The University of Guam CEDDERS (Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service) hosted a regional low vision training for educators. HumanWare was there to assist in training and present some of our solutions.

June de Leon showing teachers how to use the SmartView.

June de Leon, Guam CEDDERS associate Director and Director of the Pacific CIMAP (Center for Instructional Materials Accessibility Project), made this event possible.

Donna McNear, the Pacific CIMAP lead consultant, Dominic Gagliano, VP of blindness sales for HumanWare US and Ed Wikdall, Western region low vision sales manager for HumanWare US, were there to provide information and training to 40 educators, both general and special education teachers.

At the event, teachers were trained in the use of HumanWare low vision products. The SmartView Graduate and the SmartView Versa+ were shown to and used by the educators attending the training. After, June De Leon and Donna Mc Near went on to visit several schools and children on the pacific islands to show them how to work with these products.

One of the children in these schools is Ason. Ason has a visual disability and after showing him the SmartView Graduate, June said: “The Graduate will be very useful in Ason’s classroom when the teacher writes on the blackboard or is showing something from a distance. Right now, a classmate sitting next to Ason tells him what is on the board so Ason can take notes. Sometimes, Ason would just get written notes from his classmates for him to study. The use of the Graduate will give him more independence with being able to see ‘up close’ what’s on the board at the same time as the other students!”

On this picture, we can see Ason using the SmartView Versa+ to see the fine details on a map in his textbook. In the mean while, he’s listening to some music, on the Versa+ as well!

When seeing Ason use the Versa, Donna McNear was moved: “The visible joy on Ason’s face seen through his wide smile was heartwarming as he realized how this would change his ability to read and do school work.”

Apart from these low vision instruments, HumanWare also introduced Zoom-text Software to the educators and children. After the training, the educators of the nine pacific Islands all took a SmartView Graduate, a SmartView Versa + and a Zoom-text software package home to put to use for the kids in their classes. June de Leon speaks of a more than successful event. She says: “I’m excited to see that kids are using the tools for learning. We know that the tools will increase their academic achievement.”

Donna McNear giving a presentation on the SmartView Graduate. On the computer (in front) you can see how the Graduate enlarges images from a distance onto a computer screen.

Donna McNear was at the schools to show the teachers and the children how to use the low vision instruments every day. “I experienced the meaningful results of this training in an authentic context on the island of Palau. These experiences give me deep gratitude for the whole team and an appreciation of the dedication of each team member.”

The Pacific CIMAP was a success for both trainers and trainees and will definitely leave an impact with the students: “The Pacific CIMAP Low Vision Training in collaboration with HumanWare provided an important context using tools and effective instructions to improve low vision literacy for students in the Pacific Region.”