[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

4448.0. "Blind college student needs assistance" by LEXS01::KEEFE () Tue Feb 27 1996 15:17

    This request if for a friend of mine's son.  He is 19 years old,
    a sophmore at Salem State College and blind.  He has a IBM compatable
    486 computer, which is equipt with a voice synthesizer and other
    layers application that allow him to place books and papers on
    a component of the system and the system will read what is on 
    the page to him.  It also has spell checker and other options 
    available to him.  He purchased this system with the help of 
    the Lions club in his town, and there was a big piece in the
    paper and all.  It seems that after the presentation the field
    sales person gave him about a one hour orientation on the system
    and has not answered his calls for assistance since.  ALL in all he
    is able to use this system, but has had lots of frustration using
    it to its full potential.  I  told him to contact the people in 
    his study groups at school to no avail, and his instuctors do not 
    have the time to go over the manuals with him, (he is only one of
    a couple of dozen blind students at the college)  I am no PC guru
    and all the layered application on top that allow him to use this
    system as a blind person are not being utilized.  I have not 
    seen the system, but I am looking for somene or some organization 
    that might take the time to spend a few hours with him and help him out.  
    He is coming home soon and said that he will bring the manual home on 
    spring break, but if I can find someone who might be able to help
    I will ask him to bring the entire system home with him in March.
    
    Are there any good samaratians out there, versed in computer systems
    for the blind?  Any assistance or direction would be greatly appreciated...
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
4448.1might to able to help outICS::CATORIOTue Feb 27 1996 15:2513
    
    Good day:
    
             I might be able to help out. Can you tell me what town this
    person lives in. I live in Leominster, can travel a few miles to help
    out. I have a few nights in the beginning of the week free.
    
    I can be reached at ICS::CATORIO
    
    
    regards
    Phil
    
4448.2exitLEXS01::KEEFETue Feb 27 1996 17:0312
    Hi,
    
    I guess I forgot how far reaching this notes files goes.
    Jonathan lives in Winchester Ma.  It is right off of rt 128
    in Woburn.  He lives about ten minutes away from the 
    Burlington Mall.  In fact, for some enterprising person
    you could come out this way, drop your significient other
    off to shop at the mall and spend couple of hours with Jonathan.  
    
    Thanks for all your help and advice so far,\
    
    Donna
4448.3GOOEY::WWALKERhoonamana me bwangoTue Feb 27 1996 17:1413
    One of my goals at Digital is to make the X Window System more
    accessible to people with disabilities.  I'm familiar with quite
    a few of the PC-based solutions for people with visual impairments
    and might be able to help out some.
    
    In addition, there is a mailing list, GUISPEAK@VM1.NoDak.EDU, that
    people often use to work through problems with their screen reading
    equipment.  I'm not quite sure how to sign up for the list, but
    maybe sending mail to guispeak-request@vm1.nodak.edu might work.
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Will
4448.4my son can helpUSDEV::BWHITETue Feb 27 1996 17:4711
    My 15 yr. old son, who is blind, is very experienced in using many
    different types of computer adaptive products for the blind. From your
    brief explanation, I would guess that the harware being used is the
    Kurzweil reader (now owned by Xerox). Matt has used this and can
    probably help. Also, we have a scanner and appropriate software to
    convert text manuals into computer text files.
    Matt would also be able to introduce your friend's son to many types
    of adaptive software and hardware. He is a true computer nut!!
    
    If interested, contact me off-line.   Ben White  DTN 297-7348
                                                           USDEV::BWHITE
4448.5More contacts and help...SHANE::PACIELLOWed Feb 28 1996 04:5557
    
    I have a feeling that your son probably has something like OpenBook
    Unbound from Arkenstone, in addition to screenreader software for the
    blind. 
    
    First things, first. Good contacts.
    
    Joe Lazzaro is technical director of the Mass. Commission for the
    Blind. He's written a couple of excellent books. One is, "Adaptive
    Technologies for Learning and Work Environments (ISBN: 0-8389-0615-X). 
    You're welcome to borrow my copy if you like. It is available in
    Braille from Recordings for the Blind. You can reach Joe by e-mail at:
    Lazzaro@bix.com or Lazzaro@world.std.com.
    
