Freedom Scientific Training Podcast

In this episode of the Vispero Training Podcast, hosts Liz and Rachel share ten essential tips for working more efficiently in Microsoft PowerPoint with JAWS. They demonstrate how to quickly locate and open presentations, navigate slides and content placeholders, move between different areas of the PowerPoint interface, and use keyboard shortcuts to streamline common tasks. The discussion also cov...

Rachel and Liz demonstrate how built-in AI features in JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion, including Picture Smart AI, Vispero Companion, Page Explorer, and AI Labeler, can help users better understand, navigate, and interact with inaccessible or complex digital content. Through real-world examples such as online calendars, Google Docs, email images, and grocery shopping websites, they show how these tool...

In this episode, Liz and Rachel explore six powerful JAWS features designed to help users navigate complex web pages, PDFs, forms, and documents more efficiently. They demonstrate how tools like Picture Smart AI, AI Labeler, Table Layer navigation, and Page Explorer can simplify cluttered or inaccessible content by providing image descriptions, labeling unlabeled controls, restructuring difficult...

In this episode, Liz and Rachel share six practical tips for managing the New Outlook Calendar with JAWS, focusing on efficient navigation, scheduling, and collaboration. They begin by explaining how the new Outlook differs from the classic version, highlighting its web-based structure and how that impacts keyboard navigation and screen reader behavior. Listeners will learn how to handle meeting r...

This episode walks through how to effectively use Track Changes and Comments in Microsoft Word with JAWS, making document collaboration more accessible and manageable. Liz and Rachel break down how Track Changes works, including how to turn it on, interpret edits like insertions and deletions, and switch between different viewing modes such as Original, No Markup, Simple Markup, and All Markup. Th...

In this episode of the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast, Liz and Rachel walk you through how to use AI to take a project from idea to execution—without feeling overwhelmed. Learn how to turn big, complex tasks into clear, actionable steps using AI tools. You'll discover how to create structured plans, build task lists, set realistic goals, and organize projects into manageable phases and timeli...

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 act...

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...

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 accessibil...

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...

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 demons...

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 summari...

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...

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 conte...

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 th...

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 O...

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 proje...

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,...

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...

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 impr...

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 scena...

In this episode of the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast , hosts Liz and Rachel walk listeners through an engaging introduction to ChatGPT , the powerful AI platform that's transforming how we write, analyze, and communicate. They begin by explaining what ChatGPT is, the difference between free and paid tiers, and what makes it unique among AI tools like Copilot and Gemini. Then, they dive into...

Struggling with cluttered or poorly labeled websites? In this Insert J Club training session, Ron Miller shares five powerful tips to help you navigate complex web pages more efficiently with JAWS. You'll learn how to: Assign custom labels to HTML elements Use Picture Smart and AI Labeler for better context Adjust web verbosity for smoother reading Take advantage of Immersive Reader in Microsoft E...

In this episode, Freedom Scientific trainer Ron Miller dives deep into JAWS Smart Navigation, a powerful feature designed to make navigating web pages, PDFs, and HTML documents more intuitive. You'll learn: What Smart Navigation is and why it matters How to enable it through the Startup Wizard, Quick Settings, or Settings Center The difference between navigating controls, tables, or both Live demo...