Gabriel has provided us with another great podcast about Humanware's Apex, the newest model of their accessible PDA/braille notetaker. This time, Gabriel talks about a lot of Apex's new features, and he compares the Apex to its previous model, the mPower. Click on the title to download the file and give it a listen!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Apex Exploration Podcast
One of the questions I asked of our students who wanted to be the first students to win the use of the Apex braille notetakers (See my November, 2010 post for more information on the contest):
"How will you 'give back'?". In other words, how would these contest winners, as premier users in the Los Angeles Unified School District of Humanware's newest accessible PDA, help other students learn about the features, advantages, and ways that using the Apex can help them in their school career? Well, Gabriel, one of the winners, is creating a series of podcasts on how the Apex can be a wonderful (and fun) tool to complete school assignments, read digital books, and even use as a GPS device! Here is the first of his podcasts. If you click on the title/heading of this blogpost, Gabriel's podcast will start downloading to your computer. I apologize to Gabriel for taking so long to get his first show posted, but I had a learning curve to figure out how to post an mp3 file to my blog. See, teachers learn new skills every day, too! So, enjoy Gabriel's first Apex podcast--I think he did a fantastic job!--and check back for another of his podcasts soon, as well as the comments from another of our Apex contest winners.
"How will you 'give back'?". In other words, how would these contest winners, as premier users in the Los Angeles Unified School District of Humanware's newest accessible PDA, help other students learn about the features, advantages, and ways that using the Apex can help them in their school career? Well, Gabriel, one of the winners, is creating a series of podcasts on how the Apex can be a wonderful (and fun) tool to complete school assignments, read digital books, and even use as a GPS device! Here is the first of his podcasts. If you click on the title/heading of this blogpost, Gabriel's podcast will start downloading to your computer. I apologize to Gabriel for taking so long to get his first show posted, but I had a learning curve to figure out how to post an mp3 file to my blog. See, teachers learn new skills every day, too! So, enjoy Gabriel's first Apex podcast--I think he did a fantastic job!--and check back for another of his podcasts soon, as well as the comments from another of our Apex contest winners.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Celebrate Mardi Gras by Visiting the Bookshare Blog!
Well, it's Mardi Gras, laissez les bons temps roulez! Did you know that Bookshare has a blog? Check out their recommendations for some great New Orleans reading at http://blog.bookshare.org/
They have so many great resources on their website, check out the Training link for more information about how to use their wonderful service!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Another Honor for One of Our Apex Winners
Karen A., the Marshall High student who was a winner in our "Win the Use of an Apex" contest has just received another award. Congratulations; I'm so excited for her. I'll let Karen tell you about it (read on):
"After my GEARUP counselor informed me about the Questbridge National College Match Program, I applied. The Program assists "high-achieving low-income" high school seniors in gaining admission and full four-year scholarships at some of the most selective universities. Questbridge's thirty partner colleges include Princeton, Yale, and Stanford, as well as Amherst College, Scripps College, and the University of Southern California. Not only are the Questbridge application and the schools' application fees waived, but Questbridge also has a national Quest Scholars Network for its students to mentor one another while in college.
"In order to apply, I had to fill out an online application, including a number of written questions allowing me to give a fuller picture of myself than I could have otherwise done in a typical college application. This is because the Questbridge application asks open-ended questions such as how applicants spend their weekend; another asked what inspires students in life. Students must also rank up to eight of Questbridge's partner colleges. Finalists are then selected, and we had to send additional information to each of the schools we ranked. After a few weeks, finalists are either matched with a school, or those that are not can forward their Questbridge applications and apply to Questbridge partners through regular decision.
"I am very humbled and thankful for being awarded a Questbridge scholarship to the University of Southern California!"
For more information, please visit:
http://www.questbridge.org/students/program.html
"After my GEARUP counselor informed me about the Questbridge National College Match Program, I applied. The Program assists "high-achieving low-income" high school seniors in gaining admission and full four-year scholarships at some of the most selective universities. Questbridge's thirty partner colleges include Princeton, Yale, and Stanford, as well as Amherst College, Scripps College, and the University of Southern California. Not only are the Questbridge application and the schools' application fees waived, but Questbridge also has a national Quest Scholars Network for its students to mentor one another while in college.
"In order to apply, I had to fill out an online application, including a number of written questions allowing me to give a fuller picture of myself than I could have otherwise done in a typical college application. This is because the Questbridge application asks open-ended questions such as how applicants spend their weekend; another asked what inspires students in life. Students must also rank up to eight of Questbridge's partner colleges. Finalists are then selected, and we had to send additional information to each of the schools we ranked. After a few weeks, finalists are either matched with a school, or those that are not can forward their Questbridge applications and apply to Questbridge partners through regular decision.
"I am very humbled and thankful for being awarded a Questbridge scholarship to the University of Southern California!"
For more information, please visit:
http://www.questbridge.org/students/program.html
Monday, November 29, 2010
November Keyboard Shortcut
Well, November is ending, but here's a keyboard shortcut that can carry you into December and beyond:
Quitting/exiting an application/program--for the Windows user, press and hold Alt, then press the F4 key. This works for most applications, including Type to Learn, Zoomtext, and browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox.
On a Mac, the shortcut to quit applications is Command-q. Try them out, they can help students and teachers work more efficiently on the computer by not having to search for that mouse cursor!
Quitting/exiting an application/program--for the Windows user, press and hold Alt, then press the F4 key. This works for most applications, including Type to Learn, Zoomtext, and browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox.
On a Mac, the shortcut to quit applications is Command-q. Try them out, they can help students and teachers work more efficiently on the computer by not having to search for that mouse cursor!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Congratulations to the Winners of Use of the Apex Accessible PDA!
Well, it was a difficult choice, but the winners of the "Be the First LAUSD student to Use an Apex" Contest* are: Karen A. from Marshall High School and Guadalupe G. from Nobel Middle School. We also have a runner-up, Gabriel L. from Irving Middle School. Gabriel will be assigned a special Apex that has the Sendero GPS software, maps and blue-tooth receiver while he is being trained by one of our Orientation and Mobility Instructors. All three students wrote terrific essays in response to questions I posed. Their responses are presented below. Congratulations to all the winners, and to the other 6 students who submitted essays to the contest, you will be placed in the queue to be the next students to upgrade your mPowers as we purchase new Apex accessible PDA's. Thanks to all the students who participated in our contest!
*PLEASE NOTE: the winning essays entitle each of the winners to trade up their mPower BrailleNote to the new Apex while they are students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Visually Impaired Program.
WINNER 1: KAREN A., MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL, GRADE 12
QUESTION: We seem to be moving more and more toward digital files (electronic books as .brf or DAISY files). If you had the choice today, would you choose an embossed hard copy of your books, or would you prefer an electronic file to use on your braille notetaker? Why? Would you prefer certain types of books in one format or the other? Explain your preferences.
Winning Essay: With technological advances, I still consider embossed braille books very important. Embossed Math and Science books provide readers with proper use of the Nemeth code. Because my Calculus book is only available in audio format (CD), I have no idea on the more advanced nemeth symbols for characters like ' and Greek letters like θ. Consequently, I have low scores on standardized mathematics tests because the only time I ever see these symbols is on tests unless the problems I am solving are transcribed for me. Most of the time, I must write and solve these problems in computer braille on my mPower so my teacher can see my work in print, and because computer braille only uses the numbers from the Nemeth code, other Nemeth symbols for characters like π must be assigned on the keyboard and braille display so that they print out accordingly. Because my classes move so quickly, it takes too long to do my homework on the brailler and have someone overwrite it. I also prefer embossed science books for the same reason. In this case however, my chemistry and physics books are available electronically; both of them are very difficult to read because of the extra characters added in the files. In my Physics book for example, a problem when translated in computer braille may look like:
frac (m/s) over s/frac = frac m over s/frac × frac 1 < over s/frac = frac m over s^2/frac
because of the HTML code used for computers
In grade 2 [contracted] braille, the same problem looks identical except the less-than is spelled out. It is so much easier to simply look at the problem in an embossed book where it WOULD look like:
(m/s)/s=m/s*1/s=m/s²
Physics is already hard enough to understand with the book in front of you; students do not need the extra confusion of trying to decipher example problems which are meant to help you, NOT frustrate you.
