Assistive Technology: Access for All

May 7, 2010 - 4:00pm

Event Description

If you are interested in learning how your organization can provide technology access to people of all abilities, attend this free event to connect with other community technology leaders who are interested in making their technology programs and services more accessible. Lighthouse for the Blind, the largest organization providing direct service, advocacy, and information to the blind and visually impaired of Northern California, will introduce participants to its Technology Lab.

Lighthouse for the Blind's Employment and Technology Program trains individuals in computer skills and high and low technology, enabling blind and visually impaired people to access equal job opportunities. In addition to learning about Lighthouse for the Blind's technology-related services for the blind and visually impaired, participants will have the opportunity to explore the Technology Lab and experience the assistive technology available there.

Participants will have an opportunity to exchange ideas about how to integrate assistive technology into existing programs in order to provide broader access to community technology services.

RSVP.

Lighthouse for the Blind

214 Van Ness Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102

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Resources

CTN Connect: Accessible Technology at Lighthouse for the Blind

Leaders in the field of community technology met at Lighthouse for the Lighthouse for the Blind to discuss using assistive technology to make technology services available to clients with a wider range of visual abilities. Experts Patty Quinonez and Shen Kuan shared their knowledge of magnification software and screen readers with participants, and offered suggestions about how to train and assist visually-impaired clients. Ms. Quinonez emphasized that, especially among clients with functional vision who might benefit from magnification software, appropriate solutions varied according to the individual needs, abilities, and specific visual impairments of each client. Lighthouse's Director of Rehabilitation Services, Kathy Abrahamson, further emphasized that most visually impaired clients require a variety of assistive technologies as a means of functioning within digital society, and that advocacy not to limit people's capacities to participate based on financial limitations was key. Mr. Kuan not only walked participants through a demonstration of JAWS (Job Access with Speech), but also discussed possibilities for making the web more accessible to the visually-impaired.

According to participant Chris Peters, "Assistive Technology without training for Staff and End-Users is pointless." Patty mentioned that it often took at least 10 hours to train a client on how to use the basic features of magnification software. Training for JAWS can be even more intensive for some, as it requires command of both Windows and JAWS keystrokes. Lighthouse Staff discussed the use of Assistive Technology with Braille and emphasized the importance of literacy for the blind, even with the development of advanced speaking tools. Though the challenges are evident, we hope event participants left the meeting with at least a better understanding of how to enable their visually-impaired clients to make better use of technology services in the future.

Please review the resources below for more information about making technology more accessible to visually-impaired individuals.

Click on the links below to learn more about the accessibility software discussed at this event.

For more information, read Chris Peters' post about this event on the Tech Soup Blog.

Please contact Winifred if you have any questions about this event or future CTN Connect events. Visit our website for more information, and join us at our next event at KQED on June 13!