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A.T. Life Reporter

A Newsletter about Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities

Fall 2000                              Volume IX, Issue 3

In This Issue:

• Thanks to NMTAP, Students Able to Begin College & Careers
• Estudiantes Pueden Asistir a Sus Clases y Trabajo, Gracias a NMTAP
• An Interview With The Director: One-Stop Centers, The Wave Of The Future
• Disability Awareness Day Saturday, October 14, 2000 Albuquerque, NM
• Caroll Cadena Presents at NEWMAAC 2000 Fall Conference
• One-Stop Centers: A Focus On People with Disabilities
• Navajo-ABLE: Collaboration is The Key To One Young Man's Success
• Free Wheelchair Cushions and Accessories
• Register Today for the "Achieving New Heights With Assistive Technology" Rocky Mountain Conference

Thanks to NMTAP, Students Able to Begin College & Careers

Paul Lovato is a charming and articulate 18-year-old who graduated last spring from Gallup High School. Paul has a skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa, which causes severe blistering of his skin, and for which there is no cure. According to Paul, his skin is "not as tough as everybody else's" and the disease especially effects his hands, feet, and elbows.

In order for Paul to attend his elementary school classes, his mother purchased a scooter for him. Then, while in high school, Paul obtained a laptop computer from the school district to use for his school and homework, and he also received a loan from the district of a new scooter when he outgrew his old one.

However, like other transitioning students, once he finished high school, Paul would no longer be able to use the scooter and the laptop because they belong to the school district. Paul was not sure how he would fulfill his goal of attending college without these assistive devices.

Fortunately for Paul, one of his teachers, Ms. Mandrell, had heard of a program for transitioning students run by NMTAP's ABLE (Assistive Bank of Loanable Equipment) Program. After contacting NMTAP, an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting was held with Paul, his teachers, and therapists to identify the assistive devices that would most benefit Paul.

Now, thanks to a loan from ABLE, Paul is attending the Gallup branch of the University of New Mexico on his new Invacare Lynx LX3 Scooter. He uses a Panasonic Toughbook laptop along with Dragon Naturally Speaking, a type of voice recognition software that he uses when his hands are sore. When asked what he thought of this whole process to get new equipment for college, Paul said, "I'm glad NMTAP helps people like me. I'm also happy my teachers were kind enough to tell me about the program."

Paul is just one of nine transitioning high school students who received assistive technology this past year with funds appropriated by the New Mexico State Legislature to NMTAP's ABLE program in 1999.

Another recipient of an ABLE loan is Kelli VanCuren, from Los Lunas, NM. A 20- year-old with Cerebral Palsy, Kelli attends TACL (Transition to Adult and Community Living), a program in Los Lunas which works with young adults with disabilities who are 18 to 22 years old. Kelli uses a Dynamyte augmentative communication device in all aspects of her life, but once she turns 22, she will no longer be eligible to use that device because it belongs to the Los Lunas Public Schools' Special Education Department. Kelli is currently working in two supported employment positions, and must use an assistive device to communicate in her jobs.

Haven Cloward, Kelli's Speech Language Pathologist, notified Kelli about the ABLE program, and Kelli has just received a new Dynamyte. Kelli's mother, Sallie VanCuren, stated, "We need more programs like this here in New Mexico. The money allocated by the legislature is way short of what we really could use, and there are more families in our state who need access to these kinds of resources."

We wish the best of luck to Paul & Kelli as they embark on their journey to adulthood!

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Estudiantes Pueden Asistir a Sus Clases y Trabajo, Gracias a NMTAP

Paúl Lovato es un niño normal y encantador de 18 años quien se graduó de la escuela secundaria de GALLUP la pimavera pasada. Paúl sufre de una enfermedad de la piel llamada bulosa del epidermálisis, la que le produce ampollas muy severas en su piel y para la cual no hay cura. De acuerdo a Paúl su piel no era tan resistente como las demás ya que la enfermedad ataca a sus manos, pies y codos.

Para que Paúl pueda ir a la escuela su madre le compró una patineta motorizada. Luego, mietras él esté en la escuela del distrito, la misma le proporciona una computadora portátil para que pueda hacer sus tareas escolares, él también recibió un préstamo del distrito. Paúl no está tan seguro de como completar sus estudios universitarios sin éste equipo.