On the other hand, I prefer electronic books for books with more text such as English and History books. First of all, electronic books allow me to access multiple books instantaneously on my mPower WITHOUT having to search for the correct volume, flip to find the page, etc. Rather than having to read one volume of a history workbook to copy the questions and through another embossed textbook to find the answers, I can access both these books with the press of a button. Secondly, obtaining an already available electronic book is much easier than accessing an embossed book which can take months. All I do is either download or request the book from Bookshare [www.bookshare.org] or WebBraille [www.loc.gov/nls], open the book file, and find the chapter or section with the find command. Although I do take the extra time to find and replace the dashes in front of page numbers, this demands much less energy than having to carry three or more volumes of the same book home. Plus, electronic books allow each person to have his or her copy of the book without having to share one volume. Thirdly, I love having novels for English electronically because it facilitates my ability to take close reading notes, which involve analyzing citations throughout the novel. If I were reading a book such as Heart of Darkness in embossed braille, I would have to literally copy the quote word by word out of the book, whereas with an electronic book, I copy and paste the quote into the file containing my notes. Despite the pros and cons of embossed and electronic books, I will continue using both to my advantage depending on what is available.
WINNER 2: GUADALUPE G., NOBEL MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRADE 8
QUESTION: How will you ensure the longevity of your Apex; in other words, how will you care for it? Write a list of at least 5 precautions you will take to keep your Apex safe and in good working order.
Winning Essay: I came to Nobel [Middle School] from Blend, Mr. Pouliot taught me to use the BrailleNote and then I was given an mPower, I have had the same mPower for the last three years it has never had to go in for repair since I have had it, I would like to be one of the first students to have an Apex to use. My mPower has been my best friend and has helped me to be a good student. ... I have always taken good care of my mPower. I don't download stuff to it, or mess around with it. I use my thumb drive, and I am always careful when I put my thumb drive in or take it out. I always try to be careful when I print to not jam the cable in or pull it out too hard. I only use the charger that came with my unit and I always charge it at home. Last week, Mrs. Tomlinson taught us a few new things that will help keep our mPower working longer. Please consider me for an Apex, I will be a responsible user and take good care of it.
RUNNER-UP: GABRIEL L., IRVING MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRADE 8
QUESTION: Being the first to receive the newest technology brings with it some responsibility. Write an essay on how you would benefit our program by being one of the first students to receive an Apex. How will you share your experiences and knowledge of learning to use this new braille notetaker? Why do you think it is important to share your knowledge?
Winning Essay: One way I would love to give back to the VI program after winning the Apex is to create audio tutorials in mp3 format that explain how to use the Apex from beginning to end. One of the things I liked when I got my Victor Reader Stream were the tutorials that were on the Stream. The thing that made these tutorials so special from all the other ones is that you can clearly hear what is going on with the Stream as the person explains it step by step. I've always loved to record things, so I have a lot of technology I can use to make sure that all the BrailleNote prompts are heard as I explain them on the tutorial. I think that audio tutorials are much more helpful to a person learning how to use any new piece of technology because when something is being read on the computer, often times it is difficult to understand. However, if you have real person going through it step by step, and allowing you to hear what the BrailleNote is doing or saying, it'll be much easier for someone who does not have much experience with this piece of technology to quickly get the hang of using it.
Another thing that I think would be very beneficial for the VI program is someone who can work with people who are learning how to use the Apex over the phone or in person. I can be that person. Often times, people who are listening to a tutorial get it right away, but sometimes people still have questions. This is where working with the person who made the tutorial over the phone or in person is helpful. I'm always reachable via my cell phone, and I am more than willing to take the time to work with people using the Apex over the phone for as long as necessary, or until they understand it. I think that this would help out the program a lot, because there might even be less BrailleNotes sent in to Humanware for repair.
*PLEASE NOTE: the winning essays entitle each of the winners to trade up their mPower BrailleNote to the new Apex while they are students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Visually Impaired Program.
WINNER 1: KAREN A., MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL, GRADE 12
QUESTION: We seem to be moving more and more toward digital files (electronic books as .brf or DAISY files). If you had the choice today, would you choose an embossed hard copy of your books, or would you prefer an electronic file to use on your braille notetaker? Why? Would you prefer certain types of books in one format or the other? Explain your preferences.
Winning Essay: With technological advances, I still consider embossed braille books very important. Embossed Math and Science books provide readers with proper use of the Nemeth code. Because my Calculus book is only available in audio format (CD), I have no idea on the more advanced nemeth symbols for characters like ' and Greek letters like θ. Consequently, I have low scores on standardized mathematics tests because the only time I ever see these symbols is on tests unless the problems I am solving are transcribed for me. Most of the time, I must write and solve these problems in computer braille on my mPower so my teacher can see my work in print, and because computer braille only uses the numbers from the Nemeth code, other Nemeth symbols for characters like π must be assigned on the keyboard and braille display so that they print out accordingly. Because my classes move so quickly, it takes too long to do my homework on the brailler and have someone overwrite it. I also prefer embossed science books for the same reason. In this case however, my chemistry and physics books are available electronically; both of them are very difficult to read because of the extra characters added in the files. In my Physics book for example, a problem when translated in computer braille may look like:
frac (m/s) over s/frac = frac m over s/frac × frac 1 < over s/frac = frac m over s^2/frac
because of the HTML code used for computers
In grade 2 [contracted] braille, the same problem looks identical except the less-than is spelled out. It is so much easier to simply look at the problem in an embossed book where it WOULD look like:
(m/s)/s=m/s*1/s=m/s²
Physics is already hard enough to understand with the book in front of you; students do not need the extra confusion of trying to decipher example problems which are meant to help you, NOT frustrate you.
On the other hand, I prefer electronic books for books with more text such as English and History books. First of all, electronic books allow me to access multiple books instantaneously on my mPower WITHOUT having to search for the correct volume, flip to find the page, etc. Rather than having to read one volume of a history workbook to copy the questions and through another embossed textbook to find the answers, I can access both these books with the press of a button. Secondly, obtaining an already available electronic book is much easier than accessing an embossed book which can take months. All I do is either download or request the book from Bookshare [www.bookshare.org] or WebBraille [www.loc.gov/nls], open the book file, and find the chapter or section with the find command. Although I do take the extra time to find and replace the dashes in front of page numbers, this demands much less energy than having to carry three or more volumes of the same book home. Plus, electronic books allow each person to have his or her copy of the book without having to share one volume. Thirdly, I love having novels for English electronically because it facilitates my ability to take close reading notes, which involve analyzing citations throughout the novel. If I were reading a book such as Heart of Darkness in embossed braille, I would have to literally copy the quote word by word out of the book, whereas with an electronic book, I copy and paste the quote into the file containing my notes. Despite the pros and cons of embossed and electronic books, I will continue using both to my advantage depending on what is available.
