Benilda Key
Pronouns: she/her
Email: Benilda.Key@YekNeb.com
LinkedIn: benilda-key
Phone: (512) 779-1707
Austin, Texas
Summary
Software Engineer with 27 years of experience building assistive technology applications for Microsoft Windows. Deep C++ expertise with strong object-oriented design skills, plus a track record of delivering customer-driven features and resolving complex defects. Known for learning new concepts quickly and working effectively on cross-functional product teams.
Qualifications
Programming Languages
- C
- C++
- C#
- Lisp
- JavaScript
- Python
- JAWS Scripting Language
Shell Scripting Languages
- Bash
- PowerShell
- Windows Batch
Build Systems
- CMake
- GNU Make
- MSBuild
- NAnt
Version Control Systems
- Git
- Perforce
- Subversion
Markup Languages
- HTML
- Markdown
APIs, Frameworks, and Libraries
- Windows API (Windows Application Programming Interface)
- MSAA (Microsoft Active Accessibility)
- WPF
- WinForms
- Microsoft UI Automation (UIA)
- IAccessible2
- STL (Standard Template Library)
- MFC (Microsoft Foundation Class Library)
- ATL (Active Template Library)
- WTL (Windows Template Library)
- Boost C++ Libraries
- COM (Component Object Model)
- Microsoft SAPI (Speech Application Programming Interface) 4
- Microsoft SAPI 5
- Microsoft Speech Platform 11
Toolchains
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- Mingw-64
- GCC
- CLang
Applications
- Eclipse
- CLion
- Pandoc
- Mozilla Firefox
- Google Chrome
Operating Systems
- Microsoft Windows
- GNU/Linux
- macOS
- FreeBSD
- Solaris
- iOS
- Android
Other Skills
- Cross-platform software development in C++
- WiX Toolset
- Debugging and troubleshooting
- Remote debugging using the Visual Studio remote debugger
- Windows hooks via the Windows API function SetWindowsHookEx
- MSAA event hooks via the Windows API function SetWinEventHook
Experience
Software Engineer
Freedom Scientific, a Vispero company
Clearwater, FL
https://www.freedomscientific.com/
- Contributed to the development of JAWS, JAWS Inspect, Fusion, and ZoomText as part of a Scrum team.
- Ported libnumbertext to Visual Studio and implemented the International Number Processing Improvements feature of JAWS 2025.2505.43 using libnumbertext.
- Assisted with updating the installers for JAWS, JAWS Inspect, Fusion, and ZoomText to use WiX Toolset v5, previously the installers used WiX Toolset v3.
- Assisted with the development of an accessible WPF application that was used on the Pokémon Automated Retail Vending Machines. The application is used in conjunction with JAWS for Kiosk.
Software Engineer
- Lead developer of JAWS Inspect.
- Updated the JAWS Inspect browser extension to Manifest V3. The Manifest V3 extension was successfully posted to both the Chrome Web Store and the Firefox Browser Add-Ons page.
- Contributed to the development of JAWS and other Vispero products, with a focus on implementing features requested by and fixing bugs reported by enterprise customers of Vispero including Cerner, Morgan Stanley, and Nuance.
- JAWS Scripting for enterprise customers of Vispero.
- Assisted with the development of accessible kiosks for Burger King and McDonald’s using JAWS for Kiosk.
- Provided guidance on adding accessibility features to products including Foxit Software PhantomPDF and Nuance Power PDF.
- WCAG testing.
Software Engineer
Freedom Scientific, a Vispero company
Clearwater, FL
https://www.freedomscientific.com/
Used my knowledge of C++, object-oriented programming techniques, Microsoft Windows internals, Windows API, STL, MFC, ATL, WTL, COM, MSAA, Microsoft SAPI 4, Microsoft SAPI 5, Microsoft Visual Studio, and debugging and troubleshooting in carrying out the following responsibilities. These responsibilities included the implementation of new product features, refactoring of old code, and fixing bugs.
- Played a major role on the Infrastructure team, which was responsible for the development of shared components that are used by two or more of the products developed by Freedom Scientific.
- Played a major role on the teams responsible for the development of several of the Assistive Technology applications developed by Freedom Scientific including JAWS, a screen reader, and MAGic, a screen magnifier.
- Played a lesser role on the teams responsible for the development of the PAC Mate, an accessible Pocket PC device, OpenBook, a scanning and reading application for the blind, and FS Reader, an accessible DAISY book reader.
- Worked on a project to produce a lightweight version of JAWS for use on Kiosk systems and restricted security environments.
- Implemented a Windows kernel driver that plays a vital role in the authorization system used by Freedom Scientific. Prior to being assigned this task I had no knowledge of how to write kernel mode drivers. In less than one week I had taught myself the skills required to write a Windows kernel driver and completed the first version of the driver.
- Worked on a joint project with Freedom Scientific and IBM to make the IBM Host-On-Demand software accessible via JAWS.
- Worked on a joint project with Freedom Scientific and Sun Microsystems to make Java Swing applications accessible to the JAWS and MAGic user.
- Worked on a joint project with IBM Japan and Freedom Scientific to convert JAWS to a Unicode application and to develop the first Japanese version of JAWS.
Associate Software Engineer
Henter-Joyce
Saint Petersburg, FL
- Responsible for customizing JAWS and MAGic using a proprietary scripting language developed by Henter-Joyce for better interoperability with various applications that run under Microsoft Windows.
- Took the initiative to write a much-needed system diagnostic application for the technical support team of Henter-Joyce. This application could be run by users who needed technical support for one reason or another to supply the technical support team with vital information about their computer system. This application was developed during my spare time and served as a project in which I could apply my knowledge as I taught myself C++. This application was distributed by Henter-Joyce for several years with JAWS and MAGic and was used during technical support calls as an essential part of resolving the user’s problems.
Education
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Pursued an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. No degree was obtained.
Midlands Technical College
Columbia, South Carolina
General studies with a focus on Biology. No degree was obtained.