor for reading, creating, and editing equations. Whether you're a Braille display user, educator, or trainer, this episode is packed with actionable techniques to help you get more done—faster and more confidently—with Braille and JAWS.

In this episode of the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast, Liz and Rachel explore Google NotebookLM and how screen reader users can leverage it with JAWS to organize, analyze, and interact with large sets of information more efficiently. They walk through what makes NotebookLM different from other AI tools, focusing on its source-driven approach to research, clear citations, and powerful summarization capabilities. Listeners learn how to create notebooks, add and manage sources such as documents, PDFs, audio files, web pages, and YouTube videos, and ask targeted questions across all uploaded materials. The episode also covers practical navigation tips for using NotebookLM's web interface with JAWS, including working with headings, tables, dialogs, and menus. The discussion expands into real-world use cases for students, professionals, and personal research, and highlights advanced features in the Studio tab—such as generating reports, study guides, meal plans, podcasts, videos, and other AI-created outputs based entirely on your own sources. The episode concludes with examples of how NotebookLM can transform research, training, and information management into a more accessible and efficient experience for screen reader users.

In this quick episode, you'll learn how layered commands in JAWS and Fusion can make complex tasks faster and easier by reducing the number of keys you need to press. The episode breaks down what layered commands are, how they work, and why they're especially useful for accessing advanced features efficiently. The training explains how to enter the command layer using JAWS key plus Space, and how single-layer commands allow you to trigger features like FSCompanion, Command Search, and other commonly used tools with just one additional keystroke. You'll also learn how commands are grouped by context—such as editing documents, messaging applications, and general system tasks. A major focus is on secondary layers, which let you access entire sets of related commands for features like Picture Smart AI, Convenient OCR, Face in View, table navigation, and volume controls. The session demonstrates how to use the question mark command to display available options within any layer, making it easier to discover and learn new commands on the fly. The episode also highlights how FSCompanion can be used alongside layered commands as a learning and reference tool, helping you explore features and commands directly within JAWS. This training is ideal for JAWS and Fusion users who want to work more efficiently, reduce keyboard complexity, and better understand the powerful layered command system built into their screen reader.

In this training session, Liz and Rachel walk through six practical tips to help JAWS users work more efficiently in Gmail. You'll learn accessible, keyboard-driven techniques for composing and sending email, managing attachments, and customizing your Gmail experience. The episode covers how to format email text, create numbered and bulleted lists, and remove unwanted formatting when pasting content from other documents. You'll also learn how to navigate spelling and grammar errors efficiently using JAWS commands, ensuring your messages are clear and professional before sending. Additional topics include working with attachments—both traditional file uploads and files from Google Drive—using Gmail's confidential mode to protect sensitive messages, and creating and managing email signatures. The training also introduces Gmail's "Help me write" feature, demonstrating how AI can assist with drafting and refining emails. This episode is ideal for JAWS users who want to improve productivity, accuracy, and confidence when using Gmail for everyday communication.

With the release of JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion 2026, users are now required to create a Vispero account in order to use the software. In this episode of the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast, Liz explains what the Vispero account is, why it's required, and what's been updated to make the account creation process faster and easier. Liz walks through the updated workflow step by step, including the new age confirmation options (instead of entering a full birthdate), the streamlined set of required fields, email verification, and completing sign-in for the first time. She also explains how a Vispero account supports future capabilities—such as syncing settings across devices—so your setup can follow you from home to work or school with less manual reconfiguration.

Convenient OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a feature in JAWS that allows you to recognize and read text that appears as part of an image or in places where text is not accessible to screen readers. This is useful for reading things like scanned documents, inaccessible PDFs, images with text, or application windows that only display text as graphics. In this training, we'll show you how to OCR text in an image or document, access the results, and provide important keyboard commands.

Unlock the power of Microsoft Copilot in this beginner-friendly training session led by Liz and Rachel. Learn what Copilot is, how it integrates with Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, and how it can streamline your workflow — from summarizing information to building full documents and presentations. The hosts walk through real examples, including creating a project spreadsheet, generating a presentation, and formatting accessible content with AI-powered assistance. They also cover different Copilot plans, tips to avoid AI "hallucinations," how to review sources, and where to access Copilot on the web or as a Windows app. By the end, you'll feel confident exploring Copilot's capabilities to save time, boost productivity, and enhance the quality of your work.

In this episode, Liz and Rachel introduce Google's Gemini AI and show how it can streamline everyday tasks. They cover what Gemini is, how to navigate it with a screen reader, and how to use it to summarize files, analyze data, schedule Google Calendar events, and draft emails. You'll also learn about Gemini's models, gems, canvas mode, and tips for writing effective prompts.

In this episode, Freedom Scientific's Liz and Rachel explore how artificial intelligence can empower users of JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion. From writing smarter emails to analyzing data and boosting productivity, they show how AI can simplify everyday tasks for people who rely on assistive technology. You'll learn the basics—what AI is, what "large language models" mean, and how tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot can work alongside your screen reader. Liz and Rachel walk through hands-on demos: drafting a professional email, analyzing feedback, building a project timeline, and even generating a follow-up announcement—all using AI tools. They also introduce Freedom Scientific's Learn AI Hub, a new self-paced resource with monthly webinars, archived sessions, and step-by-step exercises designed to help you master AI at your own speed. Whether you're an assistive technology user, educator, or accessibility professional, this episode will give you the tools to start harnessing AI to make your work faster, easier, and more creative. Learn more and access all resources at FreedomScientific.com/LearnAI

The 2026 releases of JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion are here—bringing exciting new features and a more connected experience than ever before. In this episode, Elizabeth Whittaker walks you through two major updates: the new Vispero Account, which unifies your Freedom Scientific products under one secure login, and Page Explorer, a powerful AI-driven feature in FS Companion that helps you summarize and navigate complex web pages with ease. Plus, get details on upcoming November webinars covering account setup, Gemini on the web, and even more new accessibility features. Visit FreedomScientific.com/training or FreedomScientific.com/learnAI for webinar registration and resources.

In this episode, Liz and Rachel walk you through how to proofread documents more efficiently in Microsoft Word using the Microsoft Editor alongside JAWS. Learn how to access the Editor with keyboard commands, check spelling and grammar, and put clarity and conciseness tools to work. They also cover how to: Navigate spelling and grammar suggestions using JAWS-specific keystrokes Understand and improve your Editor Score and readability statistics Select writing style settings like Casual, Professional, or Formal Add words to custom dictionaries and manage dictionary settings Re-run Editor after ignoring suggestions or completing a review Use quick navigation keys to jump to spelling and grammar errors directly in your document Whether you're writing professionally, drafting emails, or creating documents for personal use, this episode is packed with practical tips to make your writing clearer, more accurate, and easier to manage with screen reader tools.

Are you ready to start using artificial intelligence with JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion but not sure where to begin? Join us as we: - Define key AI terms like prompts, queries, models, and more—so you can understand the language of AI without the jargon. - Demonstrate real-world examples of how to train and guide AI tools to complete everyday tasks efficiently. - Walk through practical workplace scenarios, such as drafting a professional email, creating audience-specific documents, and extracting and analyzing key data from large text files into Excel spreadsheets. We also show you how you can specifically benefit from using Freedom Scientific's AI features to learn JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion, plus other apps, describe images, and more.