WINNER 2: GUADALUPE G., NOBEL MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRADE 8
QUESTION: How will you ensure the longevity of your Apex; in other words, how will you care for it? Write a list of at least 5 precautions you will take to keep your Apex safe and in good working order.
Winning Essay: I came to Nobel [Middle School] from Blend, Mr. Pouliot taught me to use the BrailleNote and then I was given an mPower, I have had the same mPower for the last three years it has never had to go in for repair since I have had it, I would like to be one of the first students to have an Apex to use. My mPower has been my best friend and has helped me to be a good student. ... I have always taken good care of my mPower. I don't download stuff to it, or mess around with it. I use my thumb drive, and I am always careful when I put my thumb drive in or take it out. I always try to be careful when I print to not jam the cable in or pull it out too hard. I only use the charger that came with my unit and I always charge it at home. Last week, Mrs. Tomlinson taught us a few new things that will help keep our mPower working longer. Please consider me for an Apex, I will be a responsible user and take good care of it.
RUNNER-UP: GABRIEL L., IRVING MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRADE 8
QUESTION: Being the first to receive the newest technology brings with it some responsibility. Write an essay on how you would benefit our program by being one of the first students to receive an Apex. How will you share your experiences and knowledge of learning to use this new braille notetaker? Why do you think it is important to share your knowledge?
Winning Essay: One way I would love to give back to the VI program after winning the Apex is to create audio tutorials in mp3 format that explain how to use the Apex from beginning to end. One of the things I liked when I got my Victor Reader Stream were the tutorials that were on the Stream. The thing that made these tutorials so special from all the other ones is that you can clearly hear what is going on with the Stream as the person explains it step by step. I've always loved to record things, so I have a lot of technology I can use to make sure that all the BrailleNote prompts are heard as I explain them on the tutorial. I think that audio tutorials are much more helpful to a person learning how to use any new piece of technology because when something is being read on the computer, often times it is difficult to understand. However, if you have real person going through it step by step, and allowing you to hear what the BrailleNote is doing or saying, it'll be much easier for someone who does not have much experience with this piece of technology to quickly get the hang of using it.
Another thing that I think would be very beneficial for the VI program is someone who can work with people who are learning how to use the Apex over the phone or in person. I can be that person. Often times, people who are listening to a tutorial get it right away, but sometimes people still have questions. This is where working with the person who made the tutorial over the phone or in person is helpful. I'm always reachable via my cell phone, and I am more than willing to take the time to work with people using the Apex over the phone for as long as necessary, or until they understand it. I think that this would help out the program a lot, because there might even be less BrailleNotes sent in to Humanware for repair.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Scholarship Money Available to Legally Blind College Bound Students
I got this information in an email and thought I'd pass it on to interested high school students who are college bound and legally blind.
The National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program application is now available online. This national scholarship program is available solely to persons who are legally blind and living in the United States or Puerto Rico. There are 30 awards, from $12,000 to $3,000. In addition, each winner will be assisted to attend the NFB Annual Convention for 2011 in Orlando, Florida. The annual contest begins the first week of November 2010; all documents required from the applicants must be postmarked by the March 31, 2011, deadline. Applications and full details are available online at http://www.nfb.org/scholarships.
Questions may be emailed to scholarships@nfb.org.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Bookshare Training Help Resource
Click on the title of this blogpost to get to Bookshare's great training support page. Watch or listen to webinars and online learning guides.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Narbonne Students Present Tanzania Outcry
The visually impaired students from Narbonne High/Carnegie Middle School were determined to get the word out this summer about the mutilation and murder of visually impaired people with albinism in Tanzania, Africa. Students Celia, Triana, Tina, Natalia, Myrachele, Ana, Ashley, Chaneece, and Chelsea decided to use a multimedia approach: they researched this atrocity on the Internet, made flyers to alert other students in their school, made several oral presentations to high school students at Narbonne High. To continue to spread the word and broaden their audience, they used GarageBand on the iMac to create a podcast. Check out the podcast here (note: the music playing in the background is A Song for Peace by Teresa Jennings)
This project was spearheaded by Mrs. Stokes, one of our fantastic Orientation and Mobility instructors. The final project included the support and encouragement of Mr. Sakamoto and Mrs. Cook (teachers), Mrs. Ascencio, Mrs. Flora, Mrs. Fuentes, Mrs. Paredes, and Mrs. Shahin.
For more information about how you can help stop albino slaughter in Tanzania, Africa, click the link below:
If you'd like to learn more about albinism, visit NOAH, the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation. [Thank you, Shirley Kirk--our amazing program coordinator--for bringing the information back from the NOAH conference--you got the ball rolling!]
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Student Supports Teacher
Our school district (Los Angeles Unified), is going through tough times, as are many other districts in California and around the country. Some wonderful teachers are getting RIF (Reduction in Force) letters, for no reason other than that they are new teachers. As a teacher, I feel powerless to do much to change this situation. Just when I become pessimistic about what's happening in education, along comes a terrific student to remind me that nothing is accomplished if you don't try to make change happen.
Gabriel is a 7th grade student at Irving Middle School, and he recently found out that one of his favorite teachers got a RIF notice. Instead of sighing and being sad, he decided to become an advocate on behalf of his teacher. I'm so proud of Gabriel for standing up and speaking out. I want to share some of the impressive letter he wrote to our district superintendent in support of his teacher.
I've included a portion of Gabriel's letter below. His V.I. teacher told me that Gabriel came up with the idea of writing a letter, and emailed other students in his class to have them write letters on his teacher, Mrs. Tovar's, behalf. Whether or not Gabriel's letter, and those of his classmates, can help save Mrs. Tovar's position, Gabriel has succeeded in becoming an advocate. Change doesn't happen without effort, but can begin with one voice. Read on ...
"... Let me tell you about my experience as a 7th grade student in Mrs. Tovar's English/history class. Mrs. Tovar is the kind of teacher that you can just tell really loves her job and cares about how her students do in her classes. A lot of teachers lack the energy needed in the classroom to get students to want to learn. She makes me want to learn. I've never walked into her class with a negative attitude. I've always loved learning from her for several reasons. The first reason is that she relates to us in a way that some teachers can't. She knows how each individual student learns best, and if she doesn't, she works hard to figure out how we do. Once she knows how we learn best, she will teach us in a way so that we can be more successful in school. Also, Mrs. Tovar makes learning fun. She doesn't just give us the textbook and make us read and answer questions. She gives us assignments that allow us to work in pairs, groups, and even sometimes as a class. She actually makes the 7th grade standards fun for us. That is something that a lot of teachers can't do, and if the student doesn't like the teacher or doesn't want to learn from that teacher, students are less likely to pay attention. If students do not pay attention, they will not be able to be successful in school. ...
"Another thing I forgot to mention is that I'm blind. I'm not the only blind student who is in her class. She has one more student who just entered her class in the middle of the year. Now I know it isn't easy to work with blind students. I mean now Mrs. Tovar has to remember to get everything transcribed into braille, figure out how to modify those visual assignments that she has, make sure all the maps get raised up so that we can feel them, figure out a way for her to raise up the homework calendar and show us exactly what stamps we get, how to explain visual pictures to us so that we can see it in our head, and more. I mean that deserves some credit. I have to honestly say that Mrs. Tovar is so far the best teacher I've had as far as working with us is concerned. The only other teacher who does better is the Visually Impaired teacher. I think that it is important to give Mrs. Tovar a lot of credit for the extra things she has to do for us. She is very efficient in doing all the things listed above, and I've never had a problem in her classes. ...
