[Nfbmo] Fw: [nfbmi-talk] MSU Article: Student Uses DifferingLearningTechn...

Mon Dec 3 04:13:04 UTC 2012

Thanks, Fred,
    I'm going to have to look into this more.
Dan

In a message dated 12/2/2012 9:55:53 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
goodfolks at charter.net writes:

Thought some  of you might be interested in this, Dan.

----- Original Message  ----- 
From: "Jordyn Castor" <jordyn2493 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of  Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday,  December 02, 2012 9:31 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] MSU Article: Student  Uses 
DifferingLearningTechniques to Give Back

The contents of  the article is copied below, just in case people can't get 
the link to  highlight properly
. I think it looks worse copied here though lol. I used  Safari reader so 
maybe that's why.
But here you have it.

Student  Uses Differing Learning Techniques to Give Back

November 29th,  2012

Courtney Meyer & Megan Orth

Jordyn Castor is a  sophomore majoring in computer science. But Jordyn isn’
t 
your average  sophomore.  In spite of her blindness, Jordyn is pursuing a 
major  that is highly visual and graphical while helping other students to  
overcome similar visual barriers in learning.

In September, Jordyn  spoke at a lecture series by the University 
Activities 
Board entitled  “Real Heroes: No Capes, No Masks, No Distractions.”

Reflecting on the  intended message of her speech, Jordyn said “People 
might 
look at me as an  inspirational hero, but to me it is everyday life, and 
despite challenges  I am going to live my life to the fullest.”

She adds, “There were a lot  of jokes and fun in my speech, and I just 
tried 
to show them that I have  adaptive techniques for doing things like math, 
physics, or even crossing  the street, but I am just a normal person.”

“Life isn’t always fair,  but you have to adapt and play the hand you’re 
dealt.”

Although  Jordyn can read her textbooks using a refreshable Braille display 
on her  computer, she requires tactile graphic images to study graphs, line 

drawings or maps. These images are prepared by RCPD staff and Tower Guard  
members.

To complete high-level math and calculus, she uses Nemeth  Braille and 
other 
auditory techniques like Math Speak.  Jordyn and a  team of engineering 
students have been working to build apparatuses that  will aid individuals 
with visual impairments in understanding complex  graphical problems. One 
that assistive technology trainer Kaitlyn Hlywa  has already built allows 
Jordyn to tactitly “visualize” 2D graphics and  problems involving 3D 
vectors 
with angles and Cartesian  coordinates.

Jordyn and Kaitlyn work with a graphing  apparatus.

Jordyn has also been assisting the RCPD’s Tower Guard and  the College of 
Engineering in producing an accessible physics book.  Another team of 
students in Electrical and Computer Engineering is working  to create a 
refreshable haptic display that cannot only convert text into  Braille for 
users to feel from a small device connected to their computer,  but also 
allow users to interpret graphic images.

One of the  innovative graphic images that Jordyn and other students who 
are 
blind can  use.

Her time has not only been dedicated to helping students at  Michigan State 
University understand disability-related challenges to  learning; she has 
volunteered as a part of the RCPD and College of  Engineering’s efforts to 
design anatomical models for students at the  Asian Aid India School for 
the 
Blind in Bobbili, India. In consulting with  the students constructing the 
accessible models, she has conveyed how  technology like screen readers and 
Braille make textbooks  accessible.

Jordyn found the experience of working in a group with  other engineering 
students and giving them advice about anatomical models  for students who 
are 
blind to be “awesome”. She is thrilled that the  students in India have 
loved 
the models, and says that it is “really cool  to see a product I helped 
make 
get put to use.”

Jordyn is not only  a scholar, but also a humanitarian.  “It is rewarding 
to 
see the  talents of students like Jordyn combine with the passion and skill 
of Team  RCPD, Tower Guard, and the College of Engineering to create 
opportunity in  an area of study where the challenges are abundant while 
the 
possibilities  remain endless. The power of engineering, creativity and 
persistence to  solve problems and create opportunity is exactly what Hal 
Wochholz had in  mind as he invested in our engineering partnerships,” said 
RCPD Director  Michael Hudson.

After graduating, Jordyn hopes to pursue a career in  software engineering. 
Her fascination with computers dates back to 2nd  grade when her family 
bought their first computer and her school helped  install a screen reader. 
In 7th grade Jordyn further learned how exciting  computers can be when she 
attended a conference by the National Federation  of the Blind in 
Baltimore, 
Maryland. The conference was her first exposure  to programming, showing 
her 
that in spite of a visual impairment, she  could pursue a career in 
computer 
science, and she has been interested  ever since.

There is no doubt that computer science is an extremely  difficult major, 
but 
Jordyn lives by the mantra that “nothing is  impossible.” Jordyn is glad 
to 
pave the way for other students who are  blind to pursue a computer science 
related career. She is grateful for the  help provided by her fellow 
Spartans, noting “I never expected to come to  a university where people 
would be so accommodating and these helpful  apparatuses would be made for 
me 
by students.”

“People are so  giving and willing to help, and that is all part of 
engineering and what  we are trying to do. It is great that students get 
hands on experience and  it is exciting for me to see the end product and 
put 
those products to  use.”

Jordyn feels that “it is awesome to be a Spartan because people  are so 
willing to help…and people put their heart into everything.” Jordyn  is no 
exception.

On Dec 2, 2012, at 10:06 PM, "Terry Eagle"  <terrydeagle at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hey Jordon,
>
>  The URL link goes to a message that says page cannot be found.  Can  you
> please copy-and-paste the article here?
>
>  Thanks.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:  nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>  Jordyn
> Castor
> Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 9:33 PM
>  Subject: [nfbmi-talk] MSU Article: Student Uses Differing 
>  LearningTechniques
> to Give Back
>
> Hey everyone!
>  I just wanted to share this article with you. I'm also hoping to get  it
> featured in our campus newspaper. :) Hope you enjoy, and go  green!!!!! :)
>  
https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/blog/post/student-uses-differing-learning-technique
>  s-give-back
> Jordyn
>
>  _______________________________________________
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>
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