That little strategy goes a long way!

Tonight, after chowing down on Costco eats, I went to the library specifically to use a computer with Zoomtext.

This app is by far the most accessible screen magnification program, in my honest opinion.

I had to ask a librarian for directions to the computer that had Zoomtext installed.

Once that was done, she left me.

After signing in, which was a struggle due to the super small text, Zoomtext, on public computers, only starts after login.

My particular login was overlong, don’t know why. But that is not the issue here; while it was loading, someone came over and was watching the monitor, I’m sure he said something, I gestured back, I am Deaf… he made no attempt to communicate and soon left.

When the login finally was complete, I searched for the squared Z icon, but couldn’t find it.

A bit frustrated I started to use my iPhone magnification system to read the screen.

At this point the same fella came over, and probably communicated something like “…let me help you…” or “…the brown dog sits on the grass…” or “…your fly is down…”. In other words I had no idea what he said to me.

He then took the mouse and then was about to enter something on the keyboard when I yanked it away.

I said, clearly, “What the hell are you doing?”

He was showed surprise, as if I could talk! He said something starting with “I am…” and a verbal description of who he is, nothing was understood by me.

The guy was dressed very much like a student, glasses, stubby beard, grubby shirt, NO visible ID, I dismissed him as a student, not the IT librarian who was assisting me!

The first librarian probably told the IT guy I was Deaf, yet he did not make any attempt to identify himself, either by writing or text.

I figured that out after he left!

The computer I was using did not have the Zoomtext app, but only the resident magnification program, and I figured how to get it going myself.

Next time, Identify who you are, if someone says I am Deaf, take the time to write your job title down, it only takes a minute! Yet it breaks down barriers!

Thank you for reading!