[NFBP-Talk] Fwd: [tech-vi Announce List] Vispero Assistive Technology and Accessibility Showcase: February 9-10

[Jan Lattuca]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Goldfield <david.goldfield at outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2021 22:49:28 +0000
Subject: [tech-vi Announce List] Vispero Assistive Technology and
Accessibility Showcase: February 9-10
To: "tech-vi at groups.io" <tech-vi at groups.io>


https://vispero.com/events/vispero-assistive-technology-and-accessibility-showcase/?utm_content=152198894&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-2382446636<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvispero.com%2Fevents%2Fvispero-assistive-technology-and-accessibility-showcase%2F%3Futm_content%3D152198894%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter%26hss_channel%3Dtw-2382446636&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cbddc91e01dda4bd6153008d8bef57609%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637469308740861401%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=jjPbCGeMHMR4Im5PfD8SMs1ePbXX9TuaHduij%2BxjZRk%3D&reserved=0>
Vispero Assistive Technology and Accessibility Showcase

Your one-stop accessibility shop.

Dates: Feb 9th and 10th

Times: 11 am - 4 pm Eastern

Join representatives from Vispero's hardware, software, and consulting
teams for a free two-day webinar. We'll cover the latest and greatest
from each brand: Freedom Scientific, Enhanced Vision, Optelec, and The
Paciello Group.

Session Topics:

  *   Training
  *   Software updates
  *   Licensing options
  *   Hardware for users who are blind and who have low vision
  *   Digital accessibility tools and solutions

Who Should Attend?

  *   Vocational Rehab Agency Employees
  *   University Disability Services
  *   State Agency Consultants and Trainers

Event Registration:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FIh3nl8FSBGrAqndRVwByA<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2FWN_FIh3nl8FSBGrAqndRVwByA&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cbddc91e01dda4bd6153008d8bef57609%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637469308740871358%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=lrZyVUu39625SKpvZXtcQ48ZXIyR1vz4kILq%2F2dlBdY%3D&reserved=0>

NOTE: This event will offer Academy for Certification of Vision
Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) credits.

The event will be live captioned. Please email our team at
lmiller at vispero.com<mailto:lmiller at vispero.com> with any request for
accommodations.

________________________________
Schedule for Feb 9th
Introduction to Vispero by Matt Ater

Time: 11-11:45 am
Description: Have you ever wondered who Vispero is? What are the
brands, products, and services of Vispero? This session will provide
an overview of the Vispero brands and their different offerings.
Additionally, it will lay out the agenda for the event and discuss how
federal agencies can purchase or contract with Vispero companies.

About the presenter: Matt Ater is a subject matter expert on the user
experience for people with disabilities and brings over 25 years of
experience in developing solutions for people with disabilities. As a
person who is blind himself, Matt brings a unique understanding of the
barriers faced by people with disabilities. Matt has been supporting
organizations in the design of accessible customer-facing technology.
Matt is the Vice President of Business Development and Software
Engineering for Vispero, the world's leading assistive technology
provider for the visually impaired.

________________________________
What is New in JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion 2021 by Eric Damery

Time: 12-12:45 pm

Description: Review of the most recent features and enhancements for
users over the past year. Focusing on Windows 10, Office 365, OCR
Options, and new Voice Assistant.

About the presenter: Eric Damery, VP of Software Product Management
for Vispero, began in the Access Technology industry in 1994, one year
before the first JAWS for Windows product was released. Damery has
worked in Sales, Business Development, and Software Product Management
for Henter-Joyce and Freedom Scientific during his 27-year career.
Prior to working with JAWS, he served in the US Army and holds a
Bachelor's Degree in Business from the University of South Florida.

________________________________
Where Do I Find Training Material by Rachel Buchanan

Time: 1-1:45 pm

Description: This session will acknowledge the obstacles inherent to
learning and teaching assistive technology and detail our strategy for
providing user education to anyone interested in Fusion, JAWS, or
ZoomText. We will detail Freedom Scientific's current and upcoming
online learning options available to users for Fusion, JAWS, and
ZoomText. We will highlight our new Training Center pages, social
media platforms, and allow participants to contribute suggestions to
our future training offerings. Freedom Scientific's training
department has provided customers with various free training formats
for both live-streaming and download. This library of resources
presently includes short YouTube tutorial videos on JAWS, ZoomText,
and Fusion, audio, including MP3's, Daisy books, and archived training
webinars. All downloaded currently available webinars do have a
companion HTML with the text of the relevant lesson.

