Freedom Scientific Training Podcast

In this episode, we revisit four powerful JAWS features that can make everyday computer tasks more efficient and accessible: Skim Reading, Speech and Sound Schemes, Dictionary Manager, and Text Analyzer.

Whether you're a longtime JAWS user looking for a refresher or discovering these tools for the first time, you'll learn how these often-overlooked features can help you navigate documents, customize how JAWS presents information, catch formatting and spacing issues, and tailor speech and pronunciation to your needs.

The episode also explores practical questions from JAWS users, including working with these features in Microsoft Word, Outlook...

Discover practical ways to make AI more useful, accessible, and productive in your everyday workflow. In this session, we explore the fundamentals of working with AI, including how to write more effective prompts, use AI with JAWS and other screen readers, and incorporate tools like ChatGPT into common tasks.

We also discuss working with documents, AI accessibility features, privacy and confidentiality considerations, and resources for continuing to build your AI skills. Whether you're just getting started with AI or looking for ways to improve your existing workflow, this session offers practical tips and techniques to help you...

Long Word documents don't have to be overwhelming. In this episode of the Vispero Training Podcast, we share six practical techniques for navigating, editing, and managing complex documents more efficiently with JAWS. Whether you're working with lengthy reports, research papers, collaborative documents, or forms, these tips will help you spend less time searching and more time getting work done.

You'll learn how to take advantage of features like bookmarks, comments, document structure, Skim Reading, formatting navigation, and other built-in JAWS tools to quickly locate the information you need and move through documents with confidence. We also answer...

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming an essential tool for work, school, and everyday life—but getting great results starts with knowing how to ask the right questions. In this episode of the Vispero Training Podcast, we explore the art of prompting and share practical strategies for writing clear, effective prompts that help AI tools produce more accurate, useful, and consistent responses.

Along the way, we discuss choosing the right AI tool for different tasks, troubleshooting common issues, and improving accessibility when working with screen readers. We also answer audience questions about using ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Gemini wi...

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 covers editing slide content, working with images and alt text, understanding PowerPoint's layout structure, and using tools like the Accessibility Checker to help create more inclusive presentations. Whether you're reviewing an existing deck or building one from scratch, these...

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 tools can simplify everyday tasks and improve productivity.

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 tables, and summarizing web pages with AI assistance. The discussion also covers practical workflows for extracting accessible data from PDFs and web tables, navigating complicated forms, and using conversational AI prompts inside JAWS to better understand digital environments. Whether you're working with inaccessible...

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 requests, including how to open invites, RSVP using the updated interface, and access additional options like proposing new times or replying to organizers. The episode also covers core calendar navigation using JAWS, including how to move between sections...

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.

They also share practical strategies for navigating revisions more efficiently using JAWS-specific keyboard commands, including how to review edits individually, filter changes by reviewer, and use the revisions pane for a clearer overview. The discussion covers...

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 timelines. The session also covers how to prepare for meetings, develop agendas, and use effective prompting techniques to get better, more usable results from AI.

Whether you're tackling a work project or...

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...

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...

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 Ha...

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 mult...

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...

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...

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—su...

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 fi...

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...

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 ap...

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 tool...

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 fo...

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...

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 yo...

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 a live demonstration—showing how to hold a natural voice conversation with ChatGPT, create a formatted Word document from survey data, analyze that data in Excel with charts and percentages, and draft professional emails ta...

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 Edge

Compile lists of links, buttons, and other elements

(Bonus!) Set personalized web settings for your favorite sites

These tools...

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 demonstrations of Smart Navigation in action

Tips for switching between modes on the fly for smoother browsing

Whether you're new to JAWS or a...

Do you use Google Sheets with JAWS? Want to learn how to navigate, format, and organize data more efficiently? Then "Ten Tips for Increasing Productivity with Google Sheets and JAWS" is the episode for you.

Objectives:

In this session we provide an overview of Google Sheets, plus show you how to:

Are you ready to start using artificial intelligence with JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion but not sure where to begin? Join us as we:

In this episode of the Freedom Scientific Training Podcast, Ron Miller walks through everything you need to know about managing settings in Microsoft Edge with JAWS. Learn how to sign in and out of your Microsoft account, sync your favorites, passwords, and browsing history across devices, and add multiple profiles for work or personal use. Ron also demonstrates how to adjust individual sync options, clear your browsing data (without losing what you need), and navigate Edge's settings efficiently using JAWS keyboard commands.

Portable Document Format (PDF) files are commonly used to share information across multiple platforms and are often required in school and employment settings.

Objectives:

We'll provide an overview of PDFs, discuss multiple ways to access, read, and interact with them, plus show you how to:

Freedom Scientific Presenters:

Elizabeth Whitaker and Rachel Buchanan

Portable Document Format (PDF) files are commonly used to share information across multiple platforms and are often required in school and employment settings.

Objectives:

We’ll provide an overview of PDFs, discuss multiple ways to access, read, and interact with them, plus show you how to:

Learn how to navigate Amazon Kindle with JAWS for Windows. This episode covers opening the Kindle for PC app, managing your library, using search and filters, downloading books, and reading content with JAWS commands. Plus, discover tips for using the Kindle Store, syncing devices, and creating a smoother reading experience with both speech and Braille.

In this episode, Liz and Rachel walk you through 10 essential tips for using Google Docs more efficiently with JAWS. Learn how to adjust accessibility settings, navigate documents with ease, create and rename files, use Find and Replace, get dictionary definitions, format text, manage tabs, and use JAWS Quick Keys for streamlined editing. Whether you're new to Google Docs or just looking to improve your workflow, this episode is packed with practical insights to help boost your productivity.

Learn more and access additional training resources at FreedomScientific.com/Training

In this episode, we highlight the newest features and enhancements in JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion

A key update across all three products is support for time-based Software Maintenance Agreements (SMAs), which let users run any version of the software released within their SMA period—offering more flexibility for perpetual license holders.

For JAWS and Fusion users, a brand-new Label Manager simplifies managing custom labels for inaccessible web elements. The AI Labeler also gets smarter—suggesting and saving updated labels automatically. Spanish-speaking users benefit from MathCAT, now the default math interaction tool, offering better speech and Brai...

Learn how to save time and edit documents more efficiently using the Find and Replace feature in Microsoft Word with JAWS. In this episode, Ron Miller walks you through practical examples—from replacing single and multiple words, to inserting special characters like ñ, to using the built-in thesaurus to find the perfect synonym. You'll also discover handy JAWS tips like using the clipboard viewer and jumping to specific pages in long documents. Whether you're a student, professional, or just want to sharpen your editing skills, this episode offers step-by-step guidance to boost your productivity with JAWS.

In this episode, we provide an overview of the OneDrive desktop app, and show you how to sort files, set folder options, access OneDrive settings, and more.

Innosearch offers an online shopping experience that makes it easy to shop for and purchase products from many popular retailers all on one website. Join us and members of Innosearch as we discuss this accessible platform.