Privacy Information Signoff

Skype installation

Skype blind tips for JAWS users from Freedom Scientific

Skype technical support and questions

Rules of participation

Privacy

When you participate in a Skype conference, or even a phone conference call, everyone else who is in the conference will hear your name there or see you on the Skype list. That is why we ask our members to in effect say that they understand this and that it is okay under HIPAA privacy rules.  You should have received the HIPAA forms when you joined Handihams, or if you were a member prior to the Federal HIPAA law, you were sent forms when Courage Center implemented HIPAA rules.

To put this into plain language, it means that we want to do the most we possibly can to protect your privacy. When you join a conference, you are of course talking with and interacting with other people. It is a privacy issue because everyone will know who else is there, just as if we all agreed to meet in a classroom, except this is a virtual classroom. Under HIPAA, even a name is protected information. While we don't put medical details on the conference, obviously your name will be used since we are all in the group discussion together. 

Of course you can contact anyone you want on the air or you can call anyone else for help, but WE cannot connect you with them as part of our duties without the HIPAA sign off. I agree that this federal law is sometimes confusing, but Courage Center is organized under HIPAA and we must follow the rules.

If you wish, you may contact Nancy in our office so that she knows you need a replacement HIPAA form. (Remember, even a name is considered protected information and we respect this at all times.) Nancy may be reached via email at hamradio@couragecenter.org or by phone at 763-520-0512. 

Meanwhile, please feel free to contact Handiham Manager Patrick Tice at 763-520-0511 or by email at pat.tice@couragecenter.org if you have any study questions. That way we can help you in a private conversation where other participants will not be present. This is a good alternative to a conference call if you would not wish to sign off on HIPAA. 

Skype installation

Skype is a free voice over internet application that works on a variety of devices, including computers, handheld devices like iPods or iPads, and smart phones. If you are a smart phone or iPod user, you should get the Skype application from the iTunes store or your other vendor-provider.  Computer users can get the Skype application from www.skype.com. There is no need to buy any pay-for Skype services to participate in the Handiham Conference. The free version is all you need. 

We do not have the staff or knowledge to provide Skype technical support and answer questions about how to install Skype or how to use it. We can say that Skype is pretty easy to install and does not require a lot of fiddling around with firewalls and router settings the way other applications do. Also, it is reasonably blind-accessible. 

• The Handiham Skype Conference has a Skype name: handiham.conference
• Skype users must confirm each other's Skype identities and add each other to their Skype contact lists.

Skype blind tips for JAWS users from Freedom Scientific

JAWS supports Skype version 3.8 and version 4.1 or later. The following describes some helpful tips on using Skype with JAWS. For more detailed information on using Skype and all of its features, refer to the Skype online help or visit the Skype home page.

Extended Keyboard Navigation In order for JAWS to work optimally with Skype, you must enable the Extended Keyboard Navigation option in Skype. This setting is off by default. The procedure for turning on this option is slightly different depending on the version of Skype being used.

To enable Extended Keyboard Navigation in Skype 3.8, do the following:

Press ALT+V to open the View menu. Press A to open the Accessibility submenu. Press ENTER on Extended Keyboard Navigation to turn it on. To enable Extended Keyboard Navigation in Skype 4.1, do the following:

Press ALT+T to open the Tools menu. Press A to open the Accessibility submenu. Press ENTER on Extended Keyboard Navigation to turn it on. Answering and Ending a Call To answer an incoming call, press ALT+PAGE UP. You can use the keystroke from any application once Skype alerts you that some one is calling.

To hang up once you are finished with a call, press ALT+PAGE DOWN. Just like answering a call, you can use this keystroke from any application.

Changing the View Skype has two layouts: Default View and Compact View. By default, Skype opens in the Default View.

In Skype version 4.1, the Default View shows your contact list and conversations in one main window. While you can use JAWS in this view, you may find it tedious to navigate around especially if you have multiple conversations active as all conversations are placed in the same window.

For best results, it is recommended that you switch to Compact View, which displays your Contact list, and conversations pop up in their own separate windows. You can then use ALT+TAB or the Windows List dialog box (INSERT+F10) to move between conversation windows and the Skype main window.

To switch to Compact View, press ALT+V to open the View menu, UP ARROW to Compact view, and press ENTER.

If you are using Skype version 3.8, conversations open in separate windows by default so there is no need to change the view.

Freedom Scientific has several podcasts for Skype. Go to http://www.freedomscientific.com and type "Skype Scripts" in the search box to find them. 

For third-party scripts, please go to: 
http://www.dlee.org/skype/ 

Skype technical support and questions

We do not answer Skype installation questions or troubleshoot computer problems. For Skype help, please go the Skype help files: 
https://support.skype.com/ 

Rules of conduct in a phone or Skype conference

We want to have a good conference where everyone can get their questions answered and contribute to the discussion.  Therefore, it will be like a classroom to some extent, where the moderator is like the teacher, leading the discussion and taking questions. 

• We are polite and helpful at all times.  
• We are patient and let others speak.
• We use appropriate language at all times. 
• We do not discuss private matters or off-topic subjects.  We stay on the topic so that everyone can get the most out of the discussion.
• The moderator will schedule the conferences and place information about them on the Handiham website. 
• Adding other participants to your Skype name during a conference will result in you being dropped immediately. Only the moderator will add participants. 
• The conference is first-come, first-served. The maximum participation is 10 users. 
• We do not use video, as it takes too much bandwidth and is a pay-for charge for more than two Skype users at once. 
• The moderator will terminate users who do not follow the rules. As dear old dad used to say, "Don't make me stop this car!"