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One piece of the puzzle, AT helps local pastor live life

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Dec 012011

As promised, here is the first installation in a series of blogs from Pastor Derek Daniel. In case you need a little reminder of Derek’s story, here is a quick recap of the blog posted about him a couple of short weeks ago. Derek Daniel lost his sight in 2001 due to a rare form of a disease known as Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy or LHON and is now a pastor in Indianapolis. About 9 years ago he and a member of the Easter Seals Crossroads team joined together to help him navigate the immense waters of assistive technology. But we’ll let him tell you the rest of the story…

Find Your Belva

If you would have said the phrase “assistive technology” to me 10 years ago, I would have looked at you with quite an odd look on my face. However, today, those words have changed my life. From computers that magnify the screen to a phone that reads my text messages, assistive technology is an everyday part of what I do. The things I use are amazing and make such an impact on how I live life. So, how do I get these things? And, better yet, who teaches me to use them? Well, for that, we need to meet Belva.

Ok, I know you are like me and asking yourself, “Belva? Who?” Well, Belva is an Assistive Technology Training Coordinator at Easter Seals Crossroads in Indiana. Basically, she helps folks like me who have a disability find assistive technology items that will meet their needs the best and help them to use those items to their best capabilities. Now, I consider myself a pretty “techy” guy, but Belva can sure show me a thing or two. How did I meet her? Well, let’s go back a bit….

I lost my sight in 2001. Speaking in technology times, that is almost the Stone Age! I mean, there wasn’t even such a thing as an iPhone back then! I know, I know….but, such as it was, that was when my sight began disappearing. I lived in a very small town and there weren’t really many other blind folks out there for me to meet and glean knowledge from. I had to figure it out myself. So, I just thought of what I wanted to do and went on a search to figure out how to do it. It has been much easier since the Internet has become such a crucial part of our lives, yes, but that couldn’t stop me. I searched for the items, figured out how to use them and found ways to get them. Was it great? No, but it was the only means I had.

Fast forward about 9 years and I am living in Indianapolis now. I got hooked up with a group called Easter Seals Crossroads and a wonderful gal name Belva. She came to my place of employment, asked what I did on a daily basis and then offered suggestions on what she thought would work best for me. Not what would simply work, but what would work BEST. As I received those items, Belva delivered and then showed me how to use them. This was so great for me because I found out lots of little things about these items I would have never known.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Belva and all those who help us blind folks. It is not an easy job, I’m sure, and she did it with such grace. Thanks, Belva.

So, what does this have to do with you? Well, know that there are people out there that are ready, willing and more than able to help you meet your needs. Just search hard enough and you will find the Belva in your area. Sure, you can research and get access to these products on your own. However, the vast knowledge that these folks have will certainly be worth it in the end. And, when your find your Belva, use her up! Soak in as much of her knowledge as you can. It will be so rewarding for you and your Belva. God bless!

~DD

Bionic contact lenses, not just a thing of the future

Accessibility Services, Assistive Technology Products, Easter Seals Crossroads, INDATA, INDATA Team, News, Organizations No Responses »

Nov 302011

In the future, contacts may not only help to make the world around us clearer, in fact, they could usher in a new generation of augmented reality.

Scientists are developing a lens that would actually project a holographic image in front of the eye. Yep, just like the terminator and his bionic eye, these lenses would project a computer generated image that could allow readers to read floating text or augment their sight.

The development of the lens is just that, in development. However, scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle are hopeful after testing the lens on rabbits, they have concluded that the device indeed feasible and safe.

Nevertheless, as with all new projects, some kinks must be smoothed out. A sustainable power source, for instance, is something the team is working to develop.

According to BBC News, the current prototype will only work if held within centimeters of the wireless battery. Not exactly practical for everyday use, yet.

Despite the minor detail of a power source, scientists have renewed faith in the concept after initial tests with rabbits went well. They envision that hundreds of pixels can be added to the lens in order to create holographic images. For example, drivers could wear the lenses in order to obtain step by step directions to their destination.

Aside from its practical use, these lenses could make an impact on the world of assistive technology as well. For instance, if a student has a cognitive disability and has trouble remembering where the location of the student union, these contact lenses could give them a detailed and real time account about how to navigate campus and make it to the union.

More uses include taking the world of virtual gaming to an entirely new level and providing up to date medical information, like blood sugar levels, by linking to biosensors on the wearer’s body.

Lead researcher, Professor Babak Parviz, told BBC News that their next goal “is to incorporate some predetermined text in the contact lens.”

In addition to finding a sustainable power source, the researchers have had to work with the human eye and get it to focus on an image generated on its surface. Normally, we only see objects clearly if they are held several centimeters away.

The materials used to make the lens, currently, involve inorganic materials, scorching temperatures and toxic chemicals. The team is working to develop materials safe for the eye.

It may be a long time before the market sees mass quantities of these contacts produced. However, the future of augmented reality looks bright and we may be able to see it in a whole new way.

Monday Tech Tip-Grid It Organization system

Accessibility Reviews, Assistive Technology Products, AT Basics, Easter Seals Crossroads, INDATA Team, Wade Wingler No Responses »

Nov 282011

To view Closed Captioning, click on the “CC” in the lower right corner of the video.

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Senators propose Down Syndrome research funding

Easter Seals Crossroads, INDATA, INDATA Team, News, Organizations No Responses »

Nov 222011

In the United States, 400,000 individuals are living with Down syndrome, yet funding to further the research for the most common single cause of human birth defects is low and two senators are making a point to change that.

