Minutes of the VICUG NYC
General Membership Meeting
July 14, 1997

Present: Pratik Patel, Iris Torres, Jay Leventhal, Krista Earl, Peter Altschul, Larry Gardner, Fernando Botelho, David Denniston, Joe Fagnani, Vita Zavoli, Ben Tunkaning, and Lenore Dietz.

Topic:  Strategies of the Visually Impaired Student

Pratik Patel discussed his use as a student of Blazie products, particularly the Braille 'n Speak (BNS). The topics he discussed included:

• Using the BNS as an voice synthesizer;
• Taking notes (making it unnecessary to use a sighted notetaker)
• Writing reports and transferring them to disc via a disc drive; and
• Scanning print materials onto disc to be loaded into the BNS.

He expressed his interest in forming a "Blazie Special Interest Group" (SIG) with the aim of advocating for additional features in Blazie's products and assisting/mentoring less experienced users. After some discussion, participants made the following decisions:

1. The first Blazie SIG meeting will take place on Saturday, September 6th, between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. in Iris Torres' office (76 Madison Avenue, 28th Street, on the fifth floor).
   
   
2. Anyone interested in learning more about Blazie products would be welcome to attend, particularly students with visual impairments attending New York City public schools.
   
   
3. Pratik Patel will determine if:
   
   
   1. A Blazie representative might be willing to present at this meeting; and
   2. If they might be willing to donate something to be auctioned off during the meeting in order to raise some funds for the SIG.
   
   
4. Pratik Patel will communicate the results of this interaction to Iris Torres and Tom Dekker.
   
   
5. At this meeting, participants will be given the opportunity to learn about updates of Blazie products and communicate their thoughts concerning future directions of the SIG.
   
   
6. This meeting should be advertised as widely as possible (the Internet, telephone calls, TAB News, etc.)

Iris Torres offered to publicize future meetings in the "Vision Service Newsletter."

Next, Lenore Dietz next discussed "Project Help," which solicits unwanted computers and adaptive equipment from corporations and other sources for distribution to families of students with visual impairments attending New York City public schools. To date, 27 families have received computer packages with 15 scheduled to receive them during the 1997-98 school year. She requested VICUG's assistance in training students (ages 10-13) and parents in the use of this equipment. During the ensuing discussion, the following possibilities were explored:

1. Adding the names of the 27 families to the database so that they can be informed of future meetings. (Iris Torres offered to publicize these meetings if topics are given to her far enough in advance.)
   
   
2. For the 15 families scheduled to receive computer packages:
   
   
   1. VICUG members would be invited to participate in meetings for those families to attempt to establish mentoring relationships between VICUG members and the students.
      
      
   2. Mentors might be used to "jump-start the process" (installing equipment, providing initial training, etc.), as well as providing general support (enhancing keyboarding/word processing skills, etc.) and guidance either in person or via telephone. Participants stressed that potential volunteers have limited time to serve as mentors.
   
   
3. Since students are using outdated equipment, the possibility of forming a SIG for those interested in exploring the Internet using this equipment was discussed.

In conclusion, participants suggested that the August meeting be canceled due to conflicting activities.

Submitted by Peter Altschul, July 15, 1997 (written on a Braille Lite)
Encoded by Gregory J. Rosmaita

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this page was created on July 23, 1997
last modified July 24, 1997