A Blizzard of Technology Information is Coming February 9

The 5^th Biennial Technology Blizzard for People with Visual Impairments and Learning Disabilities will storm into the Livonia Public Schools Dickinson Center on Friday, February 9, from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The Dickinson Center is located at 18000 Newburgh Road, ½ mile north of Six Mile Road.

Nearly 30 manufacturers and distributors of technology products will showcase applications for people who are blind, visually impaired, or learning disabled. Both high tech (computer based) and low tech (functional technology products) will be displayed.

The keynote speaker will be Jay Stiteley of The Seeing Eye who will talk about how he uses technology to make everyday life more enjoyable.

People of all ages with visual impairments or learning disabilities, families, teachers, service agencies and anyone interested from the community are welcome. Since many students and teachers will be at the Blizzard between 10 am and 1 pm, the public is encouraged to come after 1 pm, if possible, to stagger the crowd.

The free program is a collaboration of Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired with the Detroit, Lincoln Park, and Livonia Public Schools, and the Wayne County Regional Educational Services Agency.

For more information, contact GDABVI at 313-272-3900.

Technology Blizzard for the Visually Impaired Version 5.0

Dickinson Center, 18000 Newburgh Road, Livonia, 48152
Date: Friday, February 9, 2007
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
5^th biennial program – first Blizzard was scheduled in 1999

Our goal is to bring a “blizzard” of information about products and services applying technology to the needs of people with visual impairments.

Presented by the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired in collaboration with the Wayne County RESA (Regional Educational Services Agency) and the Wayne County districts that provide services to students with visual impairments – Detroit, Lincoln Park, and Livonia

In 2005 and again this year, we are inviting people with learning disabilities since some technology applications are very inter-changeable.

Audience:
Students with visual impairments (or learning disabilities) – come from all over Southeast Michigan.
Teachers, para-professionals, technology coordinators in schools.

Other Audiences:
People with visual impairments of all ages
Family members – both children of older people and parents of young children
Ophthalmologists, optometrists, learning specialists – anyone who has an interest in the application of technology to help people with vision loss

Please Note:
The Dickinson Center is a former junior high school in Livonia. The exhibitors will be located in the gym and the large group room. There is no food service in the building. Sessions will be in rooms throughout the building. Please stop at the registration table to pick up a program.

National Vendors
Enabling Technologies – producers of Braille embossers
Freedom Scientific – makers of JAWS screen reader, PacMate (notetaker), Topaz – 4” video magnifier
GW Micro – Window Eyes screen reader and other products
HumanWare – both Low Vision products and Blindness Products
American Printing House for the Blind – from Louisville – they have useful high and low tech products for both students in school and adults. – Color identifiers, Book Port which is a compact way to read electronic text files with speech or DAISY Digital Books with human speech.

Michigan Companies Representing National Manufacturers
AbleZone – Kathy Gargagliano
Low Vision Solutions – Nancy Simmons and Sal Falsette
Clarity of Michigan – Ron and Judy Lange from Traverse City
Mike Ellis – whole range of products – HumanWare and many others

Low Vision
Beaumont Hospital and the Beaumont Driving Rehabilitation Program – Royal Oak
A&A Driving School – training for people with vision loss to drive

Computer Training Programs
ACT (Accessible Computer Technology) – program at Libraries through GDABVI
Leader Dog  - offers a technology training program

Various Low Tech Product Companies
Braille Gifts
Blind Children’s Fund
Jump-In Products
Start-Ahead which has writing paper for people with low vision or learning disabilities

Non-Profits
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
Wayne County Library for the Blind
Readings for the Blind – audio recordings for people
Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic – RFB&D – Learning through Listening
Camp T – Summer camp in Greenville, MI
Michigan Parents of the Visually Impaired
Michigan Commission for the Blind
New Vision Enterprises – a program for students in Macomb who have visual impairments and are learning to produce items for sale like cards

Keynote
Jay Stiteley – Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ – also will have a booth
He’ll talk about how he uses technology to enhance his daily life – everything from a screen reader to a Braille Note with a GPS system to his guide dog

Other Sessions
A student from Kalamazoo and his teacher will do a presentation on the Audio Graphing Calculator.
A recent high school graduate will talk about instant messaging using her computer and speech access program.
Livonia high school students and their teacher will talk about their use of the AFB Career Connect service to meet mentors and learn more about careers pursued by people with visual impairments.
GDABVI Accessible Computer Training program will be described.

Closing Presentation
Jim Halliday, retired CEO of HumanWare, will talk about the products and services he has seen during 40 years in the Assistive Technology Products field. Learn more about the revolution that has happened for people with visual impairments.