Feature
THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
May 10,1989
Page 6
Program helps disabled students acquire job skills
by Staci Beard
Staff Writer
A new program has recently
opened up in the Barlow Learning
Center to help the disabled acquire
job skills.
Two IBM “clone” computers
are available to people with ortho
pedic problems, brain damage,
visual impairments or hearing
impairments. The software avail
able covers a wide range of tasks.
“We have programs that give
them mental exercises and verbal
tests to help people to function
again in the written word society
that we live in,” stated Perry Lensen-
Callas, tutor for the center.
Along with mental exercises
the users are also able to learn a
word processing system.
Because these computers are
for those with disabilities a few
extras have been added.
For those with visual problems
there is the enlarging of the char
acters on screen up to about three
inches high. Avoice synthesizer is
also hooked up so the user can
have the what is written on the
screen read aloud to them.
People who at times can’t keep
a steady hand have an added fea
ture that will slow the computer
keyboard down. This is so if they
accidentally hit the key too long
it will not repeat ten times.
There is also a touch pad
that can be used instead of the
direction arrows.
In the future they hope to
get the computer to where quad-
raplegics using a head stick can
use the computer.
’There is a incredible amount
of brain power that is idle. They
don’t come to school because of
the lack of programs. But if we
can develop these programs then
we can get these people to come
out of the closet and enter into
society,” stated Lensen-Callas.
One person who knows where
she wants to go with the skills she
has acquired is Jan Wight.
T want to teach other people
howto use it. Iwanthis (Lensen-
Callas’) job,” explained Wight.
“She is the perfect person.
She has the same orthopedic prob
lems that others will have. Plus
she has the time to spend work
ing with them,” explained Lensen-
Callas.
On Disabled Awareness Day
the room was open for tours but
not many people took the op
portunity to view it.
photo by Jillian Porter
The Hi-tech Center, located in the Barlow Learning Center, offers a wide variety of software
programs to be used on their IBM "clone" computers. These programs include: enlarging letters
on the screen so that the visually impaired can read the text, a voice synthsizer that reads the
words on the screen for the user and a feature that slows the keyboard down. Other programs
arealso available.
People who are interested are in the Community Center or call
So far 40 people have signed
up to use the facility, but only six urged to contact Dave Campbell him at ext. 600 to see. if thè pro
in the Handicap Resourcecenter gram will benefit them.
have been using the equipment.
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