Hi all! My name is Tonia Gatton and I am a totally blind rehab teacher with the Kentucky Office for the Blind. I have been teaching blindness skills classes, including computer keyboarding and assistive technology for several years now. As of next week however, I'll be starting a new journey as a full-time Assistive Technology trainer at our center. I love technology and have been using a variety of AT products and software for many years. I'm confident in my skills and ability to teach my students. What I'd like suggestions on from those of you with more experience in AT training though, is what kind of curriculums or guidelines you use when working with your students. We use the Typability program to teach typing; so I think I've got that covered. Where do you start with a brand new computer user verses someone who has knowledge of the computer but is newly blind? In what order do you teach basic computing, word processing, email, internet etc.? How in-depth do you go in these areas? Do you begin mostly with teaching hot keys or do you have them first learn how to navigate through the menus to perform various functions? Do you incorporate any already written or recorded tutorials; such as the Basic Jaws Training, tutorials from ATI or NBP, NLS or RFB&D books etc.? I know it sounds like I'm asking for a lot of information but I'd appreciate any helpful hints you'd be willing to share. I just don't want to re-invent the wheel and I want to be an effective instructor--providing my students with high quality and thorough training that will have them prepared to enter the workforce.
Feel free to reply on or off list, or to call me at the number listed below in my signature. Thanks so much! Tonia Tonia Gatton Rehab Instructor KY Office for the blind Charles W McDowell Center 8412 Westport Road Louisville, KY 40242 800-346-2115 (502) 429-4460 ext 224 (502) 429-7113 fax [email protected] CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you believe the message has been sent to you in error, please do not read the message, advise the sender by reply e-mail that you have received the message in error, and delete the message. Thank you for your cooperation. For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ Send any questions regarding list management to: [email protected]
