Vol. 17, No. 28	April 23, 1998

Video showcases results of assistive technology

Featured in the video are:

In the early 80's, Lily Bandak's career as a photographer was in full swing. As the personal photographer of Mrs. Anwar Sadat and the King and Queen of Jordan, the Newark resident met and worked with the major public figures of the time. Then, in 1984, Bandak was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and ceased doing the work she loved.

A decade later, she realized she could return to work with the aid of assistive technology. She acquired a specialized wheelchair and camera mount, and designed modifications to her camera that afforded her complete access to the tools of her trade. She is again producing photographic artistry both here and abroad and has also established the Bandak Foundation to encourage people with disabilities to enter the workforce and integrate into society.

Ken Barner of Newark knew he wanted to be an engineer from the the time he was a child. His pursuit of that career did not change when he sustained a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic. He excelled throughout his post-secondary education, graduating from UD with a Ph.D. and winning the Allan P. Colburn Prize in Mathematical Sciences and Engineering for his doctoral work on permutation filters. Now, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and an adjunct scientist at the duPont Hospital for Children, Barner does research in the areas of signal and image processing. Additionally, he directs a project aimed at increasing the number of students with disabilities who pursue careers in mathematical and scientific professions.

John Jefferson of Lincoln, Del., wanted to be a farmer or truck driver. Following the onset of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis that has affected all four of his limbs, he modified his career goals to pursue architecture and then accounting. Architectural barriers, however, prevented him from accessing a variety of job options. The subsequent onset of a visual disability, which has resulted in total blindness, left him jobless for quite some time. Eventually, Jefferson decided to train for a new career, using his "people" skills. After completing a degree at Delaware Technical and Community College, he works as a peer counselor and freelance writer, using a voice input system to control his computer and environmental control unit.

Tony Maczynski of Newark worked on the the assembly line at General Motors until surgery for a brain aneurysm left him completely blind. Needing to reconsider his job options, Maczynski explored the tools and techniques available to him at the time. Utilizing his people skills and equipment for Braille notetaking, he began handling complaints that were phoned into the New Castle County government. Additionally, he became active in an organization that promotes athletic pursuits for blind individuals and continued to expand his personal and professional horizons. Today, he has a Christian ministry that he shares through words and music, in addition to handling legislative business for Delaware's Speaker of the House. Maczynski's recent acquisition of print scanning technology-which interfaces with his voice output computer-has multiplied his productivity and independence in both his careers and his personal life.

Michelle Reeves of Dover turned her fondness for animals into a job that she loves. Two years ago, a job coach from Easter Seal's Community Service Program supported her as she learned the various tasks that make up her job at the Kent County SPCA. With cognitive limitations, Reeves sometimes had trouble remembering the sequencing of her tasks. To help her, the Easter Seals staff devised a picture-based reminder system that they posted on the wall of the SPCA's puppy room. Reeves was able to consult the pictures for cues about the next step she needed to take. She now reports that she is so practiced at her job that she rarely needs the pictures.

Former classmates may recall Jamie Wolfe's escapades with the power wheelchair she used throughout her school years. These days, the Dover resident will tell you that her power chair and adapted vehicle make it possible for her to do her job. As the Kent County coordinator for Independent Resources Inc., Wolfe's role requires frequent travel throughout the state. To be maximally effective, she needs to be able to go where she wants, when she wants. Her equipment affords her that capability.

Kevin Weik of Wilmington is an Adult Basic Education instructor. Weik helps people take steps toward achieving their personal and professional goals. When writing and typing became laborious for him, because cerebral palsy has reduced his hand and finger mobility and coordination, he was delighted to discover voice dictation computer access. He acquired the system through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and uses it to produce the handouts and assignments he needs for students in his American history class, as well as for his professional correspondence.

The video was developed by University of Delaware Media Services in conjunction with DATI and funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

The conference is sponsored by the Delaware, Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI), a program administered through UD's Center for Applied Science and Engineering. The program is headquartered at the duPont Hospital for Children, with satellite centers at the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center in New Castle, the Kent County Community School in Dover and on the campus of Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown.

For more information on the video, on DATI or the April 27 event, call 651-6790.

-Beth Thomas