I agree with the poster upthread that JAWS is powerful (and Kurzweil has been a standard for years), but in my experience it is also pretty complicated for a novice user.

Have a look at what the Trace R&D Center has to offer on the topic. In addition to developing accessibility standards and technology, they are an amazing resource for information on AT in general. They used to have a very good "information and referral" service, though I'm not sure if that's part of their mission now.

A couple of other good resource are ABLEDATA assistive tech database, and assistivetech.net.

If you live in the upper midwest and feel like shelling out a few bucks to have your mind blown by current trends in AT, make a point of attending the Closing the Gap conference in Minneapolis next October.

Probably this is more information than you were looking for, but it does make for interesting reading!

hth

I'm curious, why no mention _at_all_ of uscellular? Are they like the aol of phone companies?

They were the only provider available in my neck of the woods when I first signed up several years ago. The price is reasonable, coverage is pretty good (I have the unlimited roaming though, so I don't pay much attention), and they offer a blackberry if that's what you like.

"DO NOT BE ASHAMED"
        by Wendell Berry

You will be walking some night
in the comfortable dark of your yard
and suddenly a great light will shine
round about you, and behind you
will be a wall you never saw before.
It will be clear to you suddenly
that you were about to escape,
and that you are guilty: you misread
the complex instructions, you are not
a member, you lost your card
or never had one. And you will know
that they have been there all along,
their eyes on your letters and books,
their hands in your pockets,
their ears wired to your bed.
Though you have done nothing shameful,
they will want you to be ashamed.
They will want you to kneel and weep
and say you should have been like them.
And once you say you are ashamed,
reading the page they hold out to you,
then such light as you have made
in your history will leave you.
They will no longer need to pursue you.
You will pursue them, begging forgiveness.
They will not forgive you.
There is no power against them.
It is only candor that is aloof from them,
only an inward clarity, unashamed,
that they cannot reach. Be ready.
When their light has picked you out
and their questions are asked, say to them:
"I am not ashamed." A sure horizon
will come around you. The heron will begin
his evening flight from the hilltop.