Guide Dogs

by Yosh-E-O

Chapter 4 - Isabelle: Mayor's Assistant?

Author's Note:

FEATURED COMMENT QUESTION & ANSWER:

STARLIGHT NOVA:
(Sorry I can't do a direct reply. I went to try and write one on your page but I think you have comments turned off.)

Thank you for being "That Guy". You have a REALLY valid question that more people need to know the answer to.

Those who are totally blind, or even partially blind, can get software known as Screen Readers. A screen reader is software designed to integrate with most software to use a mechanical voice to read text while allowing me to use special key sequences to access 'Edit Boxes' and other relevant regions of web sites, word processors, E-Mail, etc.

The problem is they have limits. :( So I am only able to do so much on a given site, or application, as a result of software conflicts / non-compatibility. So, with "FiM Fiction", I need to use Firefox and Internet Explorer to genuinely create a story. Each application tells me so much on how to use the "Create Story" page. It's a pain but still lets me post. :)

The other issue, with FiM Fiction, is how I can write comments but cannot respond to them. I can also respond to messages but not start them. :( However FiM Fiction is one of a few sites I can navigate enough for it to be useful despite many web sites having compatibility issues with my screen reading software.

The screen reader I use is called "JAWS" and is made by Freedom Scientific. They try very hard to keep the screen reader accessible to all software. However they can only do so much as technology evolves faster with more concern being given to graphical interfaces, which screen readers can't interpret.

I'm just glad I have a screen reader as, despite the flaws and system requirements, it allows me to still be active on the internet without eyesight. :)

Yosh was stunned at how seamlessly Isabelle guided him through the town. He nearly forgot he was without his traveling stick as they proceeded at a leisurely pace all the way to their destination.

“Town Hall, mayor,” the vest-wearing doggy with the jingly-bells on her head announced. “Shall I take you to your desk?”

“Uh…,” trailed the confused duck dragon. He knew he was here to help bring Canine Crossroads into good favor with Equestria. However he couldn’t help but start thinking about what Spike had told him had happened when he had too much of a good thing. It took quite awhile to fix Ponyville after calamity Spike appeared as a result of greed and Yosh didn’t want to end up the same way if things just kept seeming to be so in-favor of himself here at canine Crossroads.

“Mayor?” questioned Isabelle as she retained a hooked hold around Yosh’s arm. “Are you ready? The first step is right in front of you.”

“…Sure?” he replied nervously as the eager dog got him up the stairs and positioned herself in front of the double-door.
“They open outward,” she said while tapping the door handle. “Our most recent mayor was big on fire safety but I don’t want you to hit yourself going in.”

“Right,” thought Yosh as he pulled the door open and made his way inward.

“Good job, mayor!” cheered Isabelle. “Need me to help you to your desk?”

“Uh…,” puzzled Yosh. He didn’t know anything about how they got to where they did, where they were, nor what was in the room. He also didn’t know how he was navigating the town so flawlessly with someone who had never met him and had no idea, unless Princess Celestia was hiding something from him, that he was totally blind.

TAP-TAP
DING-DING-DING

Isabelle shook her head to ring her bells after gaining the duck-dragon’s attention from a tap upon his shoulder.
“Let me have an arm and I’ll take you to your chair, mayor?” she suggested. “We can get down to official business once you have a seat.”

Yosh was amazed at how seamless the motions from the entrance to the desk were.

“Comfortable, mayor?” asked Isabelle with glee. “I’ve got my clipboard here to go through all the current business of the town. Then we can hear what you have to say about how to make it even better!”

The duck-dragon sighed as he faced towards Isabelle’s voice. He was getting way too much attention and felt a fear creeping on that he’d grow in size, just as Spike did, from all the affection and power he was appearing to be given.
“Sure…?” he trailed as he mentally tried to juggle his fears with wanting to make sure he didn’t fail the princess in building relations with the town.

“Wonderful!” gleed Isabelle as she shook the bells on her head and sat in a chair on the opposite side of the desk. “Here’s what we got…”

Yosh listened as he deeply wished Spike, or even twilight, were in this particular position instead of him. Then there was the strange reminder of how he had almost flown through town without tripping, feeling lost, or worrying about slamming himself into something despite not having any physical vision. How was this all possible? Why was this all happening? Why did he just now have to remember he was blind?