Lo bueno para Paúl, es que la señorita Mandrel, una de sus maestras, había oído de un programa para estudiantes en transición dirigido por el programa NMTAP ABLE (Banco de Asistencia de Préstamos para Equipo). Luego de comunicarse con NMTAP, una junta fue llamada con Paúl, su maestra, un terapista de IEP (Plan Individual de Educación), para identificar si se beneficiaría más a Paúl con esta ayuda de inventos. Ahora, Paúl está asistiendo a la universidad de Nuevo México, sucursal en Gallup en su nueva patineta motorizada Lynx LX3.

Él también usa una computadora compacta de marca TOUGHBOOK panasonic juntamente con un sistema de voz activante de marca DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING el cual él usa cuando sus manos están muy adoloridas. Cuando se le preguntó de lo que él pensaba sobre todo el proceso que se hizo para adquirir su equipo nuevo para ir a clases, Paúl dijo, "Me alegro de que NMTAP ayude a personas como yo. También me alegro de que mi maestra fuera tan amable en compartir conmigo sobre este programa."

Paúl es sólo uno de los nueve estudiantes en transición que recibieron ayuda tecnológica el año pasado con fondos consigndos por la legislatura Estatal de Nuevo México hacia el programa ABLE de NMTAP en 1999.

Otro receptor del préstamo ABLE es Kelli Van Curren de 20 años de edad, de Los Lunas, NM. con parálisis cerebral, Kelli asiste a TACL (Comunidad Viviente y Adultos en Transición), un programa en Los Lunas que ayuda a personas con discapacidades 18-22 años. Kelli usa en todos los aspectos de su vida un invento de Comunicación Aumentativa Dinámica, pero igualmente que Paúl, cuando ella cumpla 22 años, no podrás seguir haciendo uso de este aparato ya que pertenece al Departamento Especial de Educación de la escuela pública de Los Lunas. Actualmente Kelli trabaja en dos puestos de apoyo, y casi siemrpe usa un invento de asistencia para comunicarse en sus trabajos.

Haven Cloward, patóloga de lengua de Kelli,quien le comunicó sobre el programa ABLE; Sallie Van Curren, madre de Kelli dijo, "Necesitamos en Nuevo México más programas como este. El dinero asignado por la legislatura es extremadamente poco a lo que en realidad usamos, habiendo más familias en nuestro estado que pueden tener acceso a esta clase de recursos."

Les deseamos la mejor de las suertes a Paúl y Kelly mientras ellos se embarán en su viaje hacia la madurez.

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An Interview With The Director:
One-Stop Centers, The Wave Of The Future

We took a moment recently to catch up with Alan Klaus, Director of NMTAP, to hear about the recent activities of the program. Here's what he had to say:

NMTAP staff has been busy lately working on employment issues for people with disabilities. What specific activities have you been involved with?

In July, NMTAP was asked by Goodwill Industries International to help set-up a model Assistive Technology (AT) Resource Room for the Community One-Stop Exhibit at the recent national Joint Employment and Training Technology Conference (JettCON*2000) held in Albuquerque. NMTAP was pleased to play a starring role in the exhibit as we coordinated six Resource Room Workstations aimed at people with disabilities.

What was the reason for including assistive technology resources in the exhibit?

The primary purpose of the AT room was to demonstrate the importance of assistive technology within the One-Stop Center system. People with significant disabilities need to have equal access to the One-Stop Center ­ the employment and training system being implemented within the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The AT resource room was one way to raise the bar on this issue, and to enhance awareness of and educate the people who may be administering the One-Stop Centers.

Can you tell us more about the One-Stop Centers?

One-Stop Centers are a principle of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and consist of a single location for people to find, prepare for, and keep good jobs through their working lives. Included in a One-Stop Center are resources such as employment listings, training sessions and career development workshops.

What type of assistive technology was included in the Resource Room workstations?

We organized them according to disability and, in an excellent example of collaboration among agencies and service providers, we developed six workstations that included assistive technology necessary for people with vision or hearing impairments, for those with physical disabilities, and for transitioning students. (See box on page 4 for the One-Stop Workstations and their sponsors.)

Why is it important for NMTAP to be involved with the One-Stop Centers?

For people who are interested in training and education, there is a major movement in employment towards the One-Stop Concept. In order for these One-Stop Centers to accommodate people with disabilities they must be established by people with considerable expertise in assistive technology as well as computer software and hardware. This is where NMTAP and others can be so instrumental in making the Centers accessible to people with disabilities.

What's the next step for NMTAP to pursue with regards to improvements in employment for people with disabilities?