About the presenter: Rachel Buchanan has been with Vispero for almost
three years. She currently leads the User Education and Outreach team
at Freedom Scientific, which is responsible for creating and
maintaining the training and documentation for Vispero products. With
over 15 years' experience in working directly with individuals who are
blind or low vision, in both public and private agencies, Rachel has
experience in teaching various assistive technologies, vocational
program development, and strategic project implementation. Rachel has
managed and taught at the Carroll Center for the Blind, World Services
for the Blind, and now Freedom Scientific. Rachel holds a Master of
Education in blind and visually impaired Studies from Hunter College
CUNY and is a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.

________________________________
How State and Systemwide License Models can Increase Access to JAWS,
ZoomText, and Fusion by Douglas Gerry

Time: 2-2:45 pm

Description: This session will focus on software license programs that
can widely expand access to residents or students. We will share how
states and Vispero can partner to design creative programs that
provide access to software for more of their citizens. We will also
discuss license and annual program options that broadly widen access
throughout college and university systems.

About the presenter: Douglas Gerry has been in the assistive
technology industry for more than 20 years, and with Vispero for
almost four years. Douglas is currently the National Strategic
Software Sales Manager for Vispero, and primarily focuses on multiuser
licenses and annual license contracts. After losing his vision in his
mid-20s, Douglas quickly learned the independence assistive technology
could offer when he was first introduced to JAWS while living in San
Francisco in 1996. Douglas returned to his home state of Maine four
years ago to be closer to his family. He now spends much of his
off-time working on various woodworking and home improvement projects
as an excuse to play with power tools.

________________________________
Using Microsoft Teams with JAWS by Matt Ater

Time: 3-3:45 pm

Description: Microsoft Teams is a commonly used chat-based application
that promotes organizational collaboration. Learn how to navigate the
Teams interface with JAWS and use valuable features.

About the presenter: Matt Ater is a subject matter expert on the user
experience for people with disabilities and brings over 25 years of
experience in developing solutions for people with disabilities. As a
person who is blind himself, Matt brings a unique understanding of the
barriers faced by people with disabilities. Matt has been supporting
organizations in the design of accessible customer-facing technology.
Matt is the Vice President of Business Development and Software
Engineering for Vispero, the world's leading assistive technology
provider for the visually impaired.

________________________________
Schedule for Feb 10th
Ask the Expert (Vispero Panel)

Time: 11-11:45 am

Description: Ask the Vispero team your questions in this open session
with panel members including Matt Ater, Eric Damery, Rachel Buchanan,
Douglas Gerry, Ryan Jones, Larry Lewis, Bill Kilroy, Jeff Bazer, Ron
Miller.

________________________________
On the Go with Low Vision Hardware from Vispero by Bill Kilroy and Michael Wood

Time: 12-12:45 pm

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for
assistive technology to be able to move easily with the user for
on-site and remote learning and work, without sacrificing
functionality, usability, and durability. In this session, Vispero
team members Mike Wood and Bill Kilroy will highlight key Freedom
Scientific, Optelec, and Enhanced Vision low vision hardware that
offers easy setup and configuration, robust functionality, and moves
easily with the user between home, school, work, and community
settings.

After the session, attendees will be able to identify multiple low
vision hardware solution options to evaluate with clients in each
class of low vision hardware: handheld, transportable and desktop.

About the Presenters:

Bill Kilroy has spent over 25 years in the assistive technology
industry serving those with vision loss and is an original Freedom
Scientific team member from when it formed in 2000. Bill strives to
ensure that anyone with a vision loss has an awareness of and exposure
to the appropriate tools and services to help them achieve their goals
for education, vocation, and independence.

Michael Wood has been working in the Assistive Technology field for 15
years. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business and Marketing
before beginning his career in AT. Currently, he focuses on supporting
students and educators in the Blindness and Low Vision areas by
providing software and hardware to help individuals succeed with
independence.

________________________________
Vispero's Complete Windows and Mobile Speech and Braille Solutions by
Jeff Bazer and Ron Miller

Time: 1-1:45 pm

Description: Learn about Vispero's current offerings, designed to
provide better access while working in today's Microsoft Windows and
mobile platforms. Coupled with Vispero's vast and growing training
resource network, this session will introduce you to a new comfort
level for learning how to use the Focus Blue Braille Display, the
ElBraille 40 Windows Based Notetaker, use of JAWS on the ElBraille,
and important JAWS features which enhance the user experience, along
with use of the Focus Blue Braille Display with mobile devices and
with a laptop or desktop PC.

About the presenters: Jeff Bazer's career in the assistive technology
industry spans 20 years, 11 of which have been at Vispero and Freedom
Scientific. He currently serves as Director of Sales for the
South-Central Region including Texas, and primarily works through his
robust dealer network. Jeff believes that outstanding customer service
and support make the difference with his customers and is most proud
of the vast network of training tools Vispero offers. Before his move
to Vispero headquarters in Florida, Jeff also spent 15 years in radio,
working in Minnesota and South Dakota. He attributes his
communications background to his presentation style and always
remembering that listening can be even more important than sharing.

