[SEC508] Audible indicator when pc is working

["Roeder, Joe" <Jroeder@nib.org>]

Is there any way to have an audible indication that the pc is working
when the screen reader is suspended?

Sighted users have visual indicators (like the spinning globe) to let
them know the pc is still processing.  The screen readers will say
things like "please wait ...", but not always.

I'm sure all screen reader users have had the experienced where their pc
stops talking and eventually they powered off the pc to start over.  I
think this sometimes results in damaged files.  Recently we seem to be
having more incidents of screen reader users powering off their stalled
computers and having more damaged files.

As a matter of accessibility, shouldn't the operating system also
provide and audible indicator whenever they provide a visual indicator
to warn users that the computer is processing?  Or is there a simple
utility that could accomplish this?


Joe Roeder
Senior Access Technology specialist
National Industries for the Blind
phone: (703) 310-0524