Bradley considered himself one of the lucky ones because as his vision got worse, technology advanced.<\/p>\n
For the past 25 years he has used Jaws \u2013 Job Access With Speech. The technology is reportedly the world\u2019s most popular screen reader, developed for computer users with vision loss that prevents them from seeing what\u2019s on the screen or being able to navigate a mouse.<\/p>\n
Jaws works by converting on-screen text into speech or Braille output. It allows people to navigate the internet, read emails, write documents and use apps without a mouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut in today\u2019s economy, the cost of these things is ridiculous,\u201d Bradley said.<\/p>\n
Jaws can set a New Zealander back about $1500 to $2000 for a licence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to update my Jaws because it\u2019s going to cost three grand. My last update was 2023, so if I want to update to 2025, I still have to pay for the one in between,\u201d Bradley said.<\/p>\n
He found accessories were too costly.<\/p>\n
An AI-powered GPS, such as StellarTrek, which provides real-time audio guidance and helps people navigate streets and find entrances as well as recognise street addresses, doors and landmarks, fetches about $2500.<\/p>\n
There are free apps on a mobile phone but Bradley said using them is not as simple as some people may think.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a bit finicky,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause you\u2019ve got to open your phone, get the app out and all that sort of thing that isn\u2019t that easy if you can\u2019t see.\u201d<\/p>\n
To give an idea of what he experiences, he once asked some people to close their eyes then move their mouse around on their screen. He gave them 30 seconds to figure out where on the screen their mouse was once it had moved.<\/p>\n
They couldn\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, well, now you know what I am dealing with as a mouse is not used at all and that\u2019s where Jaws comes in but again the price makes it difficult for some,\u201d Bradley said.<\/p>\n
Steve Bradley, with photos of his former and much-loved guide dogs in the background. Photo \/ Karina Cooper<\/p>\n
He considered himself fortunate in that his former workplace, Inland Revenue, had paid for much of the assistive technology he used.<\/p>\n
He worked for the government department for nearly 40 years, which included 25 years in a PSA role as an elected representative. He retired at 67.<\/p>\n
Bradley acknowledged his experience was not the case across the board.<\/p>\n
Employment barriers made affordability harder.<\/p>\n
Blind Low Vision NZ reported 51% of its working-age members were without a job and 74% of its youth clients have never had a part-time or summer job.<\/p>\n
\u201cTechnology\u2019s huge, obviously,\u201d Bradley said. \u201cIf you have a child that has a disability, to give that child in today\u2019s world a real crack, they\u2019ve got to have access to that technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some help with funding was available but he believed the price bracket was too high for many people and would leave those in need behind.<\/p>\n
The costs added an extra barrier when life could be hard enough for those with low vision, for whom simple tasks were often more difficult.<\/p>\n
Bradley gave an example of a time when he went to purchase a new phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got to the counter and, for whatever reason, had to produce ID.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bradley, standing with his guide dog Casper, told the worker he didn\u2019t have any.<\/p>\n
Whang\u0101rei’s Steve Bradley has shared how expensive assistive technology can be for blind Kiwis or those with low vision. Photo \/ Karina Cooper<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she said, \u2018Haven\u2019t you got a driver\u2019s licence?\u2019 The guy behind me, he just started to laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bradley told her he didn\u2019t drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said, \u2018Oh, well, do you have a gun licence?\u2019 And I had to really bite my tongue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The problem of financial barriers to technology was shared as part of Blind Low Vision NZ\u2019s efforts to highlight the inequities faced by the 183,000 New Zealanders who are blind<\/a>, have low vision or have both significant hearing and vision loss.<\/p>\n Other hurdles to equity listed by the organisation were taxis that cost more than public transport, workplace bias, inaccessible recruitment systems and myths about cost or productivity.<\/p>\n