Lead me, guide me...

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Screenreads and Text to Speech

Earlier I posted a blog about the different types of screenreaders, however, going back I noticed the links on the provided website weren't linked properly. So,Click here for a different website that provides not only types of screenreaders, but the different download styles based on your type of computer (Windows, Macs, etc.)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Vendor Specilization

It's often difficult to find products for the visually impaired on the web and most of the time google only pops up with a lot of "iffy" websites. The New York Institute for Special Education put out a specific vendor resource list specifically for technology for the use of the blind.

It includes:
Ackley Appliance
Active & Able
Adaptive Technology Consulting
Ai Squared
American Thermoform
Arkenstone
Aroga Group
Artic Technologies
Ash Technologies
Bartimaeus Group
Bavisoft
Beyond Sight
Biolink
Blazie Engineering
Braille Jymico
Cambium Learning, Inc.
Choco-Braille
Clarity Solutions
Dancing Dots
Dolphin Computer Access
Dragon Systems
Duxbury Systems
Enabling Technologies
Enhanced Vision Systems
En-Vision America
EVAS
Freedom Scientific
Frontier Computing
GW Micro, Inc.
Handy Tech Elecktronik
Henter-Joyce, Inc.
HumanWare, Inc.
ifbyphone Independent Living Aids, Inc.
Independent Living Technologies
Innovative Rehabilitation Technology
Innoventions, Inc.
JBliss Low Vision Systems
Kurzweil Educational Systems
Lab Computers, Inc.
Lorien Systems
LS&S Group, Inc.
Maxi-Aids
NanoPac, Inc
Nuance Communications, Inc
OVAC
Optelec US, Inc.
Orbit Research
Parrot Plus
PC Squared
Productivity Works
Pulse Data Humanware Inc.
Quantum Technology
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
Rehabtools.com
Robotron
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
Sighted Electronics
Tack-Tiles®
TeleSensory
Texthelp Systems Inc
VisionCue

Click Here To View Resource List

Blind Driver Challenge

In 2005, the NFB challenged Viriginia Technology to make a car designed for visually challenged drivers. In 2009, two of the NFB's chairmen, who have been blind since birth, tested out what they call "RoMeLa". The Blind Driver Challenge will reportedly make its next stop at the National Federation of the Blind's Youth Slam summer camp for teens July 26 through Aug. 1 in College Park, Md.

Click Here for an Article about this car

Click Here for Informative Youtube Video

Monday, February 8, 2010

Practicing Best Practices!

I enjoyed reading about this students experience:

Brenda Daitch's face is a familiar one on the CSUN campus. Starting as a graduate student and peer mentor in the Center on Disabilities, Brenda obtained an entry level professional position in the Workability IV program when she graduated. Brenda recently accepted a position as a counselor for the Department of Rehabilitation but before leaving chronicled her "journey to success." Congratulations to Brenda for her recent promotion and for achieving her goal of making a difference in the community.

Dream...

When I arrived at CSU Northridge in the fall of 2001, my dreams were too numerous to count. I had just moved across country to fulfill my dream of living in Los Angeles and was excited to begin my adult life. Empowered by my move to L.A, I set my dreams as big as I could possibly set them.

Most of all, I wanted to make a difference in the Disabled Community and was confident that obtaining a Master's of Science degree in Counseling from the Educational Psychology & Counseling department would be the perfect first step to realizing this dream.

I must also admit that, from day one, becoming a Counselor at the Center on Disabilities was high on my "To-Do" list.

Grow...

Growth is rarely one-dimensional. I experienced interpersonal, professional, and emotional growth while at CSUN.

As an intern in various offices on campus, I quickly learned what was expected of me as a professional in Student Affairs. Working alongside other professionals, I was able to discover what I wanted from my career and how I wanted to arrive at my chosen goal. This path was not easy, but I knew I had the unrelenting support of my fellow graduate school cohort members and formed friendships with them that are unlike any of the friendships I have ever had.

While my interpersonal and professional growth was meaningful, my emotional growth blossomed during my years as a student here. With the help of faculty and staff, I feel that I was able to develop into a person that can handle almost anything with grace and dignity.

Achieve...

As a Resource Specialist and Counselor at the Center on Disabilities, I feel lucky to work with students to assist them in discovering how they can develop and achieve their own dreams. However, my work with the Disabled Community does not stop here. In an effort to promote the awareness of issues that the Disabled Community faces, I deliver presentations to student leadership groups and have become involved in state and local politics to advance the rights and social standing of people with disabilities.

Looking back at what I have achieved during my years as a student at CSUN and since graduation in 2004, I truly feel accomplished and excited by what the future holds.

"The Center on Disabilities is committed to the vision of an inclusive society in which persons of all abilities have the chance to achieve their goals and experience success. Through the provision of excellent training and research, we nurture learning and innovation to improve the world for people with disabilities.

We invite you to visit our web site regularly for information and updates on the activities at the Center on Disabilities including our Training Programs (ATACP).

For services for students with disabilities, please visit the Disability Resources & Educational Services site."

http://www.csun.edu/cod/index.php

An update on Missy's Progress.

We have experienced a frustration lately in Missy's school, with regards to her ability to participate in the regular classroom. When we lived in GA, Missy went to computer class, and with the other children worked on computer keyboarding skills. She did well. I feel that this is key in her future educational and employment pursuits. I want her to be able to type. And so, guess what? She can. This is what being an advocate is really all about. So, when she told me she had spent the last few weeks sitting self contained with the schools TA, I about let out as much steam as a coal train.
So I asked Missy what she wanted, she said to learn computers in a regular classroom.

email one: Missy delivered a message this morning about not wanting TA's to pull her out of computer class any more. Would you be so kind as to clarify this message?

I am a bit confused. Mrs. TA, under braille teachers request, has been working with Missy on the JAWS program that would allow Missy to use computers and to be able to hear what is on the screen. Yes, they work on homework as they practice the program, but mostly they are working on learning the program. This takes place during her computer class, second period in the physical therapy room because this is the room that has the JAWS program on it.... The computer class is working on a five page report on the history of computers; it was felt that learning a program that would allow her to use computers more readily would be more beneficial to her.

Please let me know your wishes.

My response: My wish is that she be in the computer class with a computer instructor. The Jaws program, is provided for her success in that class. If she needs head phones to allow for less disruption, that that should be the only accommodation.

If the Computer instructor feels unqualified to instruct missy, I would like to set up a meeting asap.

Thanks

So, a day in the life...

Friday, February 5, 2010

Career Connecter

AFB CareerConnect is a free resource for people who want to learn about the range and diversity of jobs performed by adults who are blind or visually impaired throughout the United States and Canada.

If you register (for free) with Career Connect, you can develop a Personal Data Sheet and build a resume, keep up with your appointments using an electronic calendar, and more. You can also search for a mentor in a specific career or become one as well- their careers range from fitness trainer to voice-over actress. Click here to register.

Click here for this information directly.

Career Success Stories for Visually Impaired

Below are links to visually impaired success stories. If you want to get into a certain career, maybe there is a story of someone who has already helped pave the path for you-- if not, don't be afraid to pave the road yourself!