FWD: NVDA needs you

[Steve Holmes]

Hey Eric,

Thanks for posting this news bit.  I wasn't aware of their financial 
plite.  I'll take a look at their site and see how much I can give.  It 
amazes me how many people will download gobs of free software (free of 
charge and free as in speech) and not give back a dime or a minute of 
their time.

In the case of Orca, the screen reader for GNOME, I've been (somewhat 
slowly) learning the internals and such so I can contribute code wise to 
help grow and improve the product.  I don't use NVDA real often but I 
could throw in a few bucks to help keep it going.

On 01/20/2011 01:10 AM, Technomage Hawke wrote:
> looks like the blind across the planet need a little extra help. I happen to be one of them that uses windows for apps not found in Linux or OS X. unfortunately, I have no way to afford the nearly $1,000 cost of a screen reader for windows (from "freedom Scientific").
>
> This project is completely open source and free. I donate about $5.00 a month to these guys (and I live BELOW the poverty level!). I am leading by example. If the very poorest of us (not yet homeless) can find a way to donate to a worthy project that is both FOSS and a benefit to the blind, than others with greater means should find it easy.
>
> I don't have to go into a rant here. I will say this; the core programmers at the NVDA project are like me: blind. need I say more?
>
> -Eric
>
>
>   ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:50:07 +0200 (IST)
> From: Geoff Shang<geoff at quitelikely.com>
> Reply-To: nvda at freelists.org
> To: nvda at freelists.org
> Subject: [nvda] NVDA Needs You
>
> Hi,
>
> The following has been posted  on the NVDA website:
>
> http://www.nvda-project.org/blog/NVDANeedsYou
>
> NVDA Needs You
>
>    As you are all aware, NV Access, the organisation which develops NVDA,
>    is a non-profit organisation which is predicated on making software for
>    the blind that requires no extra cost than the purchase of a computer.
>    What you may not know, however, is that to do this, we must seek grants
>    or donations from larger organisations to survive. Unfortunately, the
>    present financial climate has meant that these grants are much less
>    forthcoming than in the past, despite the accolades that NVDA has
>    received over the past couple of years.
>
>    Jamie and Mick, the core developers of NVDA, are essentially paid
>    minimum wage for their experience, knowledge and skills, which they are
>    prepared to accept because they love the fact that they are making a
>    positive contribution to the blind community and the accessibility
>    industry more generally. Despite their willingness to carry on,
>    however, there will be no money to pay them after July 2011 unless we
>    receive some financial assistance. Rest assured, we will be seeking
>    grants from and alliances with other companies, but the stark reality
>    is that these may not come to fruition in time to save NVDA. In short,
>    we desperately need your help.
>
>    For the last release of NVDA, our records indicate that there were
>    50,000 downloads. Even if we discount 20,000 for those who may have
>    downloaded NVDA multiple times, we are left with 30,000 individual
>    users. If every user donated $10 today, we would have $300,000 that we
>    could use to pay Jamie and Mick to continue to develop NVDA full time
>    for the foreseeable future.
>
>    We are very proud that we provide a free and open source screen reader
>    for our community and for the accessibility industry to use. The
>    principles that underlie the decision to make NVDA free and open source
>    are as important to the committee of NV Access now as they were when
>    Mick first envisaged the potential of NVDA. However, for NVDA to be
>    developed in the way that you have become accustomed, we need your
>    help. We are not being greedy or exploitative, merely pragmatic and
>    honest. Please think of how NVDA might have helped you, or may help
>    others, and donate today.
>
>    We sincerely thank you for any contribution you can make.
>
>    The NV Access Committee
> Your continued donations help keep NVDA development going strong. Donate at:
> http://www.nvaccess.org/wiki/Donate
> Or by purchasing voices from Ivona TTS:
> http://www.ivona.com/accessibility.php
> Use the following link with the code STOR-4NS3-DSCT to save 10% on Voices from nextup.com:
> http://is.gd/6pU86
> To post messages to the list send email to
> nvda at freelists.org
> To modify your NVDA Email settings or view archives go to:
> http://www.freelists.org/list/nvda
> NVDA homepage:
> http://www.nvda-project.org/
> NVDA on Facebook:
> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8601265515
> The NVDA controler DLL is at:
> http://www.nvda-project.org/nvdaControllerClient/
> NVDA Snapshot Downloader:
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1473937/NVDASD-v2.0.2.exe
> Get SkypeTalking for NVDA:
> http://skypetalking.googlecode.com/
>
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