New tools for visually impaired at Dominican

In mid-July, Dominican College in Orangeburg hosted a special course for  teachers to train them in new technologies that can  be utilized when working with blind or visually impaired students.

The workshop, facilitated by Shelia Amato, provided an overview of assistive technology for students who are blind or who have visual impairments, and included hands-on experience with Braille, print and speech technologies for children K-12.

The workshop was designed for students enrolled in Dominican College’s “Program for Teachers of Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired,” but, as in years past, was opened up to others in the community, as well. Participants came from New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina and represented 15 school districts.

Presenters on various technologies and learning approaches included David Jackson; Chuck Cohen; Mike Parker; Bill Kilroy; Ron Miller; Dan Thibert; Charlie Kiefer; and Carroll Stone and Sandi Baker of the American Printing House for the Blind, who gave teachers pointers on what”™s available with federal help, including the newest products, with special attention to assistive technology and electronics and how these products align with expanded core curriculum.