We are involved in the development of a new program helping American Indians with disabilities become self-employed or start their own small businesses. The new NMTAP CAREERS grant (Computer and Accommodations Resources with Entrepreneurship, Employment and Rehabilitation Services will establish One-Stop Centers within Small Business Development Centers around the state for persons with disabilities interested in owning their own businesses.

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Disability Awareness Day Saturday, October 14, 2000 Albuquerque, NM

This day of gathering for people with disabilities and their families and friends will be held at the Cesar Chavez Community Center, 7505 Kathryn Avenue, SE from 9am to 4pm. Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca will attend and there will be classes, speakers, networking and an award presentation. The event is for people to celebrate, connect, and inform. For more information, call (505) 272-3010.

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Caroll Cadena Presents at NEWMAAC 2000 Fall Conference

Caroll Cadena, NMTAP's Information and Referral Specialist, presented information on how to apply for Medicaid funding for communication devices at the September 14, 2000 New Mexico Augmentative and Alternative Communication conference. Over 50 people, mostly Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists) attended the meeting where Caroll also presented information about the public school's role in obtaining assistive devices for schoolchildren.

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One-Stop Centers
A Focus On People with Disabilities

The following workstations which were on exhibit at JettConn*2000 included the latest in assistive technology to enhance & improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities:

1) For blind users ­ with Herb Lyford, Adaptive Technology Consultant, Solutions Integrators, Inc. and additional technologies loaned to the workstation by the New Mexico Commission for the Blind. This station included hardware and software designed to assist persons who have no or low vision to access information through an 80 Cell Refreshable Braille Display, Braille Embosser (Ohtsuki or Juliet), Duxbury Translation, and JAWs 3.5 (a software program). It also included assistive technologies and computers to illustrate the use of PowerBraille Displays and Braille display TDD, Open Book: Ruby Edition, WYNN 2, a trackball, and a keyboard with select dots.

2) For the deaf and of hearing impaired ­ with Kim Banales, Program Director, Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Joyce Horvath, Assistant Director, New Mexico School for the Deaf. This station was designed to assist persons with hearing loss with accessing information to enhance educational achievement and subsequent success in the workplace.

3) For low vision users ­ with Herb Lyford, Adaptive Technology Consultant, Solutions Integrators, Inc. and Marta Sorini, Assistive Technology Specialist, Goodwill Industries of Southern California. A combination of adaptive solutions was displayed that assists persons with low vision to access training and employment information electronically. The computer station featured the Pulse Data Split Screen CCTV, Window Eyes V 4.0, Kurzweil 1000 and 3000 with screen magnification and screen reading capabilities, a Dvorak Keyboard, a keyboard with large keycaps, and Double Talk Speech Synthesizer with ZoomText V 7.

4) For transitioning students ­ with Alan Klaus & Caroll Cadena, NMTAP and Kathy McWhorter, Navajo-ABLE. This station featured programs and strategies that support special education students who are transitioning from school to work or who may wish to access further training and education.

5) For physically disabled ­ with Pat Foyle, Assistive Technology Consultant, Assistive Technology Associates and Steve Womack, Assistive Technology Consultant, Assistive Technology of the Four Corners. This workstation focussed on alternative means of computer access, which is often all that prevents employees with a disability from performing their jobs. This station featured the Quick Glance system, a state-of-the-art eye tracking technology that provides complete access to a computer using only eye movements, along with the newest version of Voice Xpress Professional (including a portable digital recorder). This station was also be equipped with CyberLink - a very advanced technology that uses a headband to pick up slight facial muscle movements and brain waves to control a computer. In addition, the latest in microphone technology, the digital array desktop microphone, was on display at this station.

6) For physically disabled, computerized technology to learn new skills­ with Suzanne Barslund, Program Coordinator, Zia Spinal Cord Injury Center. The primary emphasis was on assistive and adaptive technologies & services for veterans who have been diagnosed or are recovering from injuries or diseases that alter their ability to function independently in daily life or on the job.

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Navajo-ABLE
Collaboration is The Key To One Young Man's Success

Nate Yazzie, a 21-year-old Navajo man, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when he was born in 1979. Nate's primary support and care have come from his family: his mother Emma, his brother Michael, and his sister, Erica. Nate attended the Tohatchi Special Education Center for much of his youth, and it wasn't until he met up with Steve Gillenwater, Special Education Director of the Shiprock Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, that he received his first assistive technology devices ­ a wheelchair, a laptop computer, and software that would enable him to communicate with others. Shortly afterwards, Steve also arranged for Nate to attend the Anne Carlson School in Jamestown, North Dakota where Nate would learn how to operate the electric wheelchair and to use the computer to communicate. As Nate says, "Steve is my best buddy! Steve always makes me laugh."