"I could probably cover three more pages arguing for Mrs. Tovar to retain her position. As Superintendent of LAUSD I know you make important decisions everyday. I'm asking you to do the right thing and make one more. Thank you for your time and understanding in this matter.
Sincerely,
Gabriel L., Irving Middle School
Gabriel is a 7th grade student at Irving Middle School, and he recently found out that one of his favorite teachers got a RIF notice. Instead of sighing and being sad, he decided to become an advocate on behalf of his teacher. I'm so proud of Gabriel for standing up and speaking out. I want to share some of the impressive letter he wrote to our district superintendent in support of his teacher.
I've included a portion of Gabriel's letter below. His V.I. teacher told me that Gabriel came up with the idea of writing a letter, and emailed other students in his class to have them write letters on his teacher, Mrs. Tovar's, behalf. Whether or not Gabriel's letter, and those of his classmates, can help save Mrs. Tovar's position, Gabriel has succeeded in becoming an advocate. Change doesn't happen without effort, but can begin with one voice. Read on ...
"... Let me tell you about my experience as a 7th grade student in Mrs. Tovar's English/history class. Mrs. Tovar is the kind of teacher that you can just tell really loves her job and cares about how her students do in her classes. A lot of teachers lack the energy needed in the classroom to get students to want to learn. She makes me want to learn. I've never walked into her class with a negative attitude. I've always loved learning from her for several reasons. The first reason is that she relates to us in a way that some teachers can't. She knows how each individual student learns best, and if she doesn't, she works hard to figure out how we do. Once she knows how we learn best, she will teach us in a way so that we can be more successful in school. Also, Mrs. Tovar makes learning fun. She doesn't just give us the textbook and make us read and answer questions. She gives us assignments that allow us to work in pairs, groups, and even sometimes as a class. She actually makes the 7th grade standards fun for us. That is something that a lot of teachers can't do, and if the student doesn't like the teacher or doesn't want to learn from that teacher, students are less likely to pay attention. If students do not pay attention, they will not be able to be successful in school. ...
"Another thing I forgot to mention is that I'm blind. I'm not the only blind student who is in her class. She has one more student who just entered her class in the middle of the year. Now I know it isn't easy to work with blind students. I mean now Mrs. Tovar has to remember to get everything transcribed into braille, figure out how to modify those visual assignments that she has, make sure all the maps get raised up so that we can feel them, figure out a way for her to raise up the homework calendar and show us exactly what stamps we get, how to explain visual pictures to us so that we can see it in our head, and more. I mean that deserves some credit. I have to honestly say that Mrs. Tovar is so far the best teacher I've had as far as working with us is concerned. The only other teacher who does better is the Visually Impaired teacher. I think that it is important to give Mrs. Tovar a lot of credit for the extra things she has to do for us. She is very efficient in doing all the things listed above, and I've never had a problem in her classes. ...
"I could probably cover three more pages arguing for Mrs. Tovar to retain her position. As Superintendent of LAUSD I know you make important decisions everyday. I'm asking you to do the right thing and make one more. Thank you for your time and understanding in this matter.
Sincerely,
Gabriel L., Irving Middle School
Thursday, April 29, 2010
In Celebration of National Poetry Month (April) ...
As I was looking back at some of my emails, I found a wonderful poem written by one of our students. I wanted to sneak in this poem before April ended. Her name is Laura, and I posted one of her poems toward the end of last school year. Rereading some of her poems, this one just hit me (with all of the wars and war-like behavior I've been reading about in the news lately, Laura's poem struck a chord). Laura uses her mPower (an accessible PDA for braille reading and writing), daily and enjoys writing. She is in high school now, and I hope she continues to share her thoughts and insights with us. Enjoy:
AT THE BLOODY FIELD
by Laura D.
As I peer at the bloody field
and see comrades dead
they shout at us
"This is war and war is hell."
I shout back
"war is hell"
but if war is hell
and you cause us hell
we'll return the favor
and so
doing so
we are giving hell to the world.
AT THE BLOODY FIELD
by Laura D.
As I peer at the bloody field
and see comrades dead
they shout at us
"This is war and war is hell."
I shout back
"war is hell"
but if war is hell
and you cause us hell
we'll return the favor
and so
doing so
we are giving hell to the world.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Accessibility of the Mac--CTEBVI 2010 Workshop
I'm here at the California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired, our state conference held once a year. This year it's in Los Angeles, at the LAX Marriott. I'm presenting a workshop on the accessibility of the Mac computer. I've been a Mac person for many years, but have spent the last couple of years exploring Apple's newly accessible hardware/software for people with visual disabilities.
I'm lucky to know a wonderful former student (she graduated from high school in June, 2009), who agreed to be my 'guinea pig' to test out a Mac Mini with OS 10.6--Snow Leopard. Paola worked with the Mac in the computer lab with me, and then took it home to see what she could do on her own. I asked her to write her initial reactions of trying to use VoiceOver to do what she's used to doing on a Windows computer. Here's the short article she wrote a couple months ago. As you'll see, Paola had some successes and some frustrations, but I think this is an evolving option for computer users who have limited vision or are blind. Enjoy her review, and if you post a comment or question for Paola, I'll make sure to pass it along.
"To be honest, I am only a recent Mac user. I was introduced to the Mac when I started helping Ms. Schindler at Frances Blend on Fridays so I have only been using it for a few months. Still, it is enough time for me to notice several pros and cons about the Mac.
"One of the good things about having a Mac is that it already comes with a built-in talking program so you don't really have to buy any extra programs like JAWS or Serotek. Voice Over has a very human sounding voice that is easy to understand and you can adjust the speed and pitch very easily. There are also other voices besides the main voice which is Alex. I myself prefer Alex, but you can take your pick. Another thing I enjoy about the Mac is that you can navigate websites that are not always accessible with JAWS. Sometimes on websites, there are links and when you press enter on them with JAWS, they make a little clicking sound and don't open. On the other hand, the Mac opens these links quite easily. One example of a website like this is Fanfiction. When I went on this website with JAWS, I had a hard time accessing my account. However, when I tried it with the Mac, I got through quite easily. Yahoo mail is another thing that's easier with the Mac. It's becoming a little bit less accessible with JAWS these days. Since I have a yahoo email account, this was not good news for me. With the Mac however, I could check my messages and reply quite easily. Those are just some of the good things I have discovered about the Mac.
"Although the Mac does have its good points, there are also some things that may need some work. For example, sometimes when you go to certain web sites, voiceOver will say "Safari busy" and refuse to read anything even those the website clearly appears on the screen. No matter what key you press, the computer will only say, "busy" over and over again. One website where VoiceOver does this is Gmail. That is one glitch that in my opinion, needs to be checked out. Another thing I've noticed is that I can't navigate the internet as quickly as I did with the pc computer. Still, as I am a recent Mac user, I may just not know all the commands yet. When I'm on a website on the Pc, I can go to links list, press the letter of the link I want until I find it, and press enter. This gets me where I want to go much faster. With the Mac however, I have to go through all the links until I find what I'm looking for. Like I said though, my problem may only be that I don't know all the commands.
"In conclusion, I think that the Mac is a very good piece of assistive technology for the visually impaired and a lot of people would benefit from it. I know I have a lot to learn and I look forward to exploring more about the Mac world."
I'm lucky to know a wonderful former student (she graduated from high school in June, 2009), who agreed to be my 'guinea pig' to test out a Mac Mini with OS 10.6--Snow Leopard. Paola worked with the Mac in the computer lab with me, and then took it home to see what she could do on her own. I asked her to write her initial reactions of trying to use VoiceOver to do what she's used to doing on a Windows computer. Here's the short article she wrote a couple months ago. As you'll see, Paola had some successes and some frustrations, but I think this is an evolving option for computer users who have limited vision or are blind. Enjoy her review, and if you post a comment or question for Paola, I'll make sure to pass it along.