Sen. Sherrod Brown and Sen. Susan Collins proposed two bills that would allocate $6million annually to create six centers of excellence for Down syndrome research. In addition to creating the centers, the bills would create measures to establish three research databases and would require the National Institutes of Health to maintain a Down research plan.

Since 2000, the Children’s Health Act has specifically authorized research for such conditions as autism, epilepsy and asthma, but not Down syndrome.

“Virtually all of us know someone — a friend, a family member or a colleague — that has been touched by Down syndrome. Yet despite its prevalence, research on Down syndrome has failed to keep pace with the research for other common genetic conditions, like autism and epilepsy,” Brown said.

The bill Brown and Collins proposed is part of an effort to level the playing field when it comes to the distribution of research money.

Alternatively called, Trisomy 21, the condition occurs when there is an extra copy of chromosome 21. The extra chromosome affects the way the body and the brain develop.

Traditionally Down syndrome has benefited from fewer federal research dollars as compared to other conditions. Last year alone, more than three times as much was spent on cystic fibrosis research even though that condition affects just 30,000 Americans compared to 400,000 with Down syndrome.

Although many children have mental and physical limitations, they are still able to lead independent and productive lives into adulthood. It is important to recognize that Down syndrome varies from person to person. While there is no treatment for this condition, the lives of those living with Down syndrome are getting to be longer and longer.

It is unclear when the legislation will move forward to Congress. However, the bill does have bipartisan support, a key to getting legislation passed in recent times.

For more information about Down syndrome and support be sure to check out the National Down Syndrome Society and the National Down Syndrome Congress.

Friday Podcast

Accessibility Reviews, Accessibility Services, Apple, Assistive Technology Products, Easter Seals Crossroads, Indata podcast, INDATA Team, iTunes, News, Organizations, Wade Wingler No Responses »

Nov 182011

Information from the INDATA Project is now available via podcast! Every Friday, the INDATA Project will release two podcasts featuring new assistive technology projects. The podcasts are available for viewing on the INDATA Project website and on iTunes. The “Assistive Technology Update” is a fast-paced weekly update for AT professionals and enthusiasts. The “Accessibility Minute” is designed for all listeners to provide assistive technology tips and tricks.

ATU025: MyGolf and MyFootball (Chuck Bergen), One Handed Typing, aboutonehandedtyping.com/Question/QuestReview, Online Banking, iTunes Music Match, New Ball State University ABA Program, AT “Tweet Down,” “Thank you for giving me a voice.”

AM025: Digital Text

Blind: not a title, a way of life

Accessibility Services, Assistive Technology Products, Easter Seals Crossroads, INDATA, INDATA Team, News No Responses »

Nov 162011

Pastor, father, husband, counselor and friend are all titles Derek Daniel gladly calls himself. Blind is not one of them. “This, being blind, is not who I am,” Daniel said. “This does not define me.”

Ten years ago, Daniel experienced a sudden and dramatic loss of vision soon after he graduated high school. After several attempts at a diagnosis, Daniel’s doctors eventually discovered the cause of Daniel’s loss of vision, Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a hereditary disease that only about 10,000 Americans have.

As he adjusts some papers under the magnifying screen of his CCTV, Daniel begins to tell us how the piece of equipment works for him. The CCTV magnifies documents that are put on the feeder and his computer is connected to this screen (his computer is equipped with magnification software). The best part of the CCTV, he said, was that the screen could split into two halves. This allows him to have a document on the feeder to view on half of the screen and his computer screen on half of the screen which makes tasks like date entry much easier.

Sitting in a blue and green walled room in the basement of Bethel Community Church, Nikol and I listened to this young pastor, dressed casually in jeans and a multicolored striped sweater, as he told us about his life.

Adopted at three weeks old, Daniel had no way of knowing that he carried the gene that caused LHON . Losing his sight right after graduating high school, Daniel watched as his friends all left for college and he stayed behind. But Daniel was determined to keep going, sighted or not. “I’m Mr. Optimism,” Daniel said.

In the spirit of optimism, Daniel went to college, after about six months of orientation and mobility training. However, his first semester proved to be less than the ideal college experience. Often spending more time in his room than going to class or out in the commons, Daniel found it hard to be a freshman on campus. “It was a horrible semester,” Daniel said.

Things got better when Daniel transferred down to the University of Southern Indiana, where he had a suitemate and a few more friends. But not all the days were good days and Daniel found himself staying up all night and sleeping during the day, skipping class and becoming a recluse, something Daniel never did as a sighted person. “I’m an extrovert,” Daniel said. “I was a theater major for goodness sake.”

He tried joining clubs and groups on campus, but would quit after the first couple of meetings. What he was searching for, he could not find in others. When I asked him what helped him to snap out of it, Daniel said there was no real turning point or major revolution.What did happen, Daniel said, was that he had to realize his own self-worth.“You have to be fulfilled in yourself,” Daniel said. “I had to learn that groups will not give me purpose.”

Daniel went on to finish college and graduate from USI and is living in Southport, IN with April, his high school sweetheart, and their two children.Daniel says that his life is complete and whole, but still struggles with being blind and wants everyone to know that struggling is okay and part of living, with or without a disability.

Over the next few weeks, Daniel will be contributing to the blog as a guest blogger over a series of three posts. Stay tuned!

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