[nfbmi-talk] what assistive tech services from bsbp?

[joe harcz Comcast]

June 11 2014 Assistive Tech

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr

 

To: Several….

 

 

From: BSBP State Plan pre-print:

 

(The devil is in the details…)

“Identify how a broad range of assistive technology services and assistive technology devices will be provided to individuals with disabilities at each stage of the rehabilitation process; and describe how assistive technology services and devices will be provided to individuals with disabilities on a statewide basis.

BSBP provides assistive technology services and devices to its consumers through the provisions of individual plans for employment. The IPE specifies the types of services, technology training and devices that will be necessary to assist the individual in achieving their desired vocational goals throughout the rehabilitation process. 

The BSBP Training Center has a comprehensive technology training program that is equipped with the most progressive technology training and equipment for persons who are blind & visually impaired. The program staff researches evolving best practices in computer instruction, identifies access technology that will assist consumers in achieving successful employment outcomes and provides comprehensive instruction to training center students.

BSBP, through its working relationship with technology vendors are made constantly aware of the need to make sure that staff and consumers are familiar with the new technology and its applications. The agency has developed a process to assess new assistive technology vendors through members of the Technology Committee, as well as update experience vendors expertise.  As a result, a number of assistive technology vendors have been identified as approved providers to provide adaptive technology services to consumers who are blind and visually impaired.  A list of approved vendors is added to BSBP’s website.

BSBP collaborates with community agencies and organizations to make sure that their programs and services are accessible to blind and visually impaired consumers, as well as to assist them with the appropriate technology and adaptive equipment that allows individuals with vision impairments to utilize technology in various programs. 

BSBP makes available technology training for staff and consumers on the latest technology and adaptive equipment that assist individuals in the workforce and with daily living skills. BSBP participates in a technology fair which is sponsored in part by BSBP and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Ann Arbor, (VISIONS) and is held biannually. At the technology fair more than 50 vendors displays equipment for blind and visually impaired individuals to enhance their knowledge, independence, education, daily living and employment skills. BSBP participates in the program by providing information regarding services as it relates to employment and independence. This event is open to consumers and BSBP encourages their attendance. BSBP encourages staff to participate in technology events in order that they may be able to assist their consumers with technology in all aspects of their lives.”

 

 

 

 

Now here is the list of assistive technology service providers from BSBP’s web sit today (Note many of these referrals no longer even reside in Michigan and like everyting else on the web site it is woefully dated):

Assistive Technology Installers/Trainers

Please note: These resources, compiled by staff, are provided for your information only, without any official endorsement or guarantee. We reserve the right

to remove any name from this list at any time. For corrections or updates, please contact

martinr15 at michigan.gov.

 

Advance Computer Products

Attention: Hart Smalley

(517) 775-2610

 

Robert "Blake" Bergman

2267 Radcliff Circle S.E.

Grand Rapids, MI 49546

(616) 975-5741

myeryie at iserv.net

 

Service: voice recorders

 

Sara Lajavic

slajavic at yahoo.com

 

Peter Logan

(269) 685-5414

 

Miles P. Matte

The Blind Edge L. L. C.

(810) 689-9393 business or (810) 394-1909 mobile

http://www.theblindedge.com/

3009 Maple Creek Drive, Davison, MI 48523

milesmatte at gmail.com

Online or in-person access technology training including ZoomText, JAWS, and Microsoft Office Suite

 

MEE Inc.

Michael Ellis

1-888-888-9533

E-mail:

emailmee at comcast.net

 

MTB Rehabilitation Services, Ltd.

Matthew Brink

(517) 204-3498

E-mail:

matthewbrink at cablespeed.com

 

Cathy McAdam

(313) 563-1411

 

Jack Mercer

1423 E. Parkwood Ave.

Burton, MI 48529

(810) 701-6414

 

Timothy J. Paulding

217 Paisley Court, Kalamazoo, MI 49006

(269) 598-7696

tpaulding at gmail.com

 

7 years. Willing to travel 1.5 to 2 hours from home site.  Technology skills: hardware/software, JAWS, Zoomtext, Kurzweil, Duxbury, Microsoft Access, Microsoft

Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox.

 

Marlene Seiler

(269) 382-6025

Kalamazoo, Michigan

seiler.marlene at gmail.com

 

Karolina Smiley

Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

456 Cherry St. SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

(800) 466-8084

(616) 458-7113

 

John Whitacre

Optometric Institute and Clinic of Detroit

(313) 872-2060

 

Peter Zaremba

2111 Pontiac Lake Rd.

Waterford, MI 48328

Phone: (248) 209-2594

Fax: (248) 209-2548

E-mail:

peter.zaremba at oakland.k11.mi.us