"To be honest, I am only a recent Mac user. I was introduced to the Mac when I started helping Ms. Schindler at Frances Blend on Fridays so I have only been using it for a few months. Still, it is enough time for me to notice several pros and cons about the Mac.
"One of the good things about having a Mac is that it already comes with a built-in talking program so you don't really have to buy any extra programs like JAWS or Serotek. Voice Over has a very human sounding voice that is easy to understand and you can adjust the speed and pitch very easily. There are also other voices besides the main voice which is Alex. I myself prefer Alex, but you can take your pick. Another thing I enjoy about the Mac is that you can navigate websites that are not always accessible with JAWS. Sometimes on websites, there are links and when you press enter on them with JAWS, they make a little clicking sound and don't open. On the other hand, the Mac opens these links quite easily. One example of a website like this is Fanfiction. When I went on this website with JAWS, I had a hard time accessing my account. However, when I tried it with the Mac, I got through quite easily. Yahoo mail is another thing that's easier with the Mac. It's becoming a little bit less accessible with JAWS these days. Since I have a yahoo email account, this was not good news for me. With the Mac however, I could check my messages and reply quite easily. Those are just some of the good things I have discovered about the Mac.
"Although the Mac does have its good points, there are also some things that may need some work. For example, sometimes when you go to certain web sites, voiceOver will say "Safari busy" and refuse to read anything even those the website clearly appears on the screen. No matter what key you press, the computer will only say, "busy" over and over again. One website where VoiceOver does this is Gmail. That is one glitch that in my opinion, needs to be checked out. Another thing I've noticed is that I can't navigate the internet as quickly as I did with the pc computer. Still, as I am a recent Mac user, I may just not know all the commands yet. When I'm on a website on the Pc, I can go to links list, press the letter of the link I want until I find it, and press enter. This gets me where I want to go much faster. With the Mac however, I have to go through all the links until I find what I'm looking for. Like I said though, my problem may only be that I don't know all the commands.
"In conclusion, I think that the Mac is a very good piece of assistive technology for the visually impaired and a lot of people would benefit from it. I know I have a lot to learn and I look forward to exploring more about the Mac world."
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Search Engine With Option for Low Vision Users
I just read about a new search engine developed by a young woman to help her grandfather. The site, www.good50.com has an option to click below the search field that changes the contrast to white on black, and enlarges the text you type in the search field. Want to get directly to the low vision version? Try this link: http://www.good50.com/index2.html
Incidentally, I got the lead to this resource from Steve Bass; he ran the Pasadena IBM User's Group for many years, wrote for PC World magazine, and now has a wonderful online newletter called TechBite. He always has some great tips, mostly for Windows users, and some fun waste-of-time links. You can subscribe to his free online newsletter by going to www.techbite.com
Incidentally, the story behind the creation of the low vision search engine is from The Washington Post Online.
Incidentally, I got the lead to this resource from Steve Bass; he ran the Pasadena IBM User's Group for many years, wrote for PC World magazine, and now has a wonderful online newletter called TechBite. He always has some great tips, mostly for Windows users, and some fun waste-of-time links. You can subscribe to his free online newsletter by going to www.techbite.com
Incidentally, the story behind the creation of the low vision search engine is from The Washington Post Online.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tips to Keep Your Windows Machine Running
This week, our "Malware Maven," Anita, gave a great demonstration of a couple of ways to keep Windows computers running smoothly. Here are two tips she gave us at our meeting:
1. Install CCleaner (free download from http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/ ). Here's the description from CNET's website: "CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner." Think of it as a house cleaning for your computer.
2. Run the Defragmenter program that comes with Windows. You can find it by pressing the Windows key--then P for Programs, A for Accessories, S for System Tools, and D until you get to Disk Defragmenter; then press Enter. Choose the Analyze button, and Disk Defragmenter will evaluate whether you need to defrag or not. See the screenshot below:
Thanks so much, Anita, for working your magic to keep the computers in the V.I. classrooms running!
Got Fonts?
Here's a link to a great resource for fonts for your computer (Windows and Mac). Most of them are free (or free for personal use), and there are directions on the website explaining how to download and install them on your computer. There are tons of fonts, everything from school to handwriting to holiday fonts. Thanks to Venessa for sharing the site with me! I took a quick screenshot of just a few of the fonts you can download.
Go to www.dafont.com
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Great Web Resources for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments
Well, the Best in Tech 2009 was a fantastic event (thank you NFB and Center for the Partially Sighted)! I came away realizing how much I need to learn about the newest technologies for people with visual impairments. It's hard to keep up with all that's available, but thanks to the efforts of many visually impaired computer users, you can listen to some great online mp3 podcasts.
Here are a few links to try out with lots of great listening articles:
www.blindcooltech.com Learn more about the iPhone and Mac accessibility, audio information about the healthcare bill, directions on how to make a braille picture of a pumpkin, and so much more! I'm still discovering all the podcasts on this page--there's really something for everyone.
www.blind-geek-zone.net Here's where you'll find Joseph Lee's great podcasts about all things related to the BrailleNote. For anyone thinking about diving into the world of the Mac with a less expensive Mac Mini, there are two extensive podcasts that go over all of its features, by a blind user who has never used a Mac before. This is a great podcast series, because it includes all of the stops and starts of setting up a Mac computer for the first time (including the frustrating moments when the Mac doesn't start--turns out it wasn't plugged correctly). Oh, those IT people are saying, "Told you so!"
http://www.serotalk.com Try Tech Chat 41 – Assembling a Portable Computer, Screen Reader and Reading Solution for Under $1,000, Tech Chat 42 Self-employment and Working From Home, or Tech Chat 39 Twitter 101 (maybe this will help you understand what "tweeting" is all about (in 140 characters or less).
http://blindworldblog.blogspot.com/ Shane Jackson's blog has lots of audio podcasts, as well; mostly Mac accessibility related. He has a great step-by-step podcast on installing Snow Leopard. Shane has been such a Mac proponent for blind computer users that he is now working in an Apple Store in Alabama. He is the go-to person when ANYONE comes in the Apple Store wanting to know about the iPhone or the MacBook.
Think we work in a low incidence field? You may not think so after checking out these two websites (they have an unbelievable number of links about or for people with visual impairments):
http://www.airsla.org/cat_vision.asp (this site has links to many great podcasts by Dr. Bill Takeshita--look for the link "Low Vision Technology"
Well, these should keep you going for awhile--Happy Holidays and enjoy browsing and listening!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Best in Tech 2009 Workshop
Thanks to Dr. Bill Takeshita for helping to organize what looks to be a great tech workshop! It's being presented jointly by The Center for the Partially Sighted and the National Federation of the Blind, San Fernando Valley Chapter. I'm really looking forward to the event, and best of all--it's free!
