I am a blind organist, with a love for playing the majestic pipe organ. Currently, to practice for services, I must travel to my local church, a journey that requires the assistance of a driver each time. Hoping to find a solution for independent practice at home, I discovered software like Hauptwerk and Sweelinq, reputed for their realistic emulation of a pipe organ's rich sound. Sadly, the joy was short-lived. It was alarming to realize that these top virtual pipe organ applications lack accessibility for blind users, specifically, they are not compatible with screen reading software like Jaws, nvda or Narrator.

Too many in our community share my story of exclusion. Our disability should not bar us from enjoying and practicing the music we love. This problem of accessibility becomes not just a personal hindrance, but a societal one. 

We are calling on the manufacturers of software like Hauptwerk and Sweelinq to make their virtual pipe organ applications accessible to the visually impaired. Enhancing the software to be compatible with screen reading technologies would help make music creation a more inclusive process for all. By doing so, music enthusiasts, like myself, who are visually impaired, can independently practice, learn and immerse ourselves more efficiently in creating music. We demand equal access to digital music tools, reflecting our rights in music, technology, and in society.

Please join this vital cause and demand equal access in digital music. Sign this petition and support the inclusion of visually impaired individuals in the digital music world.

A big thank you in advance to everyone signing this petition.