With a Bachelor's degree in Counseling/Psychology from Christian
Heritage College (now San Diego Christian College), Ron Miller has
been involved in the Blindness Access Technology field for 20 years.
He has worked at Freedom Scientific (now Vispero) since the spring of
2000 in several roles, including Blindness Hardware Product Manager
and currently as Blindness Technology Product Specialist. Ron is
passionate about using access technology as a way to successfully
attain one's goals and pursue one's interests and the importance of
Braille literacy both for youth and adults.

________________________________
Utilizing JAWS Scripting to Accommodate Accessibility Barriers In The
Classroom and Workplace by Larry Lewis and Ryan Jones

Time: 2-2:45 pm

Description: This session will introduce common accessibility barriers
vision-impaired students and employees face in educational and
vocational settings and identify challenges faced by educators and
employers when providing "reasonable accommodations" to overcome these
barriers. Attendees will learn how to offer reasonable accommodations
to vision-impaired employees by executing a targeted assessment
coupled with JAWS for Windows scripting services. The session will
emphasize independent and efficient task completion that will result
in maximum productivity and efficiency when operating in competitive
educational and vocational environments. Participants will be able to
define what a JAWS Script is; why JAWS Scripting is necessary; when to
pursue a JAWS Scripting engagement; and how Vispero uses these
engagements to improve the lives of persons who are vision-impaired.
Real-life examples of successful scripting outcomes will be presented.

About the presenters: Ryan Jones is a Project Manager and
Accessibility Consultant at The Paciello Group (a Vispero company) and
has worked in the accessibility field for fifteen years. He works with
various Fortune 500 companies to help make sure their digital assets
are accessible to all.

He has a Bachelor of Information Management from Auburn University and
a Master's of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy from Florida State
University. Ryan lives in Lexington, Kentucky, and has been visually
impaired since birth.

Congenitally blind from cataracts that developed into a juvenile form
of glaucoma, Larry Lewis was fortunate to have been mainstreamed into
the public school system. As a result of the excellent instruction
that he received as a child, he is a fluent Braille reader and writer
and a strong advocate for Braille literacy for students who cannot
effectively access large print. Thanks to his acquired Braille reading
and writing skills, he attained a comprehensive formal education: a
Master of Arts in English and a Master of Science in Special Education
(Blind Rehabilitation). The latter has broadened his once myopic
perspective of persons who are blind and visually impaired, and
persons who have secondary disabilities that may or may not be
associated with their visual impairment. Larry currently serves as
Director of Government Sales and Strategic partnerships for The
Paciello Group - a Digital Accessibility Firm committed to ensuring
that electronic desktop and mobile content conform to today's
accessibility guidelines.

________________________________
Using JAWS Inspect to Test Your Content For JAWS Usability by Larry Lewis

Time: 3-3:45 pm

Description: This session introduces participants to the JAWS Inspect
testing tool and provides strategies for testing online content for
JAWS users. It can be complicated for sighted staff and service
providers to validate how the JAWS interacts with web and PDF content
for JAWS Users. JAWS Inspect minimizes the training required to test
this content for accessibility and usability. JAWS Inspect will be
demonstrated as an inclusive means of identifying, sharing, and
remediating accessibility defects for JAWS users.

About the presenter: Congenitally blind from cataracts that developed
into a juvenile form of glaucoma, Larry Lewis was fortunate to have
been mainstreamed into the public school system. As a result of the
excellent instruction that he received as a child, he is a fluent
Braille reader and writer and a strong advocate for Braille literacy
for students who cannot effectively access large print. Thanks to his
acquired Braille reading and writing skills, he attained a
comprehensive formal education: a Master of Arts in English and a
Master of Science in Special Education (Blind Rehabilitation). The
latter has broadened his once myopic perspective of persons who are
blind and visually impaired, and persons who have secondary
disabilities that may or may not be associated with their visual
impairment. Larry currently serves as Director of Government Sales and
Strategic partnerships for The Paciello Group - a Digital
Accessibility Firm committed to ensuring that electronic desktop and
mobile content conform to today's accessibility guidelines.

David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
JAWS Certified, 2019
Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive emails regarding
news and events in the blindness assistive technology field.
Email: tech-vi+subscribe at groups.io<mailto:tech-vi+subscribe at groups.io>

www.DavidGoldfield.org<http://www.DavidGoldfield.org>


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#467): https://groups.io/g/tech-vi/message/467
Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/80067408/4428732
Group Owner: tech-vi+owner at groups.io
Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/tech-vi/leave/8954990/268029546/xyzzy
[jrlattuca at gmail.com]
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-