After three years in North Dakota, Nate returned to his family in Shiprock and attended the Nenahnezad Community School. He remembers Jackie Sandoval as a teacher who offered him a lot of encouragement and support during that time. After a couple of short detours at other schools, Nate attended high school at Shiprock High, where he graduated in May as a member of the class of 2000. Nate said, "I'm glad I'm a Shiprock High Chieftain! Mr. Tim Wright helped me a lot while I was there. I'm excited that I'm moving on with my education."

Nate is now what is called a "transitioning" student. He has left high school and is transitioning into the adult world of independent living, a career, and higher education. Nate wants to find a place where he can support himself, live on his own and attend the University of New Mexico next fall. While such major life changes can be challenging for other graduating seniors, it is especially complicated for a young man experiencing severe disabilities who needs assistive technologies to help him be mobile and to communicate.

Kathy McWhorter, Director of the Navajo-ABLE project, has been working with Nate and his family throughout Nate's senior year to help him obtain independent living services, and to assist in optimizing seating and positioning in his wheelchair. Kathy is presently coordinating therapy services for Nate and is looking into the various college options available to him. Nate is scheduled to receive an extensive assistive technology evaluation to identify the environmental controls, personal assistive services, and communication devices he needs to prepare him to start college next fall.

Nate has a dream, and with a little help from the people listed above, we expect that there is little that can stop this vibrant and ambitious young man from fulfilling his goals!

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Free Wheelchair Cushions and Accessories

Thanks to a generous donation by an anonymous donor, NMTAP has available the following wheelchair cushions:

From Jay Medical

• J2 Cushion, narrow adult bottom
• J2 Cushion, 16" adult back
• Jay Cushion, regular adult long

From Roho

• Low profile wheelchair cushion
• High profile wheelchair cushion

Also available are two "Easy-Up" handles for walkers. These handles are compatible with standard walkers and help individuals rise unassisted, and can also be used on chairs, sofas, beds, and automobiles.

If you are interested in any of these items, please contact Caroll Cadena at (800) 866-2253.

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Register Today for the "Achieving New Heights With Assistive Technology" Rocky Mountain Conference

Coming up on November 9-11,2000 is the 4^th Annual Rocky Mountain Collaborative Conference on assistive technology. Held outside Denver in Aurora, Colorado, this event is for people with disabilities and their families, special educators, therapists, administrators and teachers, among others. There are seven pre-conference sessions to choose from on Thursday, November 9, 2000. The following two days include over 50 workshop sessions, each covering specialized topics in assistive technology such as assessment and training, computer access, home accessibility, employment, and seating and positioning.

NMTAP is pleased to be a member of the Rocky Mountain Collaboration and can be contacted at (800) 866-2253 for registration information. Conference fees are $225 before October 13 and $265 after. CEU's are available.

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The A.T. Life Reporter is published by the New Mexico Technology Assistance Program, (NMTAP) State Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

Terry Brigance, Director, DVR
Andy Winnegar, Deputy Director
Alan Klaus, NMTAP Director
Caroll Cadena, Information Specialist
Lorie Gulley, Administrative Secretary
Kathy McWhorter, Navajo & Pueblo ABLE Project Coordinator
Julie Roybal, Student Intern
Katie Norton, Newsletter Editor

The AT Life Reporter is currently mailed to individuals and organizations across the state. If you would like a copy of the newsletter, or want to be removed from our mailing list, please call 1-800-866-2253 (Voice) or 1-800-659-4915 (TTY).

Complete Spanish & audio versions of this newsletter are available upon request.
El periodical esta disponsible para su revision en español.
State and federal funds are used for printing.

NMTAP is funded through the State Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), under a grant from National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education. This publication does not necessarily reflect the views of DVR or NIDRR, and no official endorsement of material should be inferred. NMTAP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, ancestry, medical condition, age, religion or handicap, and provides, on request, reasonable accomodation, including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in all services, programs, and activities.

New Mexico Technology Assistance Program
435 St. Michael's Drive, Bldg., D
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
1-800-866-2253 (Voice)
1-800-659-4915 (TTY)