WHEN: Saturday November 21, 2009
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
WHERE: Radisson Hotel
6161 W. Centinela Ave.
Culver City, CA 90230
RSVP at NFBEvents@gmail.com or call Robert Stigile (818)419-5331
The Best in Tech 2009
Speakers include:
- Bob Sweetman will tell you which are the best GPS Systems
- Louis Herrera will talk about the i-phone
- Robert Stigile will compare the Book Sense and the Victor ReaderStream
- Julian Vargas will describe why he chooses to have the KNFB Mobile Reader and his Nokia N82 cell phone
- Racquel Decipeda will explain why she chose to have Talks telephone software over the Mobile Speaks
- Marc Gerberick will tell you why he likes the Mac computers and Voice Over
- Stephanie Rood will talk about the ABISee Twix and Eye Pal Solo
- Dr. Brett Nagatani will tell you the most popular video magnifiers chosen by his patients
- Ken Metz will tell you why he uses the Voice and Braille Sense note takers
- Keith Christian will talk about System Access for students
- Dr. Bill Takeshita will tell you which desktop video magnifiers his patients most often choose
Vendors will include:
A.B.I.See, the makers of the Eye Pal, California Telephone Access, Enhanced Vision, Eye Tech Low Vision, Freedom Scientific, Humanware, Leo Drell and Help with Vision, Magnisite, Optelec, Sweetman Systems, Your low vision store
Come and learn from actual users of the most popular adaptive technology devices for people with low vision. Vendors will be present to allow hands on experience with the devices and you may purchase items at special discounted prices.WHEN: Saturday November 21, 2009
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
WHERE: Radisson Hotel
6161 W. Centinela Ave.
Culver City, CA 90230
RSVP at NFBEvents@gmail.com or call Robert Stigile (818)419-5331
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Visually Handicapped Scholarship Fund Awards Speech
One of our former students, who's now a student at California State University Long Beach, gave a wonderful speech at our VH Scholarship Fund Awards ceremony last week. He graciously agreed to share his words here on the blog, so enjoy reading of his experiences and advice for our graduating seniors!
Think Big, Be Bold
By Anthony Vasquez
June 2, 2009
To my fellow students, parents, family members, friends, teachers, administrators and other distinguished guests: It is truly an honor to be this year’s guest speaker. I would like to thank everybody responsible for this opportunity to speak to you all today. Congratulations to our scholarship recipients, I am sure all of you have worked hard to get to where you are today and cannot wait for high school to be over and done with. But of course high school is as much the end of one chapter in our lives as it is the beginning of a new one, and that is what I will talk to you all about today, what I have learned over these past four years about having a productive and enjoyable time in college, both inside and outside of the classroom.
I was born with glaucoma and can see a little bit out of my right eye. I get around using a cane and throughout school I read Braille books and used the Perkins Brailler, note takers like the Braille Lite and Braille Note and computers with JAWS to help me do my assignments. All along I had the help of my resource teachers and family. At around this time four years ago, I was in a similar position as you are today. I knew where I was going to college, what my major would be, and that I would get help with getting books in an electronic file to read on my computer. I am now a senior at Cal-State Long Beach. Having been in college for four years, I am a little wiser about the world and a whole lot more confident about myself. And I think that is the key to long term success in anything, be it writing a research paper, studying abroad, competing in sports, you name it. It all starts with how we view ourselves. Self-perception will play a very important role in the outcome of whatever it is you set your hearts on, that is for sure. We may be blind, but we are not helpless. Let’s always remember that.
The first thing I have learned that you need to do to really enjoy yourself and get the most out of life is to think big and think critically. Here’s what I mean. When I first started college I already had picked a major. I had worked for the school paper at my high school (Narbonne), and really liked interviewing people and learning new things about the school. So I picked journalism. I could learn about the world and teach others at the same time. But to me that didn’t seem enough, I also wanted to learn a foreign language. I thought that not only would it be a fun thing to know another language besides my native Spanish and English, but it could come in handy when applying for a job; it would be another skill I could have and another way to meet people and make new friends. So I was wondering which language to pick and I was thinking “what’s a foreign language that’s not too commonly studied?” It seemed to me most people who took foreign language courses studied Spanish, French, German, so I thought about an Asian language. Arabic? Japanese? Chinese? I decided to stick with Mandarin Chinese because I knew of the growing influence of China in the world, lots of people speak the language, and heard it was really hard to learn. Why not challenge myself in college? It would be the best time to try and learn it. I have been studying Mandarin for three years now and have had a great time. Language study then led to the study of Chinese history and culture and it led to my chances of study abroad in China last year, first for two weeks in January of 2008 and then for two months last summer.
Second, be determined. I wanted to see other parts of the world, to meet people from far away lands in their country, I wanted to study abroad. But when I first started college, it seemed pretty difficult. Could I even pull it off? How would I do this? I was blind, after all. But it didn’t stop me. My first trip was with Dr. Scott Wilson, a Cal-State Long Beach professor I had for a Chinese culture class. Convincing my parents that I would be alright was pretty easy because I knew the professor already, but the second trip was part of a national program ran by the University of Arizona where everybody would just meet in the capital, Beijing, and move on from there. My parents and the program’s directors were really worried for my safety. How would I get around? Chinese traffic is different. China has lots of people. These were their concerns, some of them valid ones. I had a feeling that if I just changed my mind and decided not to go, everything would be all right. But here’s the thing about thinking critically. If I had quit, everything would not have been all right. I would have denied myself an opportunity to prove to myself that, with some help, I, as a blind student, could pursue the same opportunities as any other student. I would have denied myself the chance to experience a foreign country and learn from its people about self-reliance and independent decision-making, and not to forget, practice my Chinese. I never imagined I would climb mountains in China, but I did. I never thought I would have sat on top of a camel by the Great Wall of China, but I did. It’s the thrill of the unexpected that keeps me going. Uncovering the mysteries of the world and meeting new people motivates me to stay focused. Eventually after some time of persuasion by myself and David Sanfilippo, the director of Disabled Student Services at Long Beach, the director’s agreed to hire a Chinese college student to go places with me so I wouldn’t depend on classmates. And that was that. It took lots of planning to do this. Lots of convincing of staff members, of my parents, but it all worked out fine. I made friends in China and because of the experience, I am more confident in my own potential and feel more empowered.
When you come across a tricky situation, first tell yourself what it is you want to get done. Plan for as many possible outcomes, good ones and bad ones and pick what you think is best. Talk to those around you, keep them up to date with what you’re thinking, chances are more people collaborating on something will give you a better idea as to what you should do. Asking for help does not mean you are giving up, it simply means you know where somebody could make things easier for you. But once you feel confident in doing something, it is ok to tell people that you don’t need help for that anymore. It isn’t rude. What you shouldn’t do is give up because of fear. “What if you get kidnapped?” one of my brothers asked about going to China, well I thought I suppose that could happen, but it’s pretty unlikely. I trusted myself. Remember to trust yourself. Imagine that you have already gone through the struggle and have succeeded.
In college, you will find out that people are more accepting. If you had a tough time in school with bullying, getting picked on that kind of stuff, just forget about it, you’re out of there and a whole new thing is beginning for you. Get involved. You probably heard this from your teachers or family, join clubs. That kind of stuff does matter. Just as grades and academic achievement is good, so is being involved in extracurricular activities. Whatever you do after college, graduate school and employers look for that. It’s about being well-rounded. It’s about making connections. Being part of a group helps. Be unafraid in new places, all of our friends now were once strangers before we met them, remember that. And definitely don’t be afraid to approach professors about your disability. Let them know as soon as you can, even before the term begins if possible. This way you can introduce yourself to them and at the same time find out how the class will be like. Get the names of the books you will use so that you can get them in an electronic file. Most schools have the resources to do this now, they’re supposed to anyway. Be bold! Say hi to a random person, you never know what will happen. If he or she doesn’t say hi back, at least you tried.
Be resilient. You will come across unfriendly people, that’s for sure. Do not give up because of a bad experience. The world is a crazy, but interesting place; you only live once, so enjoy it. Pick a worthwhile goal and seek it with all you got. Make sure that you love what you are studying; otherwise there is no point. If you don’t have one already, find a role model to look up to, a mentor. Surround yourself with positive people, family, friends, whoever gives you strength and motivation to move forward, keep them close, if not physically then communicate with them often.
