She took some one-on-one courses from E-blind, but McAdam primarily taught herself.  She eventually became inspired to develop a computer program for people with vision loss, training peer tutors to teach others how to use the computer.
 
“The blind or the visually impaired do not use the mouse,” said McAdam.  “It is a different way of using the computer through key commands.” She says she is very excited about this new partnership that will include visually impaired or blind seniors interested in learning the computer in a community based program. “Vision loss increases significantly later in life,” said McAdam. “People with low vision or blind can help other seniors be less intimidated by technology.

Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired (GDABVI) and Michigan-based Maria Madeline Project, Inc., are re-working an already successful intergenerational computer training program to benefit senior citizens and children with severe vision loss.

Serving southeast Michigan since 1961, the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a non-profit organization, staffed by skilled professionals who deliver quality, innovative services designed to increase the productivity and dignity of individuals with visual impairments and to expand community awareness of the impact of severe vision loss. GDABVI was awarded two $20,000 grants from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Edward T. & Ellen K. Dryer Charitable Foundation to make ExperienceSeniorPower Computer Training software accessible for the blind and visually impaired.

ExperienceSeniorPower (ESP) teams children and senior citizens for intergenerational computer learning and helps build adoptive grandparent relationships, while teaching basic and intermediate computer lessons necessary for success in today’s technology driven economy. “This works so well because it brings together people interested in the same thing and they can learn different ways of how to use the computer,” said McAdam. “I love helping people take advantage of this technology and take the fear out of using it.” 

ESP, the product of Maria Madeline Project, Inc., is in its 11th year. ESP was funded by Congress in 2005 for use in six states. Now in 2010 for the first time, ESP will be available for the blind and visually impaired.

ACT (Accessible Computer Training) is a computer training class sponsored by GDABVI to teach those with severe vision loss basic computer skills using accessible software. ACT utilizes peer training as a tool for reaching seniors who are blind and with low vision. GDABVI and ExperienceSeniorPower share a vision of helping senior citizens use computers for both leisure and employment to maintain independence and a quality of life mandated by computer access in today’s society.  “The collaboration with ESP allows blind and visually impaired persons to link with a proven approach to reach seniors who could benefit from today’s technology using magnification or screen reading software” said Gail McEntee, GDABVI President.

“Central to ESP’s success is its emphasis on teaming senior citizens and children for intergenerational learning,” said Tony Fama, President, Maria Madeline Project, Inc. “ESP has helped many children lacking in positive adult role models develop adoptive grandparent relationships. Now, thanks to our collaboration GDABVI, ESP will provide the same opportunities for people with visual impairments or who are blind. We are grateful for GDABVI’s trust in our programming.”

The initiative will be introduced this spring at the Michigan Association of Education and Rehabilitation (MAER) conference on April 28-29, 2010 and demonstrated again at the Visions 2010 Conference in Ann Arbor in May. Enrollment for this program will begin this spring at GDABVI. To enroll, you can contact Cathy McAdam ACT program director (313 563-1412).

Media contact: Vanessa Denha Garmo, Denha Media 248. 702. 8687 or 248. 830. 8607