[Nfbf-l] From isolated to connected: technology levels playing field for deaf, blind

[Alan Dicey]

Dear Friends,
I Thought some would be interested in this; it's something I got from The 
Star Democrat.
With Best Regards,
God Bless,
Alan
Plantation, Florida

>From isolated to connected: technology levels playing field for deaf, blind
Maryland mom. EASTON Many busy Moms don't think twice when they log on to a 
computer to pay bills, check out the latest school news or post a picture of 
the kids on Facebook. But 34-year-old Heather Guy is grateful for every 
stroke of the keyboard. In the last several years this mother of four has 
lost a great deal: her job, her vision and much of her independence. It's 
very isolating, said Guy. I had always been a very independent person, now I 
had to have someone go to the grocery store for me. I didn't have any adult 
interaction. I was home all the time. I was like that for five years. Born 
with Usher Syndrome, Guy has been wearing hearing aids since she was four 
years old and began gradually losing her eyesight at age 14. In her 20's she 
worked full time for an orthopedic doctor, managing billing and referrals.
As her vision declined, she adapted by using special screen-magnifying 
software on her computer. Working 40 hours a week, I was getting severe 
headaches. I just couldn't see stuff," said Guy. I tried and tried, but I 
had to quit. I couldn't perform my job duties anymore. Guy's life changed 
dramatically this year. She was referred to the Columbia Lighthouse for the 
Blind, headquartered in Washington, D.C., one of many local agencies 
nationwide that administers an innovative federal program called the 
National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program. Also known as 
iCanConnect, the program offers qualified consumers, who have significant 
vision and hearing loss, cutting edge communications equipment. For people 
who meet income guidelines the equipment is free, as is assessment and 
training. Guy received two braille displays through iCanConnect. She worked 
for six months with Shannon Wright, a deaf-blind rehabilitation specialist 
and a trainer for the iCanConnect program. Basically, she saved my life, 
said Guy, who learned both to read braille and use the braille displays to 
access her laptop and iPhone. It takes practice, reading is different than 
typing it, said Guy, but it didn't take me as much time as I thought it 
would. She is now connected constantly: reading the latest emails from her 
kids' teachers, texting family and friends and posting photos on Facebook.
You kind of feel like you're on the outside of the world looking in when you 
don't have any of it (access to modern communications), said Guy. This 
technology levels the playing field, I can do the same thing as the next 
person. iCanConnect offers a wide array of communications equipment, along 
with individualized assessment and training at no charge to qualified 
consumers who meet income guidelines. The program is available in all 50 
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Learn more and download an application at
http://www.iCanConnect.org/Maryland
 The website accommodates users with low vision, people who use screen 
readers and features video that is both audio-described and closed 
captioned. Information about iCanConnect also is available by calling 
1-800-825-4595 or 1-888-320-2656.