A peaceful life depends on balance and moderation. You cannot have work without play, if you do, you will not enjoy what you do. For me, playing basketball, reading books, studying Braille maps, listening to radio from far away places, eating good food, traveling, these are my pastimes. If you can do well at balancing your work and your play, and your sleep, then you’ll be all right. Find a passion and pursue it. Eric Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Mt. Everest wrote in his book Touch the Top of the World: “I don't climb mountains to prove to anyone that blind people can do this or that. I climb for the same reason an artist paints a picture: because it brings me great joy.”
Before I finish, I have one more thing. With your increased freedom comes greater responsibility. One of these will be to manage money. Right now is a great time to begin learning about budgeting, about the cost of things, because you will not live at home forever. One day you will be part of the big world and will need to know how to open a bank account, find an apartment, get and maintain good credit and that’s just the beginning. Ask your parents about money, read books about it, read and listen to the news, be aware. Whatever goal you have, keep in mind the economics of things. For starters read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, it’s available on tape.
I’m sure that your talents will help you in the future, just keep in mind that being critical about the world around you is important, but stay positive. More often than not, people are good and there will always be someone out there to help you out. Just remember to speak up for yourselves and be noticed. Have confidence in your abilities and improve on your weaknesses. That way you may help others around you better.
There will be times when you feel down. That is natural. Just remember that the glass is half full and that there are more things that you can do than that you can’t do. Helen Keller once said: “I am only one, but still I am one. I can not do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.” Without a doubt, knowledge is power. Be yourselves and don’t hold back in pursuing your dreams. Do like that T.I. and Rihanna song and: Just live your life. Trust me, there really is no telling where it’ll take you.
Think Big, Be Bold
By Anthony Vasquez
June 2, 2009
To my fellow students, parents, family members, friends, teachers, administrators and other distinguished guests: It is truly an honor to be this year’s guest speaker. I would like to thank everybody responsible for this opportunity to speak to you all today. Congratulations to our scholarship recipients, I am sure all of you have worked hard to get to where you are today and cannot wait for high school to be over and done with. But of course high school is as much the end of one chapter in our lives as it is the beginning of a new one, and that is what I will talk to you all about today, what I have learned over these past four years about having a productive and enjoyable time in college, both inside and outside of the classroom.
I was born with glaucoma and can see a little bit out of my right eye. I get around using a cane and throughout school I read Braille books and used the Perkins Brailler, note takers like the Braille Lite and Braille Note and computers with JAWS to help me do my assignments. All along I had the help of my resource teachers and family. At around this time four years ago, I was in a similar position as you are today. I knew where I was going to college, what my major would be, and that I would get help with getting books in an electronic file to read on my computer. I am now a senior at Cal-State Long Beach. Having been in college for four years, I am a little wiser about the world and a whole lot more confident about myself. And I think that is the key to long term success in anything, be it writing a research paper, studying abroad, competing in sports, you name it. It all starts with how we view ourselves. Self-perception will play a very important role in the outcome of whatever it is you set your hearts on, that is for sure. We may be blind, but we are not helpless. Let’s always remember that.
The first thing I have learned that you need to do to really enjoy yourself and get the most out of life is to think big and think critically. Here’s what I mean. When I first started college I already had picked a major. I had worked for the school paper at my high school (Narbonne), and really liked interviewing people and learning new things about the school. So I picked journalism. I could learn about the world and teach others at the same time. But to me that didn’t seem enough, I also wanted to learn a foreign language. I thought that not only would it be a fun thing to know another language besides my native Spanish and English, but it could come in handy when applying for a job; it would be another skill I could have and another way to meet people and make new friends. So I was wondering which language to pick and I was thinking “what’s a foreign language that’s not too commonly studied?” It seemed to me most people who took foreign language courses studied Spanish, French, German, so I thought about an Asian language. Arabic? Japanese? Chinese? I decided to stick with Mandarin Chinese because I knew of the growing influence of China in the world, lots of people speak the language, and heard it was really hard to learn. Why not challenge myself in college? It would be the best time to try and learn it. I have been studying Mandarin for three years now and have had a great time. Language study then led to the study of Chinese history and culture and it led to my chances of study abroad in China last year, first for two weeks in January of 2008 and then for two months last summer.
Second, be determined. I wanted to see other parts of the world, to meet people from far away lands in their country, I wanted to study abroad. But when I first started college, it seemed pretty difficult. Could I even pull it off? How would I do this? I was blind, after all. But it didn’t stop me. My first trip was with Dr. Scott Wilson, a Cal-State Long Beach professor I had for a Chinese culture class. Convincing my parents that I would be alright was pretty easy because I knew the professor already, but the second trip was part of a national program ran by the University of Arizona where everybody would just meet in the capital, Beijing, and move on from there. My parents and the program’s directors were really worried for my safety. How would I get around? Chinese traffic is different. China has lots of people. These were their concerns, some of them valid ones. I had a feeling that if I just changed my mind and decided not to go, everything would be all right. But here’s the thing about thinking critically. If I had quit, everything would not have been all right. I would have denied myself an opportunity to prove to myself that, with some help, I, as a blind student, could pursue the same opportunities as any other student. I would have denied myself the chance to experience a foreign country and learn from its people about self-reliance and independent decision-making, and not to forget, practice my Chinese. I never imagined I would climb mountains in China, but I did. I never thought I would have sat on top of a camel by the Great Wall of China, but I did. It’s the thrill of the unexpected that keeps me going. Uncovering the mysteries of the world and meeting new people motivates me to stay focused. Eventually after some time of persuasion by myself and David Sanfilippo, the director of Disabled Student Services at Long Beach, the director’s agreed to hire a Chinese college student to go places with me so I wouldn’t depend on classmates. And that was that. It took lots of planning to do this. Lots of convincing of staff members, of my parents, but it all worked out fine. I made friends in China and because of the experience, I am more confident in my own potential and feel more empowered.
When you come across a tricky situation, first tell yourself what it is you want to get done. Plan for as many possible outcomes, good ones and bad ones and pick what you think is best. Talk to those around you, keep them up to date with what you’re thinking, chances are more people collaborating on something will give you a better idea as to what you should do. Asking for help does not mean you are giving up, it simply means you know where somebody could make things easier for you. But once you feel confident in doing something, it is ok to tell people that you don’t need help for that anymore. It isn’t rude. What you shouldn’t do is give up because of fear. “What if you get kidnapped?” one of my brothers asked about going to China, well I thought I suppose that could happen, but it’s pretty unlikely. I trusted myself. Remember to trust yourself. Imagine that you have already gone through the struggle and have succeeded.
In college, you will find out that people are more accepting. If you had a tough time in school with bullying, getting picked on that kind of stuff, just forget about it, you’re out of there and a whole new thing is beginning for you. Get involved. You probably heard this from your teachers or family, join clubs. That kind of stuff does matter. Just as grades and academic achievement is good, so is being involved in extracurricular activities. Whatever you do after college, graduate school and employers look for that. It’s about being well-rounded. It’s about making connections. Being part of a group helps. Be unafraid in new places, all of our friends now were once strangers before we met them, remember that. And definitely don’t be afraid to approach professors about your disability. Let them know as soon as you can, even before the term begins if possible. This way you can introduce yourself to them and at the same time find out how the class will be like. Get the names of the books you will use so that you can get them in an electronic file. Most schools have the resources to do this now, they’re supposed to anyway. Be bold! Say hi to a random person, you never know what will happen. If he or she doesn’t say hi back, at least you tried.
