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

Roger RogerLH605 at aol.com
Mon Dec 3 06:16:07 UTC 2012 

This is great!  Technology has come a long way.  Thanks for sharing. I'm really encouraged and impressed!

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 2, 2012, at 10:13 PM, DanFlasar at aol.com wrote:

> 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
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbmi-talk mailing  list
>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To  unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/terrydeagle%40yahoo.
>> com
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbmi-talk mailing  list
>> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To  unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/jordyn2493%40gmail.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk  mailing  list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To  unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for  
> nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/goodfolks%40charter.
> net  
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbmo mailing  list
> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
> To  unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for  
> Nfbmo:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/danflasar%40aol.com
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbmo mailing list
> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbmo:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/rogerlh605%40aol.com

More information about the NFBMO mailing list