Recently, NVDA user Mykael reached out to us to share his story. We love sharing stories like this. Helping people achieve independence is why we are so passionate about NVDA. This story encapsulates it eloquently and succinctly too. Here is Mykael in his own words:

Hello! My name is Mykael, and I have physical and visual disabilities. I am Brazilian. I started using NVDA in 2012 while searching for a way to adapt well to the computer. By 2013, I had already received permission to bring a USB drive to the classroom and use the school computer with NVDA to read study materials. Before NVDA, I was forced to write in Braille, which took longer to correct, and if I made something wrong, there was no way to correct it. After the arrival of NVDA, my colleagues helped me by dictating the content, and teachers could instantly see the result.

Since then, NVDA has become my main screen reader. I completed my studies in 2018, and, in 2022, I started my first job at a telephone company. There, NVDA is the main reader among all blind people. And I thank you for this incredible work. Since last year, I have contributed monthly so that the reader continues to grow and develop. I love NVDA!

I feel part of NV access, being able to donate monthly and contribute to the screen reader that changed my life. I think what I like most about NVDA is the fact that it is free and accessible to everyone in every way. I’ve been an NVDA user since 2012, and seeing how much it has evolved is very satisfying. I say that software changed my life, because only we know how difficult it is to get a job, and companies rarely want to pay for software licenses.

Thank you, Mykael! We are so glad that NVDA has been a small part of your journey to employment! Simple things like having access to a portable copy of the software can make such an enormous difference to people. Not having license keys or restrictions to worry about makes it so much easier for people to use NVDA anywhere. NVDA is extremely popular in the workplace. It allows people to easily use the same screen reader at work and at home. There is no financial burden on the employee or workplace, and NVDA is regularly updated. We know that many employers need certain information to install any new software. To meet this demand, we have answers to a range of questions we commonly get asked on our corporate and government page.

If you share Mykael’s passion for NVDA and are in a position to donate, we would love to have your support. As a registered charity, donations over $2 in Australia are tax deductible. Plus, we have a neat badge you can use online to show your support.