Be resilient. You will come across unfriendly people, that’s for sure. Do not give up because of a bad experience. The world is a crazy, but interesting place; you only live once, so enjoy it. Pick a worthwhile goal and seek it with all you got. Make sure that you love what you are studying; otherwise there is no point. If you don’t have one already, find a role model to look up to, a mentor. Surround yourself with positive people, family, friends, whoever gives you strength and motivation to move forward, keep them close, if not physically then communicate with them often.
A peaceful life depends on balance and moderation. You cannot have work without play, if you do, you will not enjoy what you do. For me, playing basketball, reading books, studying Braille maps, listening to radio from far away places, eating good food, traveling, these are my pastimes. If you can do well at balancing your work and your play, and your sleep, then you’ll be all right. Find a passion and pursue it. Eric Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Mt. Everest wrote in his book Touch the Top of the World: “I don't climb mountains to prove to anyone that blind people can do this or that. I climb for the same reason an artist paints a picture: because it brings me great joy.”
Before I finish, I have one more thing. With your increased freedom comes greater responsibility. One of these will be to manage money. Right now is a great time to begin learning about budgeting, about the cost of things, because you will not live at home forever. One day you will be part of the big world and will need to know how to open a bank account, find an apartment, get and maintain good credit and that’s just the beginning. Ask your parents about money, read books about it, read and listen to the news, be aware. Whatever goal you have, keep in mind the economics of things. For starters read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, it’s available on tape.
I’m sure that your talents will help you in the future, just keep in mind that being critical about the world around you is important, but stay positive. More often than not, people are good and there will always be someone out there to help you out. Just remember to speak up for yourselves and be noticed. Have confidence in your abilities and improve on your weaknesses. That way you may help others around you better.
There will be times when you feel down. That is natural. Just remember that the glass is half full and that there are more things that you can do than that you can’t do. Helen Keller once said: “I am only one, but still I am one. I can not do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.” Without a doubt, knowledge is power. Be yourselves and don’t hold back in pursuing your dreams. Do like that T.I. and Rihanna song and: Just live your life. Trust me, there really is no telling where it’ll take you.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
A Shout Out for Gaggle.Net--Attention to Accessibility Issues!
Gaggle provides a safe, secure, email service for teachers and students. Several years ago, I set up email accounts for some of my students who have visual impairments. The accounts were simple to set up and with some experimenting by the students, they found their email to be accessible using a screenreader. Our own school district does offer student email accounts, but they involve lots of red tape to set up, and turn out not to be keyboard/screenreader accessible. Thank heavens for Gaggle!
Then, a few weeks ago, I started to hear from my students that they could no longer access their email messages. I went to www.gaggle.net and discovered that Gaggle had changed the look of the service, giving it a Web 2.0 look. Well, it may have LOOKED wonderful, but it was no longer accessible via the keyboard and a screenreader. Another instance of companies trying to make the web more visually appealing, but in the process excluding some people. Sad, right?
But, here's the great part! I found a contact email address at Gaggle, and wrote to let them know how upset I was that my students could no longer access their email with a screenreader. Well, within an hour of my sending an email, I received a response from Gaggle, letting me know that they have switched all of our accounts back to the old, yet accessible, layout. I went back to check, and true to their word, the emails were accessible again! I was pleasantly surprised, as well as grateful to Gaggle for actually paying attention to accessibility issues of their consumers.
There was another wonderful outcome from this experience, and it came in the form of a letter one of our students wrote to Gaggle. I've copied it below, so please read on and celebrate one of our students being proactive and helping companies understand that attention to accessibility is important and appreciated.
To: admin@gaggle.net
My name is Karen A., and I have an email account with Gaggle; as a visually impaired person, I know how difficult it is to find an email server accessible to those of us who use screen-readers such as JAWS for Windows. One of these few email servers is Gaggle.
I would like to thank Emily and the rest of the Gaggle staff for helping to restore Gaggle to its original format so that VI students can continue benefiting from it. Not only does Gaggle allow me to send and receive emails and attachments efficiently, but it also allows me to communicate in a quick, easy manner that is increasingly one of the main forms of communication.
I am really appreciative of the fact that you take all of your student population in to account, so keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Karen A.
Then, a few weeks ago, I started to hear from my students that they could no longer access their email messages. I went to www.gaggle.net and discovered that Gaggle had changed the look of the service, giving it a Web 2.0 look. Well, it may have LOOKED wonderful, but it was no longer accessible via the keyboard and a screenreader. Another instance of companies trying to make the web more visually appealing, but in the process excluding some people. Sad, right?
But, here's the great part! I found a contact email address at Gaggle, and wrote to let them know how upset I was that my students could no longer access their email with a screenreader. Well, within an hour of my sending an email, I received a response from Gaggle, letting me know that they have switched all of our accounts back to the old, yet accessible, layout. I went back to check, and true to their word, the emails were accessible again! I was pleasantly surprised, as well as grateful to Gaggle for actually paying attention to accessibility issues of their consumers.
There was another wonderful outcome from this experience, and it came in the form of a letter one of our students wrote to Gaggle. I've copied it below, so please read on and celebrate one of our students being proactive and helping companies understand that attention to accessibility is important and appreciated.
To: admin@gaggle.net
My name is Karen A., and I have an email account with Gaggle; as a visually impaired person, I know how difficult it is to find an email server accessible to those of us who use screen-readers such as JAWS for Windows. One of these few email servers is Gaggle.
I would like to thank Emily and the rest of the Gaggle staff for helping to restore Gaggle to its original format so that VI students can continue benefiting from it. Not only does Gaggle allow me to send and receive emails and attachments efficiently, but it also allows me to communicate in a quick, easy manner that is increasingly one of the main forms of communication.
I am really appreciative of the fact that you take all of your student population in to account, so keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Karen A.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Highlighting Student Achievements, Part 1
I created this blog mostly to offer up some technology tips for teachers of students with visual impairments. Today I offer a little treat: we have so many talented students in our program, I thought it might be nice to devote a bit of space on the blog to some of their achievements. Laura is an 8th grader at Irving Middle School. She is a braille reader who uses her mPower (braille notetaker/accessible PDA), to complete her school assignments and read e-braille books. She loves writing, as well, and she gave me permission to share this poem she wrote. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Keep writing, Laura, and keep sharing! (Thanks to her teacher, Laurie G. for being a proud teacher who wanted to share her student's talent.)
What Would It Feel Like, To Fly With the Birds?
by Laura D.
What would it feel like,
to fly with the birds?
To experience their freedom,
their glory,
their joy
To never be trapped,
as I am right now
To never ask why,
when,
where,
or how,
To live in the moment
to live for just now
To live with the wind,
the sun,
and the sky
To be like the wind,
care free,
and alive
To caress the ocean,
as dolphins swim by
To sleep with the stars,
twinkling so far
And escape pain,
that showers like rain.
So how would it feel like,
to fly with the birds?
Would everything seem better,
or would it just get much worse?
What Would It Feel Like, To Fly With the Birds?
by Laura D.
What would it feel like,
to fly with the birds?
To experience their freedom,
their glory,
their joy
To never be trapped,
as I am right now
To never ask why,
when,
where,
or how,
To live in the moment
to live for just now
To live with the wind,
the sun,
and the sky
To be like the wind,
care free,
and alive
To caress the ocean,
as dolphins swim by
To sleep with the stars,
twinkling so far
And escape pain,
that showers like rain.
So how would it feel like,
to fly with the birds?
Would everything seem better,
or would it just get much worse?
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