    If you need braille documentation for any DOS or Windows application,
    let me know. RFB is working on converting these books to braille and
    voice-ready files now.
    
    The next local guru I was contact is Brian Charlson. Brian is the
    technical director for the Carroll Center for the Blind. The Carroll
    Center is located in Newton. Phone Number is: 617/969-6200. 
    
    Finally, Judy Brewer is the Project Director at the Mass. Assistive
    Technology Partnership Center for Childrens Hospital, Boston. You can
    contact her at: 617/735-6380
    
    If you can tell me exactly what products you have, I'll provide you
    with technical contacts and potential instructors. As an aside, Ben's
    son sounds like a terrific friend and may be your first best bet to get
    immediate training. If you have access to the Web and you need product
    information or data related to disabilities access, please refer to 
    http:/www.webable.com. It's an information repository for disabilities
    access. (It's also a project I pitched to Digital a year ago and was
    turned down...so I built it myself).
    
    Regards,
    
    Mike
    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|d|i|g|i|t|a|l|
Michael G. Paciello                              Paciello@shane.enet.dec.com
Assistive Technology Consultant                  Phone: (603) 881-1831 (w)
Sr. Software Engineer                            Phone: (603) 598-9544 (soho)
Shared Engineering Services (SES)                FAX: (603) 881-0120
Guest Editor: W3C Disabilities Web Page
Chair: Electronics Industries Association/Assistive Devices Division 
PR Chair: International Committee for Accessible Document Design (ICADD)
Member: Project EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)
Member: Disabilities Access for X (DACx)
Member: NCSA/NSF Mosaic Access Project (MAP)
Member: Universal Access Project (UAP)
Author: ACCESS.TXT
Owner: WebABLE (TM) (WWW Server for Accessibility and Disabilities)
URL: http://www.webable.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
4448.6FYI: BCS Sponsors Disabilities Session at MIT, March 28 at 7:00SHANE::PACIELLOThu Mar 28 1996 15:1832
Hi:

For those interested, I'll be part of a Boston Computer Society sponsored
symposium focusing on "Community on the Web". My specific theme is:

"Building a Community of Non-Auditory, Non-Visual, Non-Verbal, Immobile,
Web-ABLE Persons"

The session meeting is Thursday, March 28 at 7 pm,  MIT Building 6, 
Room 120. Building 6 is at the end of Infinite Corridor on the right.  

Regards,

Mike Paciello

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|d|i|g|i|t|a|l|
Michael G. Paciello                              Paciello@shane.enet.dec.com
Assistive Technology Consultant                  Phone: (603) 881-1831 (w)
Sr. Software Engineer                            
Shared Engineering Services (SES)                FAX: (603) 881-0120
Guest Editor: W3C Disabilities Web Page
Chair: Electronics Industries Association/Assistive Devices Division 
PR Chair: International Committee for Accessible Document Design (ICADD)
Member: Project EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)
Member: Disabilities Access for X (DACx)
Member: NCSA/NSF Mosaic Access Project (MAP)
Member: Universal Access Project (UAP)
Author: ACCESS.TXT
WebMaster: WebABLE! (TM) (WWW Server for Accessibility and Disabilities)
URL: http://www.webable.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4448.7For future disabilities informationSHANE::PACIELLOMike PacielloThu May 23 1996 01:2721
    As a result of the corporate sale of Polycenter products to Computer
    Associates, my last day with Digital is May 31. 
    
    Should anyone here at Digital require help in the area of assistive
    technology for people with disabilities, please do not hesitate to
    contact me. I do have my own business on the side. You can
    call me at:
    
    WebABLE! Solutions
    (603) 598-9544
    
    Email: mpaciello@webable.com
           mpaciello@w3.org
    
    Website: http://www.webable.com/
    
    Many regards,
    
    Mike Paciello