BITS

#BITSzTips As AI makes it easier to create convincing emails, phone calls, texts, and even videos, don’t just trust how real something looks or sounds. Trust what you already know about the person. If a request feels out of character, verify it using a contact method you already have. Don’t use a phone number, email address, or link included in the message itself. A quick phone call or separate message can save you from a costly scam. #Cybersecurity #OnlineSafety #AI #Accessibility

@menelion@dragonscave.space Absolutely we have members all over the world. 😁😁

@menelion@dragonscave.space That's great news we'd love to have you. If anyone else wishes to join us visit: http://bits-acb.org/join

Did you know you can install Android apps from your computer? Head to play.google.com, search for the app you want, and hit the install button. As long as you're signed into your Google account, the app will install straight to your Android device — no phone needed.
Not a BITS member yet? Join us at joinbits.org.
#BitsTips #Android #Accessibility #AssistiveTechnology #BlindTech

Need to quickly pause or resume media on your phone? Both iOS and Android have you covered with a simple two-finger double tap. On iOS with VoiceOver,
this is called the magic tap and works globally no matter what app you're in. On Android with newer versions of TalkBack, the same gesture does the job for media playback.
One gesture, two platforms.
#BitsTips #VoiceOver #TalkBack #Accessibility #AssistiveTechnology

Want JAWS to read the seconds along with the time? Press Ctrl + Insert + F12 and JAWS will announce the time down to the second. On laptop layout, use
Ctrl + Caps Lock + F12 instead.
Handy when you need to time something precisely or sync up with someone on a call.
#BitsTips #BlindTech #Accessibility #JAWS #ScreenReader

Did you know NVDA has a quick way to read whatever is on your clipboard? This comes in handy more than you'd think.
Maybe you copied a chunk of text and want to double-check it before pasting into an email. Or you grabbed a link and aren't sure if you got the right one.
Press NVDA key + C.
NVDA will read your clipboard contents out loud. One shortcut, instant confirmation.
#BitsTips #BlindTech #NVDA #Accessibility

“Did you know you can customize VoiceOver gestures on your iPhone to work the way you do? Head to Settings, then Accessibility, then VoiceOver, then Commands. From there you can reassign any gesture to a command that feels more natural for you. Give it a try and make VoiceOver work for you! #BITSTips #VoiceOver #iOS #BlindTech #AssistiveTechnology”

For our friends in the #USA from the #FCC: On April 8, 2026, the FCC released an order to extend for 18 months an existing waiver of the requirement that television broadcasters provide an aural representation of visual, non-textual emergency information (such as radar maps or other graphics) on the secondary audio stream of video broadcasts.

The order extends the waiver through November 29, 2027, or until there is a ruling on a separate NAB petition for rulemaking on the accessibility requirement, whichever is sooner.

Link to the Memorandum Opinion and Order:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/mb-extends-waiver-audible-crawl-rule-18-months

Link to the NAB Petition for Rulemaking:
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1115662625005/1

For general information about the FCC’s television emergency information requirements, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/accessibility-emergency-information-television/. For more information about this specific proceeding, please contact Diana Sokolow, Media Bureau, Policy Division, at (202) 418-0588 or Diana.Sokolow@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at 844‐432‐2275 (videophone).

One last reminder from our Presentations Team for tonight's event: Join BITS, as we welcome Humanware’s Joel Zimba and Rachel Ramos, as they introduce the exciting BrailleNote Evolve.

When: Tuesday April 7 at 8:00 PM Eastern (5:00 PM Pacific).
Where: BITS Zoom

Looking for a full-fledged, portable computing solution? The BrailleNote Evolve delivers.
Join Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS), as we welcome HumanWare Blindness Product Specialists Joel Zimba and Rachel Ramos, (), where they will walk you through the BrailleNote Evolve's design, interface, and real-world applications - from note-taking to full Microsoft Office productivity using Windows 11 Pro, JAWS, and NVDA—all with braille at the core.
Bring your questions, and get ready to increase your knowledge about the BrailleNote Evolve!

This presentation will take place on Zoom.
Registration is required using the following link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yjYrc8N0SAmKawXebX5R3A

From the BITS Presentations Team: Join BITS, as we welcome Humanware’s Joel Zimba and Rachel Ramos, as they introduce the exciting BrailleNote Evolve.

When: Tuesday April 7 at 8:00 PM Eastern (5:00 PM Pacific).
Where: BITS Zoom

Looking for a full-fledged, portable computing solution? The BrailleNote Evolve delivers.
Join Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS), as we welcome HumanWare Blindness Product Specialists Joel Zimba and Rachel Ramos, (), where they will walk you through the BrailleNote Evolve's design, interface, and real-world applications - from note-taking to full Microsoft Office productivity using Windows 11 Pro, JAWS, and NVDA—all with braille at the core.
Bring your questions, and get ready to increase your knowledge about the BrailleNote Evolve!

This presentation will take place on Zoom.
Registration is required using the following link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yjYrc8N0SAmKawXebX5R3A

If you have a problem registering for this event, please contact:
Brad Snyder
BITS Presentations Chair

We're sharing this announcement as it might appeal to our friends who use the #Mac: Intro to the Mac with VoiceOver: a Twelve-week Workshop
Offered by the New York Public Library.

Beginning Wednesday April 1, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Eastern.

If you already know how to type but need experience with the Voiceover screen reader for Mac, this workshop is for you.
We will go over setting up and customizing Voiceover, accessing help and documentation, working with the operating system, editing text, managing files, going online and more.
Please plan to attend all sessions if possible.

This workshop will take place online via Zoom.
Registration is required at the following link:

https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/6ctxnxEHT2mcIkdGuunYWQ

From the BITS Presentations Team this link is being shared with permission: Hello All,

Thanks to everyone who attended the Get Going With Thunderbird Email On Your PC presentation this past Wednesday.

As promised during the presentation, below is a Dropbox download link to a zip file containing the presentation files prepared by John Carson.

When activated, this link will automatically download the attached folder containing the files to your computers Downloads folder.
You do not need to have a Dropbox account, or the Dropbox app installed on your computer in order to access the files.

Select Here To Download the presentation Files
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xcf03m5sqfx621j6fjnd9/Thunderbird-Getting-Started-with-the-Basics.zip?rlkey=rsyyiu8nw1qmktgaws7pmumvn&dl=1