Aussie blind computer programmers a global phenomenon

When Australians Michael Curran and James Teh met on a music camp for blind children, little did they know they would one day join forces to improve the lives of blind and vision impaired people around the world.

With a shared passion for "nerdy computer programs" the two totally blind men reunited in their early twenties when Mr Curran was fed up with the cost of screen reading software – the software necessary for a blind person to use a computer.

Screen readers announce the text on a computer screen in a synthetic voice. This opens up a whole world of information and opportunities for blind people.

"A screen reader allows blind and vision impaired people to get an education and to participate in the work force. These days it also helps people to stay connected through social media. Of course online banking and shopping are a huge convenience too," Mr Curran said.

"Screen readers can cost thousands of dollars. I needed one myself and with a bit of computer programming experience I started to build one back in 2006."

Mr Curran invited his childhood friend, Mr Teh, who by that stage had become a qualified computer programmer, to help him build a free screen reader, NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access).

"I thought it sounded like a pretty interesting idea but I had no idea how far it would go," Mr Teh said.

Since its beginnings in 2006 the NVDA screen reader has been downloaded over 60,000 times, translated into more than 43 languages, used in more than 120 countries, and has won multiple awards, including the American Foundation for the Blind Access Award in 2012.

"The support we get from NVDA users and blindness organisations around the world is fantastic. But we really are in need of ongoing funding to make sure we can keep the software compatible with the world's rapidly changing technology," Mr Curran said.

The project has come this far thanks to a series of modest corporate grants and individual donations.

Provided by NV Access