[nfbmi-talk] Camp T mentioned in Press release

[Larry Posont]

I thought many of you would be interested in this press release.

Greetings Camp T Lovers,

See below, from our friend Mick Isaacson, who brought us the talking lab quest at Science Camp.


Please see below. Camp T is mentioned towards the end. Feel free to send the release to others.

NEWS RELEASE

September 24, 2010



  Purdue alumnus to demonstrate his company's products at White House



WASHINGTON, D.C., and WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Educational products and services that enable students affected by blindness and low 
vision to experience more hands-on science learning will be demonstrated at the White House on Monday (Sept. 27).

Cary Supalo, a Purdue University alumnus and founder and president of the Purdue Research Park-based startup Independence Science 
LLC, will meet with Kareem Dale, associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and special assistant to the 
president for disability policy. Supalo, a blind chemist who recently earned his doctorate in chemistry from Pennsylvania State 
University, also will meet with Jessie DeAro, senior policy analyst in the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Independence Science produces and sells educational products to schools that assist in teaching science, math and other subjects to 
blind and low-vision students.

"We are honored to share Independence Science's products and services that empower students affected by blindness or low-vision with 
the current administration," Supalo said. "Our mission always has been to inspire this population -- which is underrepresented in 
the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- to consider career paths in these areas."

Other Independence Science personnel who will attend the meetings include Mick Isaacson, director of research and development; 
Michael Lombardi, curriculum development specialist; and Lillian Rankel, director of educational innovations.

            One product to be demonstrated in the White House is the Talking LabQuest, which collects and stores scientific data 
like acceleration and pH level. The device incorporates a text-to-speech software component developed by Independence Science that 
makes information displayed on its LCD screen audible.

The software was tested at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and was used by students who attended Camp 
Tuhsmeheta this summer in Greenville, Mich. Independence Science received funding from the National Science Foundation to develop 
the technology and collaborated with Vermeer Software & Technology and the Department of Educational Studies at Purdue University to 
create it.

            Supalo's goals for Independence Science's visit to the White House are to learn about government opportunities in 
getting its technologies into schools to help blind students and to promote the company's mission.

"We hope to tie this to educational and innovative opportunities for student learning in the United States," he said.

About Independence Science LLC

Officials at Independence Science (http://www.independencescience.com) are making their expertise available to help school 
districts, colleges and universities, and state rehabilitation agencies across the country meet Americans with Disabilities Act 
requirements in the science curriculum. These technologies are being made available to further serve as a dissemination tool to 
benefit any blind and low-vision student in the United States.

About Purdue Research Park

The Purdue Research Park (http://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in 
the country in four locations across Indiana. The parks are home to about 200 companies that employ 4,000 people and are located in 
West Lafayette, Merrillville, Indianapolis and New Albany.



Contact at Purdue Research Park:

Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin at prf.org



Source:

Cary Supalo, 814-441-2589, csupalo at independencescience.com