HEALTH & SENIOR NEWS
Assistive Technology Brings New Meaning to Webster's, Disabled Individuals
By Thomas Barretta
Staff Writer for the West Hartford News
April 19,2001
Webster's dictionary defines communication as giving or exchanging of information,
signals or messages as by talk, gesture or writing.
In order to communicate with others, individuals without a disability do not use
assistive technology. But without assistive technology, persons with disabilities would have trouble accessing the internet,
reading the newspaper, writing a letter, watching television or communicating to a friend.
Every year, new technology is introduced into the marketplace, and with the assistance
of the Annual Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Computer Access MiniExpo, presented by the New England Assistive
Technology (NEAT) Marketplace, individuals can get hands-on experience with adaptive equipment.
On Thursday, April 5, 12 vendors and eight non-profit organizations displayed their
products to consumers and professionals at the Second Annual MiniExpo, which took place at the Oak Hill School for the Blind
in Hartford.
Dr. Rebecca Earl, vice president of the Connecticut Institute of the Blind (CIB)
and a West Hartford resident, said in an interview that the purpose of the expo is to introduce new adaptive equipment to
consumers, teacher, administrators, and parents of individuals with a disability.
The program also gives vendors an opportunity to market their equipment directly
to the consumer, she said, and by receiving feedback from professional and customers, the vendor is able to make improvements,
enhancements and adjustments to their product.
Some of the products that were displayed at the expo were geared toward persons
who are blind. Vision Dynamics displayed a Close Circuit Television and Zoomtext. A CCTV enlarges regular print, and magnifies
it on a screen. Zoomtext magnifies icons, graphics and text on a computer screen. Individuals who are visually impaired use
both of these products.
An individual who is blind, or a visually impaired person, will also use a voice-synthesized
program called JAWS. This voice-synthesized program helps blind individuals use the Internet, type a thesis, or write an e-mail
to a friend.
Vision Dynamics sells products for the visually impaired, blind, and learning disabled.
Those interested in any of their products can check out their website at http://visiondynamics.com
Signtel Inc. is marketing computer software as an extra tool to teach sign language,
but not to replace a sign language instructor. It also serves as a method for individuals who are unfamiliar with sign language
to make it easier for both parties to communicate with one another.
If an employer does not have an employee who knows sign language, the company may
be able to use this software as an assistive tool for communicating to an employee who is deaf. When an individual begins
typing on an ordinary laptop computer, the Signtel Interpreter software can perform signs and phrases. Greg Mulqueen, sales
manager, said that the program is being tested for further development.
NEAT not only sponsors mini expos, but also has an Assistive Technology Demonstration
Center. The center has state of the art AT equipment, a resource library, adopted computer lab, as well as experts who can
demonstrate and teach individuals who are interested in learning assistive technology.
One of the vendors present at the MiniExpo was Shirley Fredlund, founder of a program
called Voice for Joanie. The program was named after the late Joan Margaitis of Morris, who was a victim of Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
By hampering her nerves to communicate with her muscles, Ms. Margaitis became totally
paralyzed. Because of her disease and paralysis, the only way she could communicate her thoughts and feelings was by blinking
her eye.
In light of the fact that her friend Joan endured such a crippling disease, Fredlund
implemented the Voice for Joanie program. With donations from IBM Inc. and a $1,500 grant, she purchased computer systems
that have a voice synthesizer and infrared technology. With the assistance of infrared and the computer, individuals can express
their emotions and communicate their opinions to friends and family.
The Voice for Joanie program is a non-profit organization that has donated more
than 174 adaptive computers to state residents free of charge.
The Demonstration Center and MiniExpos also offer equipment that assists persons
with other types of disabilities, such as mobility impairment and nervous system impairment.
Future demonstrations include the UltimedCo & Wenzelite Expo, a demonstration
of pediatric, adult positioning, and mobility devices, which will take place on Thursday, April 26; and the Wheelchair &
Mobility Expo, to be presented on Saturday, June 9.
Those who are interested in attending or displaying a product at a future expo
as a vendor or student, or anyone wishing to learn more about the Demonstration Center, can check out their website at
