by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Contributor:
On July 18, 2024, a faulty security update to Windows computers caused a massive technology outage, impacting everything from airlines to banks. While most systems are now operational again, it is important for everyone, and particularly people with vision loss, to prepare for possible impacts to productivity, or to services used regularly. An article from Process Excellence Network is geared toward business customers; however, its first suggestion is widely applicable: “Determine what constitutes a major incident.” People with vision loss may want to consider what services they rely on most; what services they may be able to use as a backup; and what solutions might not need technology, if necessary. Just as anyone who uses a screen reader ideally has two different ones in case of accessibility problems, Calvin Wankhede notes in his article from Android Authority that it is also a good idea to have two completely different operating systems. For example, if Windows experiences a problem, having MacOS, Linux or Ubuntu available can minimize the loss to productivity and keep communications going. James Kendra, co-director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware, points out in an article for USA Today that “it’s a good idea to have cash on hand in case you can’t use mobile payment options or ATMs are down.” Those with vision loss can make sure they know how to fold their money (as noted in a Perkins School for the Blind article) so it is immediately recognizable. Kendra also suggests keeping paper copies of documents. In the same article, Alyssa Provencio, professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, says that having a radio can be helpful in emergencies when other communications are not working. This also applies to landline phones, but if you don’t have one, use wi-fi to communicate if cellular signals are down, or a personal hotspot to allow your computer Internet access via your phone’s cellular connection. Finally, pay attention to when your favorite services have scheduled planned outages so you are not surprised. Much more information and helpful tips can be found at the links above.
