The Microcomputer Training Program for Persons With Disabilities;(MTPPD)
provides PC-based adaptive equipment training, consultations and
technical support to veterans and government employees with disabilities.
In FY '94 we initiated the training, consulting and technical
support portion of our program to blinded veterans with a service
connected status in the Washington metropolitan area through the
Department's Blind Rehabilitation Service. For eligibility requirements
and application procedures, contact your Vision Impairment Service
Team (VIST) Coordinator at the DC Veterans Hospital.
Our staff has developed courses in Microliteracy, Word Processing,
DBASE III PLUS, LOTUS 1-2-3, MS DOS, Touch Keyboarding and PC
Based Scanning Systems. Courses such as Operation of the Braille
'N Speak and using Windows with Access Systems are particularly
helpful for employees who are blind or visually impaired. Course
handouts are provided in an accessible format per the student's
choice.
Training is provided on an individual basis, i.e., one instructor
per student and is tailored to meet the unique needs of employees
with disabilities who cannot gain the full benefits of regular
classroom instruction. We offer customized training on state of
the art adaptive systems to meet the needs of our customers on
a cost-recovery basis.
Students must have computer equipment and adaptive systems installed
at their work site prior to registering with our program. Following
course completion, students will receive two hours of follow-up
assistance on the concepts and applications covered during their
courses.
Students in the Washington metropolitan area can be trained at
our Individual Learning Center (ILC), our Information Technology
Center (ITC) or their own work sites. Those from out-of-town are
trained at our facilities. VA employees who can see the blackboard
but need modified workstations or adaptive systems are eligible
to take non-adaptive courses from our ADP Training Staff..
We consult with disabled employees and their managers regarding
appropriate PC access systems. These consultations ensure that
employees have successful computer solutions at their workstations.
As a result, they are guaranteed to have equal access to print
materials, data and federal information processing systems as
is provided to their non-disabled co-workers.
Often we invite vendors of emerging PC access technologies to
showcase their products and systems in our new Information Technology
Center (ITC). Vendor personnel set-up and demonstrate adaptive
technologies to interested people from the public and private
sectors.
Officials from the Office of Information Resources Management
(IRM) are participants of the GSA Counsel on Adaptive Technology
(COAT). We network with the GSA Information Technology Access
Group (ITA Group), Job Accommodations Network (JAN), Department
of Defense Computer/ Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) and
the Department of Agriculture's TARGET center to keep abreast
of newly developed policies and physical/adaptive PC access technologies
to better meet the needs of fellow employees with disabilities.
Our staff also participates with the GSA's Information Technology
Access Working Group to keep in touch with evolving PC access
policies and solutions being adopted and used by other federal
agencies. Additionally, we are represented on the National Task
Force on Disability which helps promote the recruitment, employment
and advancement of people with disabilities in the federal and
private sectors.
We continually update access technologies in our Information Technology
Center (ITC) to better meet the inter-operability and connectivity
needs of employees with disabilities.
Our Information Technology Center has been selected as an evaluation
site for new technology by both the Department's Rehabilitation
Technology Assessment Section (RTAS) and the National Technology
Center of the American Foundation of the Blind headquarters in
New York City.
We can scan hard copy text and turn it into commonly used word
processing, database and spreadsheet formats. Additionally, we
can convert documents on disk from one format to another, i.e.,
from WANG WP PLUS or Microsoft WORD to WordPerfect or from WordPerfect
to LOTUS 1-2-3. For your convenience, we can also convert text
into Braille or translate braille text onto disk or tape.
Visitors may arrange to tour our Information Technology Center
and receive a demonstration of the latest PC access technologies
by calling Mr. Patrick Sheehan, Program Coordinator, on (202)273-6543
Mondays-Fridays from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Facilities are accessible
to people with disabilities and guide dogs are welcome.
In order to provide the most affective training for our customers,
the following systems can be configured together and integrated
with standard office automation equipment:
Speech Synthesizers -- We have a variety of speech synthesizers
that are connected to the communications port of the PC and convert
text into speech.
Screen-reading Software -- This software interfaces with
the synthesizer and PC. It provides full access to information
on the screen to customers who are blind or visually impaired.
We also have systems which access text files in the WINDOWS environment
for customers who are blind or print handicapped.
Note: Throughout the year vendors rotate new adaptive
and non-adaptive technologies through our center to keep our customers
abreast of new PC products and systems.
Further information for information about our program or its services,
contact Patrick Sheehan (202)273-6543, Randy Mardres (202)273-6548,
MARDRES@MAIL.VA.GOV or Susan Boaz on (202)273-6542, BOAZ@MAIL.VA.GOV
or COMPUSERVE ID 74404,1446@COMPUSERVE.COM.
We want to help you meet your adaptive Information Resources Management
requirements and your work productivity needs. We hope you will
choose our facility and we look forward to hearing from you soon.