TALLADEGA — People from across the state came to Talladega Thursday to participate in a technology symposium hosted by the Alabama School for the Blind.The two-day symposium, a part of the school’s annual alumni weekend, featured exhibits displaying the newest wave of assistive technology for the blind and people with low-vision.
“It’s the biggest one ever because we have more vendors, as well as participants,” said Denise Holmes, who works with the deaf and blind division at the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. “It’s growing as a highlight of the newest technology for the blind to help them live independently.”
More than 300 people had pre-registered for the event, and Holmes said she expected between 400 and 500 people would attend before the end of the day.
“It’s probably the largest display of technology in the Southeast,” Holmes said.
A total of 18 vendors participated in the event this year, including representatives from Optelec International, Freedom Scientific, Human Ware and UAB Eye Care. Representative from the E.H. Gentry College Prep program were also there.
Ellen Jones, who traveled from her home in Birmingham for the event, said she comes to the symposium every year.
“I think it’s nice and very interesting,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of things here I’ve never seen.”
Some of the newest technology on display included a cell phone that can photograph an image or document then read aloud the recorded text and a way for the blind to fully access the Internet by using a telephone.
“There’s some amazing stuff here,” said Rosalyn Alford, one of the vendors. “I’m been doing this for nine years, and I see requests for things I’ve never heard of.”
Alford works for Ability Loan, a company that helps finance purchases of assistive equipment and home modifications up to $35,000.
One group at the symposium was selling everyday assistive items like kitchen aids, large-print check registers and address books, as well as talking watches, clocks and calculators.
“This is an awesome display,” said Jennifer Springer, who works for the Marion County Board of Education. “Just to know these kids have the difference to read and do their school work, it’s amazing.”
Springer said she came to the symposium to shop for products to meet the needs of low vision and deaf children in her school system.
Lenore Dillon, a rehabilitation teacher for ADRS, said she uses some of the displayed assistive technology in both her home and office.
“I love technology,” Dillon said. “I’m not very good at it and it makes me nervous, but it’s opened a lot of doors for me.”
A group of students from Auburn University came to test Prime III, a new voting program developed by the University’s computer science department.
Greg Rogers, a graduate student at Auburn, said the program is still in the testing stage and getting feedback from people who’ve tested it.
“We brought it out to see what improvements can be made to it,” Rogers said.
In addition to the exhibits, a variety of training sessions on the use of different assistive equipment were offered.
Mitch Kemmer, from Centreville, said he attended a presentation about recreational technology so he could learn about how he could play video games with his young children.
The symposium will continue today from 8 a.m. until noon at Asbury Hall on the Alabama School for the Blind campus. Admission to the symposium is free. All the exhibits will be available and five training sessions are scheduled for this morning.
