Nv Access LimitedRegistered

NV Access continued to develop and distribute the free and open source NVDA screen reading software, providing it to blind and vision impaired people across the world. NVDA enables free and easy access to computers and technology for blind and vision impaired people, supporting them to gain education, employment and independence. A total of 4 new releases of the product were developed and made available, with significant focus on support for Microsoft Office products, ensuring a better chance for blind people to be employed or to participate in education. Valuable new features have been added for a range of users. Some of these new features included: OnDemand speech mode makes it easier for users with some sight, or testers, an easy way to only have NVDA speak when they need; Native selection mode allows copying content from the web with full formatting; Sound split allows having NVDA speaking in one ear, and other sounds, such as telephone calls, in the other; We sought, and obtained, fantastic feedback from our braille users and have already incorporated new features. Additional focus and effort over the last year has been dedicated to ensuring that NVDA is stable, secure, as well as improving performance. Significant contributions were made by the NVDA Development Community. These contributions are greatly appreciated by NV Access. Many members of the NVDA Development Community are blind or vision impaired themselves their contributions plus those made by NV Access Australian based blind or vision impaired NVDA developers demonstrates that NVDA continues to be software by the blind, for the blind . NV Access continues to meet the technology needs of NVDA users and the NVDA community. This is reflected in the increase in user numbers year on year, plus favourable trends in user satisfaction survey results year on year. NV Access was recognised as a finalist for the Inclusion Award at this year's Australian Philanthropy Awards. USbased GitHub developer platform and software company released a documentary (and an audio described version) on two lifechanging opensourced projects, NVDA and OSARA. Thanks to our supporters, partners and donors, we have been able to employ staff in Australia who are helping NV Access to create further income streams and to update and create new training packages. During the last year improvements were made to the Basic Training for NVDA manual, assisting NVDA users to increase their expertise with NVDA. Also, thanks to our supporters, NV Access has been able to invest in growing the capacity of our team in Australia this year. We have employed a new Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the oversight of NVDA software engineering and product management. Plus, we have employed a new Software Engineer a Computer Science graduate with a passion for accessible software development, who draws on their lived experience as a blind person to contribute to the design, development and UX of NVDA.